Introducing solid foods to your baby
I hope your parenting journey is going good. Once your baby reaches 4 months of age, you all want to know which foods to introduce to your baby apart from formula milk(FM) or breast milk(BM).
First, you need to realize that it's not until late in the first year of life that the digestive system is matured to maximally absorb nutrients and calories. So solid foods, which can fill a baby up but are low in calories and nutrients, don't help your baby grow until they're about a year old.
So, what are solid foods for in infancy? Well, they're really only there in infancy to help your baby develop a fondness for tastes and textures. Their main ongoing source of nutritional growth in that first year of life is through the breast milk/formula milk you are giving your baby.
when is the best time to initiate solids for taste and texture? Well, certainly not before at least 4 months of age, but more importantly, when your baby demonstrates good head and neck control. If solids are introduced too early or too late then there is a risk of food allergies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solids sometime between 4 to 6 months of age. At this age babies will be watching you when you eat something in front of them. Watch out for the signs that they are ready to eat different foods.
As to what foods to start with, most nutritionists recommend starting with a single-grain cereal, like iron-fortified rice cereal, which can be easily digested at 4 to 6 months of age. And then moving up to pureed vegetables and subsequently, fruits. Saving the sweeter tastes for last so your baby adjusts to the non-sweet tastes of cereals and vegetables first. Don't introduce more than one new food at a time to make sure that your baby doesn't develop a food allergy to a particular new food or an ingredient you're giving him or her. If your baby doesn't like a food, wait a week or two and try again, since often the second or even third time is the charm.
Some baby food recipes you can prepare:
Cereal (Rice/Barley/Oatmeal) :
Ingredients:1/4th cup of cereal powder
1 cup water
Step 1: Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the cereal powder while stirring constantly.
Step 2: Simmer for 10 minutes and do not stop stirring, add some breast milk or formula milk. Serve warm.
Apple puree:
Step 1: peel the apple and cut into small pieces.
Step 2 : boil the pieces by adding some water.
Step 3 : blend the boiled pieces with a blender. Add some breast milk or formula milk. Apple puree is ready to serve.
Banana puree:
Step 2: you can either mash the banana pieces with a fork or blend them in a blender. Add some breast milk or formula milk to get the desired consistency.
Once your baby gets habituated to semisolids you can introduce solid foods. If your baby is teething you can give finger foods that are kept in fridge. As the cooling effect can be soothing to babies while teething. Do not give your babies lot of solids at a time. One food at a time and then slowly increase them if your baby is not allergic to them. All the best all of you lovely mommies:)
Also read : Immunity booster foods for kids
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