Introducing your little one to their first foods is the start of an exciting new chapter for your family. We talked to Michele Gresser, board certified specialist in pediatric nutrition and clinical dietitian Akron Children’s Hospital: Infants/ NICU, for some tips for starting solids with your future foodie.
What age do you typically start introducing food to your baby?
“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solid foods to a baby around 6 months of age. It recommends exclusively breast feeding (or feeding infant formula) for approximately 6 months after birth. If your baby was premature then use their corrected age (age using their due date or subtract the number of weeks they were born early from their actual age). Remember all breastfed babies and formula fed babies taking less than 32 ounces a day should be on a Vitamin D supplement.
Babies have a natural tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food back out and this reflex typically disappears around 4-6 months of age. Wait until this reflex disappears before starting solids.
Research has shown that the “magic window” or ideal time to introduce solid foods is between 6-8 months of age. Babies are usually developmentally ready for it.”
What are the signs that your baby is ready to start trying food?
“Developmental readiness: sit up with good head control, open their mouth when offered food, shows interest in watching you eat, and have tongue movement to swallow purees (the natural tongue-thrust reflex has disappeared).”
What are the best foods to start with?
“Begin offering one to two times each day and start with 1 to 3 teaspoons of smooth or pureed foods. Or, if you choose to follow baby-led weaning (a self-feeding approach at the start of having solid foods) then choose a food that your family enjoys and is safe at baby’s age. If baby is not ready for self-feeding at 6 months of age, then offer purees from a spoon. Have a spoon for you and a spoon for baby. Try pre-loading a spoon and handing it to the baby.
Foods good to start with: iron-rich foods (single-grain cereal like oatmeal), pureed bananas, avocado, sweet potatoes, mango or green peas. Try different temperatures like cool applesauce or warm cereal. Expand flavors. New flavors can cause the baby to make funny faces but that’s OK — the flavors are new. By 10 months of age, your baby should be having three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Babies need iron at 6 months when their iron stores become naturally depleted. Iron helps support a baby’s red blood cells, development, energy and focus. So, prioritize iron-rich foods like iron-fortified cereals, pureed meat, fish, sardines, chicken, eggs, cooked plain tofu, or legumes. For better iron absorption, pair these foods with a Vitamin C rich food. Vitamin C is found in vegetables and fruits. Easy tip to add iron: sprinkle some infant iron fortified cereal into baby’s purees or yogurt.”
How and when should parents introduce foods that are common allergens (milk/dairy, egg, soy, tree nuts, peanut, fish/shellfish, sesame and wheat)?
“Start early at 6 months of age and offer separate from other new foods (only one common food allergen per day). Give a very small amount at first and watch for/record any reactions before offering more. Then offer these foods consistently in baby’s diet (weekly). Most reactions occur within minutes (but up to 2 hours). If your baby has severe eczema or an existing food allergy, then consult with your pediatrician or allergist.”
Dairy: Yogurt: opt for plain, unsweetened yogurt (Greek or regular) made with whole milk.
Peanut Butter: Mix 1-2 tsps of peanut butter with 2-3 tsps of water, breast milk or infant formula to thin it out.
Eggs: Puree or mash a hard-boiled egg and mix it with breast milk or infant formula.
Are there any foods you should avoid giving your baby?
“No honey (or foods with honey) under 1 year of age. Honey may contain a type of bacteria called Clostridium in it which can cause infant botulism. Infant botulism can cause muscle weakness, a weak cry, poor sucking, constipation and floppiness (decreased muscle tone).
No unpasteurized milk/milk products/juice or cider. No raw or undercooked meat/fish/poultry/eggs/sprouts.
Instead of offering rice cereal the AAP recommends introducing oatmeal cereal to your baby instead. The reason is arsenic. Arsenic is a natural element found in some foods such as rice and rice products. Too much arsenic may be harmful to babies and young children. So, remember to offer different grains.
As baby progresses with solids, avoid foods that are small, hard food, slippery and round: such as whole nuts, whole grapes, hot dogs, hard candy/taffy/gum, popcorn, uncut cherry or grape tomatoes, raw vegetables and apples, to reduce the risk of choking. Always supervise your child while they are eating.
Do not give babies whole cows (or goat) milk as a main drink until they are 1 year old then limit to 16 to 24 ounces/day.”
Should babies be given juice or other drinks?
“Remember no bottle propping and only offer breast milk or infant formula from a bottle. The AAP recommends no juice before 1 year of age. Then juice (100% fruit juice, pasteurized) should be limited to 4 ounces in toddlers ages 1-3 years of age and only be used as part of a meal or snack. Juice should always be offered from a cup and offered during meals or snacks after solid foods. Once a baby is 6 months of age, sips of water (limit to a total 4 ounces/day) from a cup.”
