There are so many milestones to enjoy after having a new baby—first smile, sweet giggles, rolling over and starting solid foods. Good nutrition and healthy eating habits start early in life, but it feels like there are so many options for feeding baby! You may have gotten a lot of advice from well-meaning family and friends, and it can be confusing to figure out how to start and what to do. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers many helpful tips to families preparing for this transition.
For the first six months of life, breast milk or formula should be baby’s only source of nutrition. Both of these are complete foods, and provide everything baby needs to grow and support healthy brain development. Once baby can support his or her head upright when sitting, opens mouth for a spoon and can swallow purees, you can start offering first foods.
For healthy infants, it really does not matter which solid food you offer first. Many families choose single grain baby cereals that are iron fortified, followed by vegetable and fruit purees. There isn’t any medical evidence to support that offering foods in a particular order is beneficial. All babies have a preference for sweeter tastes, and offering vegetables first won’t really change this. As a side note, if your baby is breastfed, you may want to consider offering foods rich in iron and zinc.
Within a month or two of starting solid foods, your baby’s diet should include a variety of foods such as:
- Breast milk and/or formula
- Meats
- Baby cereal
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Eggs
- Fish
Baby typically will eat about 4 oz. of food at a sitting, or the amount contained in one small jar. Avoid giving processed foods designed for adults. These contain preservatives and salt, and aren’t healthy for baby. Meats and vegetables contain the most nutrients per serving. Making your own baby food is an option, and can be done by cooking foods, then using a blender or food processor or even mashing with a fork to make it easier to eat.
Once baby is sitting, and bringing hands to mouth, finger foods can be added to the menu. To avoid choking, make sure pieces are small, soft and easy to swallow. This could include things like:
- Small pieces of banana
- Wafer-type cookies or crackers
- Scrambled eggs
- Well-cooked pasta
- Well-cooked chicken finely chopped
- Well-cooked and cut up yellow squash, peas and potatoes
Most importantly, baby should get used to the process of eating. Sitting up, taking short breaks between bites and stopping when full are all good habits to develop for life. Getting used to eating nutritious foods and trying a variety of different flavors and textures is all part of the fun. Having family meals together is another great way to support healthy development.
If you have any questions about your child’s nutrition, including concerns about your child eating too much or too little, talk with your child’s doctor
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Posted In Children's, Health Information
