| It is recommended by Government bodies not to introduce solids until 6 months of age.
The reasons being:
- To prevent reduction in breast or bottle feeds leading to poor nutrition
- To prevent digestive difficulties which can cause pain, constipation, irritability
- To prevent allergies & food intolerances
- To prevent overfeeding leading to obesity problems
Developmentally:
- The tongue-thrust reflex needs to have disappeared
- Baby will have gained more head & neck control
- Will show interest when others are eating
- Has control over hands and can bring them to their mouth
- Can sit with support
- Reaches out to grab food
- Opens their mouth when food is offered
Start with introducing:
- about 1 teaspoon
- a small smooth rounded spoon will be ideal
- a sloppy texture
- the food at a time that suits you & baby
- 1 food at a time, wait 5-10 days before adding a new food
- Never force your baby to eat
- usually 15-20 minutes after their milk
- iron-fortified rice cereal, make up with either breastmilk, formula or water
- fruits - peach, mango, pear, avocado, ripe banana, soft cooked apple, pear
- vegetables – cooked potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, zucchini, marrow
- add breastmilk or formula, do not add oils, butter or margarine
Around 7 months progress to thicker lumpier textures:
- yogurts (full fat), cheeses, custard
- toast pieces, rusks, macaroni, rice
- mashed boiled egg yolk
- chicken and fish
Around 8 months finger foods can be added:
- introduce well cooked red meat
- give them a spoon to hold whilst being fed
Around 9-12 months offer a variety of textures – mashed, diced, grated:
- can offer food before milk
- use full fat dairy foods
- egg white can be used
- wheat based breakfast cereals
- variety of breads/toast
- rice, pasta
- offer both raw & cooked fruit and vegetables
Around 12 months, baby should be eating family foods that are not salty or contain large amounts of sugar:
- full fat cows milk can now be substituted as their main milk drink.
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Foods that are unsuitable:
- honey
- nuts/nut products
- raw eggs or uncooked poultry
- tea and foods that contain caffeine
- spicy, sugary, highly salted, fatty foods
- very hard or very hot food.
Safety concerns
- kept all food preparation surface and equipment clean
- wash your hands before preparing food
- tasting spoons should not be reused
- wash all fruit & vegetables
- vegetables need to be lightly steamed so as not too crisp – choking hazard
- don’t keep food warm for extended periods
- dispose of baby’s food once finished don’t keep till next feed
- check fish for bones
- care taken when giving bones re sharp edges or loose bits
- do not give sweetened drinks in a bottle to suck
- always dilute juice 1 part juice to 10 parts water
- straws are beneficial as they carry liquid to the back of the mouth
- always check the temperature of foods before feeding
Note: Feed the whole family a healthy diet.
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