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When to introduce solids
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PARENTS CORNER 

When to Introduce Solids?

• Written by the Editorial team.  Also read: Benefits of Breast Feeding
  

  
  It seems like your precious one was only two weeks yesterday and here she is, four months old and already attempting to pull herself into a sitting position. It looks like mother’s milk or formula is not enough for her already and you might wonder when and what solid foods to introduce to your baby. Do not worry. Until six months of age your baby’s main and only food can be mothers milk or formula because with it your baby is getting all necessary nutrients as well as liquids.
  
  You may if you wish start familiarizing your baby with solids from 4 months of age although it is way too early. From four to six months of age you could start giving grain cereals. At first start from rice cereal. You can buy iron and vitamins fortified rice cereal in the store in baby food section. This cereal is almost ready, you just have to add mother’s milk or formula and your baby’s first meal is ready. Start with small portion and increase it every day until the amount reaches the needed portion size. Observe whether your baby has any allergic reaction, is her tummy tight, is she crying after she eats in discomfort, is she throwing up? If none of this is happening after a week or two you can introduce oat and other grains cereal. It should be single grain cereal until your baby is 6 months old.
  
  From 6 months onwards you can start giving various vegetable purees (potato, cauliflower, carrot, squash and etc.). Again you can buy it in the baby food section. All baby food companies are offering a variety of jarred first foods purees. You can also make purees by yourself. Jarred purees do not contain any salt, sugar, oil, butter or spices. When you make your own puree do not sweeten or add salt to the dish but you can add a drop of oil or a touch of butter. Make sure to introduce one vegetable after another giving each vegetable a week to make sure there are no allergies or other discomfort signs. Also while adding butter be careful to see whether it does not cause an allergy. Many moms will choose not to add anything.
  
  At around seven to eight months you can start giving some fruit purees or fruit juices diluted with water. It is important to dilute juices with water because juices are sweet and your baby might refuse to nurse or drink formula after drinking sweet juice. Remember that breast milk or formula is still your baby’s main food and solids are just a nice addition. Apple purees could be given first, then you can try prunes or plums (especially if your baby gets constipated after eating an iron fortified cereal). Some babies while transitioning into solids might not have a bowl movement for up to 8 days! Try giving prunes’ juice or prunes’ puree, this often helps. Let your pediatrician know what’s happening and follow his instructions. After couple of months things should come back to normal.
  
  At nine months you can start giving protein rich foods, like fish, meat, beans. Milk products are not recommended until your baby is a year old so cottage cheese, cheese is not an option. Yogurt though, is ok as long as your baby is not allergic to it. While preparing meat and fish dishes be very careful to boil them for a long time and make sure they are well cooked. Also give only very small portions of meat until they are well over 12 months.
  
  Finally, when your baby is already 11 or 12 months old babies can be transitioned to family table foods. When you are cooking for yourself leave a little portion out before adding main heavy spices or oils. Your child’s meal should not contain lots of fat, hot spices or salt. As soon as your baby has front teeth they can try chewing little piece. They like to bite and often imitate us.