Since breastfeeding creates a close link between the mother and child, it is one of the most emotional times for mothers. When a mother breastfeeds, her happy hormones are released, and the baby receives all the nourishment he needs to grow and thrive. Eventually, when the child is large enough to consume solid food and absorb additional nutrients, this procedure must terminate, which may cause the mother much suffering and heartache.
For newborns, starting solid food is a major milestone that needs to be achieved with the utmost care, consideration, and timing, and at Cocoon Care, we will provide you with all the necessary information you must eventually have, being a mother or the closest one to your baby.
When to Start Solid Foods – Right Age for Introducing Solids to Infants
Until the infant becomes six months old, one of the safest and healthiest foods is his mother's milk. It gives the infants all the nourishment they need and keeps them healthy. You may begin giving solid food to the infant when they become six months old, though, since it contains additional vital minerals like iron and zinc that breastmilk cannot. Additionally, when your child moves into the stage of rapid physical and mental development, he will begin to exhibit some indications, and you will get to know when to start feeding baby foods.
- He has good neck and head control.
- He will start sitting up straight on the chair.
- He leans out to food or takes his hand or toys in his mouth wide open.
- His tongue reflexes have changed. Instead of throwing food out of the mouth, he learns to use his tongue to swallow the food.
- His weight has started to increase.
It's important to talk to your doctor about when is the best time to introduce foods to your infant if you see any of these symptoms in them. There is a worry, though, that you shouldn't feed him solid food or any other liquid till after six months since it might endanger his life.
How to Choose the First Infant Solid Food?
Continue nursing your child until you are ready to introduce solid meals. Start your kid off with a range of healthy meals and continue to give them 32 ounces of breastmilk, but you should still be knowledgeable about how to introduce food to babies.
How to Introduce Solids to Babies?
Here is how you can introduce solid food to your baby:
1. Start with simple food
Choose any basic cuisine that your doctor has advised or that you have personally experienced, but make sure it is free of extra salt or sugar. After feeding that meal for three or four days, switch to a different kind. If the baby's body isn't ready for solid food ingestion in the next three to four days, it will manifest symptoms like rashes, vomiting, or diarrhoea. You can switch to a different kind if there are no visible indicators.
2. Go for nutrient-rich food
At this age, zinc and iron are the highly needed nutrients. So, opt for the solids which are rich in iron and zinc for the healthy and mental development of the baby.
3. Baby cereals
For a nutritious baby's diet, combine one spoonful of iron-rich baby cereal with four tablespoons of breast milk. After the infant is more likely to consume it, you can switch to 1 to 2 tablespoons of breastmilk or give them more baby cereal. However, do not use the bottle for this. Assist the infant in finding a comfortable sitting posture and let him use a spoon to eat.
4. Vegetables and fruits
You can blend a single vegetable or fruit and give it to him to develop some taste in his mouth.
5. Go for water
After your baby has become acclimated to eating cereal or solid food, it's appropriate to offer them water to drink after meals. While drinking water is not necessary while utilizing breastmilk, it is generally recommended that the infant learn to prefer water to juice or other liquids.
By now, you must have a good hold on when you can start solid food for your baby. However, if you are looking for newborn clothing to dress your little one up, then check out Cocooncare's amazing collection of baby clothes. We bring you soft and skin-friendly clothing for your baby, which protects it from skin issues such as eczema.
Happy Shopping!
FAQs on the Right To Introducing Solids To Infants
1. How long after solids should I give milk?
A: A healthy balance needs to be struck between solid foods and milk, with milk being your baby's first preference. Consequently, until your kid is eight months old, you must nurse him before giving him solid food.
2. How much solid food should the baby start with?
A: Until your baby learns to swallow, you must offer him one to two tablespoons of solid food at a time. You may also increase the amount of teaspoons as your baby's appetite grows. However, remember to nurse him as well.
3. Does the baby drink less milk when starting solid food?
A: Yes, the baby's intake of breastmilk steadily decreases after he begins to eat solid food. Nevertheless, he has to consume 32 ounces of breastmilk every day until he becomes 8 or 9 months old. And the consumption drops to 28 to 30 ounces per day up until the age of 12 months.
4. When should I worry about my baby not eating solids?
A: Usually, the infant might occasionally object to eating solids at first, but when he is still refusing to put any solid food in his mouth at the age of eight months, it becomes concerning. Then, you need to see a physician.
5. How many stages of baby food are there?
A: Usually, feeding solid food falls in 3 stages, likely,
- Giving purees of single ingredients such as vegetable or fruit mixed with water or baby cereal mixed with breastmilk around six months of age
- Thicker or mashed food, which is a combination of more than one vegetable or fruit till 9 to 10 months of age.
- 10 to 12 months babies can now start with chewable food, encouraging them to chew.
