When and What Food to Give to Babies

For more information about how to know if your baby is ready to starting eating foods, what first foods to offer, and what to expect, watch these videos from 1,000 Days.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American University of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are near vi months onetime.  Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended. Every kid is unlike. How practise you lot know if your kid is ready for foods other than breast milk or infant formula? You can look for these signs that your child is developmentally ready.

Your child:

• Sits up solitary or with support.
• Is able to control head and neck.
• Opens the mouth when food is offered.
• Swallows nutrient rather than pushes information technology dorsum out onto the chin.
• Brings objects to the oral cavity.
• Tries to grasp pocket-sized objects, such as toys or food.
• Transfers nutrient from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.

What Foods Should I Introduce to My Kid First?

The American University of Pediatrics says that for most children, y'all do not need to give foods in a certain lodge. Your kid can brainstorm eating solid foods at nearly six months quondam. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months erstwhile, your child tin swallow a diversity of foods from different food groups. These foods include baby cereals, meat or other proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, yogurts and cheeses, and more.

If your child is eating infant cereals, it is of import to offer a variety of fortifiedalert icon babe cereals such as oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal. But providing infant rice cereal is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration because there is a risk for children to be exposed to arsenic. Visit the U.Southward. Nutrient & Drug Administrationexternal icon to acquire more than.

How Should I Innovate My Child to Foods?

Your child needs sure vitamins and minerals to abound good for you and strong.

Now that your child is starting to eat food, be sure to cull foods that give your kid all the vitamins and minerals they demand.

Click here to learn more most some of these vitamins & minerals.

Let your child try one single-ingredient food at a time at first. This helps y'all see if your kid has any issues with that food, such as food allergies. Wait 3 to v days between each new nutrient. Before you know it, your child will be on his or her way to eating and enjoying lots of new foods.

Innovate potentially allergenic foods when other foods are introduced.

Potentially allergenic foods include cow's milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Drinking cow's milk or fortified soy beverages is not recommended until your child is older than 12 months, but other cow's milk products, such as yogurt, can be introduced before 12 months. If your child has astringent eczema and/or egg allergy, talk with your child'due south md or nurse almost when and how to safely introduce foods with peanuts.

How Should I Fix Food for My Child to Eat?

At first, information technology's easier for your kid to eat foods that are mashed, pureed, or strained and very shine in texture. It tin take time for your child to conform to new food textures. Your kid might coughing, gag, or spit up. As your baby's oral skills develop, thicker and lumpier foods tin exist introduced.

Some foods are potential choking hazards, then it is of import to feed your child foods that are the right texture for his or her development. To help prevent choking, prepare foods that can be hands dissolved with saliva and do not crave chewing. Feed minor portions and encourage your baby to consume slowly. Ever sentry your kid while he or she is eating.

Here are some tips for preparing foods:

• Mix cereals and mashed cooked grains with breast milk, formula, or h2o to arrive smooth and easy for your baby to swallow.
• Mash or puree vegetables, fruits and other foods until they are shine.
• Hard fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, usually need to be cooked and so they tin be easily mashed or pureed.
• Cook food until information technology is soft enough to hands mash with a fork.
• Remove all fat, skin, and bones from poultry, meat, and fish, before cooking.
• Remove seeds and hard pits from fruit, and and then cut the fruit into small pieces.
• Cut soft food into small pieces or thin slices.
• Cut cylindrical foods similar hot dogs, sausage and string cheese into short thin strips instead of round pieces that could get stuck in the airway.
• Cutting small spherical foods similar grapes, cherries, berries and tomatoes into small pieces.
• Cook and finely grind or brew whole-grain kernels of wheat, barley, rice, and other grains.

Learn more about potential choking hazards and how to forbid your child from choking.

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Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html

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