How Old Are Babies When They Start Eating Baby Food
Fundamental facts
- Introduce solid foods at effectually 6 months simply non before iv months.
- Breastfeeding or bottle feeding should go on up to 12 months.
- Nutrient can be offered in whatever gild every bit long as it is the correct texture and is nutritious.
- Innovate 'allergy foods' when you are introducing solids.
- Always supervise your infant when they are eating.
When should I introduce solid foods to my baby?
Your babe just needs chest milk or infant formula for the offset 6 months.
At around 6 months former, well-nigh babies – whether they are chest or formula fed – need more iron likewise as other nutrients, such as zinc and protein. A baby's atomic number 26 stores, which build upward while they're in the uterus, become low by six months. Their body besides demands extra kilojoules and food-dense food.
The current recommendation is to introduce solids at around six months only not earlier 4 months. Each babe is an individual and will show signs of readiness for solid foods at different times. Even so, all babies benefit from having solid foods by 7 months of age.
Babies as well demand solid foods, as well as breast milk or formula, to satisfy their hunger and meet their extra growth needs.
How will I know my baby is gear up for solids?
Some babies seem very satisfied with breastfeeding or bottle feeding, even though they have reached 6 months. Following your baby's lead volition help you lot decide when they are ready for solids.
Get-go with modest amounts of soft, fe-rich, pureed foods. Your baby tin can exist offered any food, in any gild, as long as it is the right texture (see below) and is nutritious.
Your baby is ready for solids when they tin:
- sit upright in a highchair with their head and dorsum unsupported
- they're not as satisfied with their milk and seem hungry after they've been breast or canteen fed
- might show an involvement in the food y'all're eating and reach out to eat some, likewise
- evidence excitement about food
- open up their rima oris as you offer them a spoon
Why tin't I give my babe solid foods before vi months?
Babies need to be developmentally ready to eat solid foods. Learning how to move food from the front of the tongue to the back of the mouth and so swallow is a skill that needs practice.
Until iv to half dozen months of age, babies all the same have a 'tongue extrusion reflex' – this ways they push food out of their mouth with their tongue. Giving solids before 4 to half-dozen months can be a choking risk. Until they're former enough, babies only know how to suck and swallow milk, non how to motility more than solid textures to the back of their oral cavity to be swallowed.
Giving solids before your baby is ready can also hateful they fills up on solids and won't drink the milk they demand to grow and thrive.
For how long should I go on breastfeeding or canteen feeding?
Breastfeeding or formula feeding should keep until your baby is 12 months old. Subsequently that, water and moo-cow's milk served in a cup should be your babe's main drinks. Cow'south milk should be limited to around 500ml per day. Some babies can have an intolerance or allergy to cow'southward milk, then they may need an alternative, such equally soy. Follow your doctor'southward or allergy specialist's advice and read nutrient labels carefully.
Breastfeeding tin can continue for equally long as you and your baby are happy to keep going, simply babe formula is not needed later 12 months.
Read more than about balancing solids with milk feeds.
Can I give my baby 'allergy foods'?
Allergy foods are foods or potable that tin trigger an allergic reaction. Mutual allergenic foods are peanut butter, cow's milk, wheat, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts (such as almonds, coconut and hazelnuts), sesame and soy.
The all-time time to introduce allergy foods is when y'all are introducing solids. It is too recommended that you introduce allergy foods before your baby reaches 12 months sometime. Leaving it until they are older may increment the chance of your baby developing an allergy.
If you lot're concerned that your baby could take a food allergy, speak to your healthcare provider.
Learn more here nearly how to introduce allergy foods.
How to kickoff introducing solids
Solid foods tin be introduced in whatsoever order equally long as they are iron-rich and the food is the right texture. Wait for signs that your baby'south prepare for solids.
In that location is no articulate recommendation nearly the best time of day to offer first solids. But it tin be helpful to give your baby solids after a milk feed, mid-morning, then if they're unsettled, it's less likely to touch their night-fourth dimension sleep.
If you notice your baby loves solid foods so much that they're cutting back on their breastfeeds or bottle feeds, reduce the amount of solids you're offering. Breastmilk or infant formula is still an of import source of diet for the first 9 to 12 months of life.
What are the best foods and textures to offset with?
Offer your baby healthy, nutritious foods which will support their growth and development. When they first start on solid foods, they won't need much. 1 to 2 teaspoons is enough until they acquire what'southward involved in coordinating their mouth to open, chew and consume.
Start by offer your baby pureed foods that have a smooth and piece of cake-to-swallow texture. Even though your baby won't have teeth to chew and grind their food, they volition still use their gums to 'chew'. As they get older, they tin can eat foods with more texture. Chewing also helps with jaw and spoken language evolution.
