As a first time parent, there can be new aspects that you want to understand better for your baby. For instance, it is a great deal to determine the baby first foods correctly to ensure their nutrition as they grow. Since a baby cannot eat solid foods yet, it is your job to ensure proper nutrition using breastfeed or infant formula.
However, a baby cannot live with milk alone. In this guide, we’ll be discussing the stages of when to introduce solid foods, and how to start it. Let’s begin and determine the common baby first foods in this guide!
Baby First Foods After Birth
After birth, the only food that your baby can digest is milk. It is ideal to provide breast milk to give sustenance for your baby. This type of milk is only produced by mothers who recently gave birth to their child. The baby usually consumes milk from 0 months until 6 months.
Take note that it is normal to produce only a little breast milk in the beginning. Breastfeeding takes time, but if there’s still a problem with producing this human milk, it’s best to use breast pumps. This equipment allows you to pump more milk, allowing you to feed your baby.
However, if it is still impossible to produce some milk, it’s best to consult with a pediatrician to determine if formula milk is needed.
Amount and Duration of Breastfeeding
In terms of feeding time, you might notice frequent times where your baby gets hungry. Although, consistency in schedule can sometimes change depending on the appetite of your baby. That’s why it’s best to cater to them whenever they get hungry. Moreover, there are times where your baby tends to be hungrier, which can be associated with their growth spurt. It’s best to monitor your baby’s cues as it can signify when they are hungry.
On the other hand, the amount of milk that babies usually have can depend on how hungry they are. During the early weeks, you may notice that the baby only feeds for a few moments. This nursing time can still extend as their growth continues. Although, some babies can also be more hungry during less than 2 months, and tend to sleep more as they grow older.
In that case, it is best to monitor your baby and be ready whenever they get hungry. You may also notice some patterns, making the feeding time easier to guess.
Baby Cues When Hungry
Early Baby cues:
- sucking fingers
- moving closer to the mother to latch for breastfeeding time
- becoming more alert
Late Baby Cues:
- Crying
- Agitation
When to Introduce Variety of Foods to Your Baby
Once the baby turns 6 months of age, it is time to introduce solid foods for the first time. It is a good idea for babies to increase their nutrition through slowly incorporating solid foods in their meals. That way, you can check for possibilities of upset stomach, allergies, and others.
Signs your baby Is ready for solid foods:
- Sitting up with minimal support
- Showing interest in your food
- Losing the tongue-thrust reflex
- Ability to open mouth when food is offered
Take note that giving solid foods takes time. It is important to be alert, especially if you want to know which foods are best for your baby. In short, food safety is a must for infant nutrition.
Read related article about baby’s developmental milestone and growth
Tips for Safe Feeding
When introducing solid food items, you might want to double check some pieces of food on the plate. This milestone of your baby is crucial so you can avoid the wrong way of feeding your baby. For instance, introducing new foods one at a time can help identify potential allergies. Common food items that can result in allergy are dairy, nuts, soy, shellfish, egg, etc.
Try following these tips below to safely introduce solid foods to your toddler:
- Ensure food is pureed or mashed to avoid choking hazards.
- Avoid honey, whole nuts, and added salt or sugar in baby foods.
- Wait about 3-5 days before introducing another new food
- Keep an eye out for signs of allergic reactions such as rashes, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Always supervise your baby during feeding.
Read related article about baby teething
Best First Baby Food Recipes to Try
There are countless options for baby starter foods. However, as a first time parent, you might be hesitant on what to experiment on in terms of solid food introduction. In that case, you might want to check the following options below.
Take note that as your baby gets older, you can mix and match the following options to provide a better tasting meal for your baby. If you feel the need for guided advice, it’s best to visit a registered dietitian or consult your baby’s pediatrician.
Puree Variety of Fruits and Vegetables
The best source of nutrition is fruits and vegetables. That’s why it is ideal to use them as baby first foods. However, remember that babies cannot digest food properly yet. So. It’s best to try and soften any solid food for easier digestion. For instance, try mashing soft ripe fruits and make sure to get rid of lumpy textures.
Here are some baby food recipes you might want to try:
a. Banana Puree
Bananas are known for being a good source of potassium, fiber, protein, and more. It is one of the fruits that is ideal for those with digestive problems. Thus, making it a better choice as the first solid food for your baby.
b. Squash Puree
Meanwhile, squash is known for aiding digestion, good fiber source, and contains vitamin C. In that case, giving squash puree is beneficial for your baby.
c. Avocado Puree
Another fruit that offers nutrients to your baby is avocado. It is highly recommended as it is packed with healthy fats. Furthermore, it is creamy when mashed, making it a great texture for feeding your baby.
d. Carrot Puree
On the other hand, if you want to ensure a healthy eye health for your baby, introducing carrots can be the best choice. Carrots are packed with vitamin A that ensures good vision. It can also help with your baby’s immune system as it contains vitamin C.
e. Apple Puree
Lastly, an apple is one fiber source for health that you must feed your baby. You can easily puree them or make it a fruit juice as your baby’s drink. Apples contain fiber and vitamin C. Thus, ensuring great digestion for your baby.
Grains and Baby Cereals
Aside from fruits and veggies, it is also ideal to introduce baby foods like infant cereal. Usually, it contains oatmeal or rice cereal, fortified with iron. This type of food allows your baby to get used to grainy textures. Don’t worry as it can be digested well as it is formulated to cater to a baby’s digestion.
If your baby gets older than 6 months, you can also mix in some pureed fruits in the dry cereal. This option makes the meal tastier. However, always monitor how much your baby can eat.
Read this blog to know more about healthy diet and nutrition using go grow glow foods
Protein-Rich Foods
Protein is a must for your baby’s growth. However, for texture, your baby might not be able to digest it yet, making it difficult to feed strands of meat like chicken, pork, and beef. In that case, when introducing solids, try to use mashed beans instead as a source of protein.
Once your baby gets older and is ready to chew on foods, you can slowly incorporate chicken, pork, or beef into their diet. Just make sure that they can eat it properly. So, it’s best to consider the size and softness of the meat. In short, try cutting them into finger food shapes, ideal for chewing food for your infant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What foods should I avoid giving my baby?
Your baby’s digestive system is still sensitive to different textures and content. That’s why it is highly recommended to give food items that are gentle on the stomach. In that case, it’s best to avoid giving too much flavored foods like sugary foods and high-salt content food items. Furthermore, you should also avoid milk alternatives like cow’s milk. If you cannot produce breast milk, it’s better to try infant formula milks instead. Lastly, honey is considered to be harmful for infants. So, try to avoid giving it to your baby.
How do I know if my baby has a food allergy?
If you have a food allergy, likely your baby got it too. However, it cannot be concluded that way. So, a better way to determine your baby’s food allergy is to be careful when introducing baby first foods. At the same time, you must watch for symptoms like rashes, hives, vomiting, or difficulty breathing after eating a new food. These signs can indicate allergic reactions.
When should I consider consulting a pediatrician for my baby’s milestones?
Development of your baby is an important matter as they grow. In that case, you must be knowledgeable on what to do next, especially when introducing foods, immunizations, and other developmental needs of your baby. If you need assistance for the mentioned scenarios, it’s best to pay your baby’s pediatrician a visit.
If you don’t have a pediatrician yet, you can check NowServing to choose the best pediatrician for your baby. The pediatrician consultation fee starts at Php 500.00. Learn more here.
Conclusion
Introducing baby first foods is a critical step in your child’s nutrition journey. By offering a variety of healthy options, you help lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.
Remember to start slow, be patient. For professional guidance, book a consultation with a pediatrician today!
