All About Starting On Real Food For Babies

Starting up real food for babies is a sensitive topic. It will need to be done gradually when a baby is a few months old.

During pregnancy, the placenta plays an important role in nourishing the fetus. The baby’s digestive system must therefore adapt to the birth. This is the reason why newborns do not tolerate all kinds of food.

In this article we will tell you about starting up on real food for babies, how to know that your baby is ready for it, the recommended foods and some general guidelines that one should take into consideration.

Getting started on real food: How do you know your baby is ready?

Babies should be breastfed or bottle-fed as the only source of food during the first months of life. When the baby is six months old, one can start on real food. However, babies can continue to be breastfed or bottle-fed until they are two years old while eating other food next door.

In addition to age, another factor one will need to consider is related to height and weight. When babies  are about four months old, they weigh twice as much as they did at birth. In some specific cases, the need to start on real food may be evaluated, although there will be specific exceptions that only a pediatrician can indicate.

Other aspects to consider are various signals that the baby comes with. The following indicates that a baby is ready to get real food. For example, they can:

• Sit yourself and keep your head upright.
• Show interest in the food around them.
• Open their mouths to take food into their mouths.
• Low chewing movements.

Recommended food for this stage

You can include many different types of foods in your baby’s diet to start up at this stage. However, some are more recommended than others. Some of them are:

• Cereals. Rice, oats, corn and barley are foods rich in vitamins and minerals. In addition, they are important sources of fiber.
• Vegetables. They are rich in many different nutrients, even protein. You can make baby puree with them.
• Fruits. They are quite delicious in themselves. You should choose fresh fruits, not canned ones.
• Foods of animal origin. Meat and fish are rich in protein, vitamin A, iron, zinc, phosphorus and calcium. As for eggs, experts recommend waiting until the baby is at least a year old to test their tolerance with a small portion due to the risk of food allergy.

• Legumes. They are the best source of protein of non-animal origin.

Getting started on real baby food: How to do it

When it comes to starting on real food, it is important to ensure that the baby does not reject new foods. Although it may happen in the beginning, you just have to keep going.

One should actually give small amounts of food. Remember that babies eat much less food than adults do. One therefore needs to give their digestive system enough time to adapt to the change. Therefore, do not get frustrated if they do not eat very much of the food.

Secondly, it is easier to start on real food by switching between it and breastfeeding or bottle. That means breastfeeding your baby or giving it a bottle and then giving them a spoonful of food, and then more milk. That way , they will get used to the food.

During this process, the baby can play with the food. Sometimes it will end up in their face, on their hands, bib or floor, anywhere other than in their mouth.

Do not get annoyed at the baby over it as they may feel the irritation and may want to reject the food next time. Instead, talk to them gently and encourage them to eat. If one’s baby is crying or does not want to open his mouth, then it is better to wait rather than insist that they should eat.

Changes in babies when they start on real food

When you start on real food for your baby, you will notice many changes in your baby. Their stools will be more solid and its color and smell will also change. Likewise, their urine will become more turbid.

Although some stools may contain undigested food, one should not worry about it. The frequency of bowel movements may also change as it becomes less frequent. However, it is not a sign of constipation.

On the other hand, one will notice that as the baby gets used to the right food, they will have a bigger appetite and eat larger portions. Little by little, they will stop breastfeeding or get bottled.

General recommendations for small children

Here are some simple recommendations to follow when starting out on real baby food:

• Food that they can eat with their hands. Usually at this stage one has to feed the baby with a spoon. However, you should still let the baby take the food in your hands and eat it yourself if they feel like it. Just make sure they do not take large bites.
• Try different foods. Do not give your child many different foods at the same time. In other words, it is best to give them one food at a time. That way, one will know which foods they like best. Today you can try a cereal, tomorrow a vegetable puree.

• Fruit juice. You can make fruit juice, which you can give baby with a bottle or cup, as long as the fruit is fresh. One should not add sugar to the baby’s juice.

Not all food is good for babies

Some parents may become concerned if their baby does not eat enough real food in the beginning. But it is perfectly fine for the baby to eat about 30 grams to begin with so that they can adapt.

Some of the foods that one should avoid giving a baby are canned foods, cold cuts, preserves, popcorn and other foods that they can suffocate in. It is important to evaluate the size of the nipples to avoid accidents.

Always try to mash the food so they can easily swallow it themselves. Do not give your baby too large pieces. Lastly , you should not add salt as it is not good for them. It can actually increase the risk of chronic diseases.