Yous can try feeding your baby:
- fe-fortified cereals
- pureed or minced red or white meat, including fish
- cooked vegetables. Aim for white, orangish, light-green and yellow vegetables in their diet each solar day.
- fruit, either cooked or mashed
- cooked and mashed egg
- dairy foods — for instance, unsweetened yoghurt and full-fat cheese
- wholegrain breadstuff, cereal and pasta
Every bit your baby grows, transition them from purees to mashed foods with lumps and textures. Yous can as well serve minced or chopped food, then 'finger foods'. These are foods that are cut into small pieces which babies can selection up and eat themselves.
How important is diversity?
Aim for variety when it comes to your babe'south foods. Colour, texture and taste are all important characteristics of kickoff foods.
Where possible, cook and gear up your infant's foods so y'all know what's in them. Aim for fresh fruits and vegetables, cooked with a minimum of water until they are soft plenty to chew. Freeze small containers or ice-cube trays containing freshly cooked meals.
Nigh babies testify some hesitation when offered new foods and textures. It's worth reoffering foods a few times until they testify involvement or information technology's clear they're not keen and would prefer something else.
Share suitable food from your own plate and get into the addiction of offering your baby different tastes. Avert adding salt or stiff-tasting additives or spices to your babe'south nutrient. Their gustation buds are very sensitive and tin notice fifty-fifty the near subtle flavours. By around 12 months former, most babies should be eating by and large the same food as the rest of the family.
Tips for introducing solid foods
- Until your infant is nine months, offer them breast milk or formula feeds before solids. Afterward 9 months, they can have breast milk or formula afterward their solids.
- Be sensitive to your baby's cues or signals that they are hungry or total. Don't force them to eat or go along offering food if they're turning away, closing their mouth or not swallowing.
- Give your babe plenty of time to practise their new eating skills. At get-go, they'll spit the food out, may seem unsure or pull faces at the taste of sure foods. Remember, eating solids is as much about learning as it is about nutrition.
- Let your baby make a mess. Equally soon as they are ready, offer them finger foods and the opportunity to pick upward food and put it in their mouth.
- Always supervise your infant when they are eating solid foods. Small, difficult foods can be a choking hazard – although babies can asphyxiate on any food of any texture.
- Make sure you melt and store your baby's food safely. Never reheat food that has been reheated previously, or that has been sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Are there any foods my baby shouldn't eat?
There are some foods that are not suitable for infants, including:
- moo-cow'due south milk as their primary milk drink from half-dozen to 12 months
- reduced-fat milk or unpasteurized milk and dairy foods
- whole nuts, popcorn, hard sweets, whole grapes, raw carrot, raw apples or other difficult fruit and vegetables
- love — this can contain spores of botulism and should not exist given to babies under 12 months
- cordial, soft drink or sweet drinks
- tea, coffee or energy drinks
When can my baby take water to drink?
Once your baby has reached half dozen months, they're old enough to be offered water to drink. Cooled, boiled water can be offered in a sippy cup at mealtimes and in-betwixt.
As long as a breastfed or bottle-fed baby is offered plenty of milk, they don't need extra water to potable. Information technology's the do of drinking from a cup which is useful.
Is a vegetarian or vegan diet safety for my baby?
Babies and toddlers fed a vegetarian or vegan diet can thrive as long as their food contains sufficient energy (kilojoules) and nutrients for growth.
Iron is especially important from vi months. Nut pastes (such equally peanut butter), avocado, wholegrains, tofu, healthy fats and oils are all keen options. Iron-fortified cereal and greenish leafy vegetables are besides essential.
If you are planning to offer your baby a vegan or vegetarian diet, speak to an Accredited Practising Dietitian before getting started.
Which is better – bought or homemade food?
Many babies eat a combination of homemade and bought food. Shop-bought food is convenient and like shooting fish in a barrel to prepare. It's besides handy for when you are not at domicile or travelling. When buying store-bought food for your baby, read the labels and try to avoid foods that are high in sugar and table salt.
Although making your own food might be a fleck time-consuming, the advantage is you lot know what'southward in information technology. Making one big batch and freezing in portions volition go along style. Homemade food will help your baby become familiar with family cooked meals. You lot can serve minor portions of meals made for the residuum of the family earlier any salt or spices have been added. Making your own baby food is as well more affordable.
Where tin can I go for more information?
For more information on how to introduce solid foods, check with your child health nurse, or call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to talk to a maternal child health nurse.
How Old Are Babies When They Start Eating Baby Food
Source: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/introducing-solid-food
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