Introducing Solids To Your Baby
Explore the basics of infant feeding and how they can lead healthy lives through eating.
It is important to exclusively feed your newborn with breast milk for its first six months of living.
Nearing the seventh month, moms look for creative ways to introduce solid foods to their newborns and explore Best foods for babies.
Babies are curious and often love to show a form of independence as they grow older.
Testing out what works for your baby should be as fun as it is educational, so hop on and learn a few hacks on how to introduce solid foods to your baby!
During the seventh month of your newborn baby, you might be curious about how and what to feed your baby. Here are factors mothers should consider before introducing their infants to solid foods.
● The pace at which your baby shows interest in solid foods. Babies are different, and they are urged to eat what the other family members are eating. An infant might show signs like reaching for your food, trying to take bites, and opening their mouth when you bring a spoon towards them.
● The portion of the food. Before giving your baby solid foods, check out the portion your baby could finish. Do not try to force your baby to eat more than he/she can. This causes an unhealthy relationship with food later in life.
● The baby’s acceptance of solid foods. How willing is your infant when it comes to tasting new foods? Do they accept it or shove every single food away? Do they start gradually or do they accept any food recommendations? You should keep these factors in mind when feeding your baby solid foods.
To start introducing your babies to solid foods, start with a banana puree with breast milk. Watch your baby’s reaction to the food. Then increase the pace gradually before going into real solids.
How To Introduce Solid Foods To Babies
How to introduce Solid Foods to Your Baby?; Introducing a growing human to solid foods can be quite interesting and even experimental. It can improve the connection between mother and child and also helps the mother notice complications earlier like allergies, digestive issues in the child and a dislike for a certain food. These are ways to introduce your baby to solids, and you can start experimenting in the first week of the seventh month.
Here are ways to introduce solid foods to your baby, and get them the nutrients they need.
● Start With Soft Foods.
Puréed cucumbers, mashed bananas, and mashed potatoes are recommended for the first week of introduction. Soft foods make it easier for the baby’s body to digest easily while getting accustomed to solid foods.
● Start Slow
Starting slow means going in with smaller portions, gradually watching the baby’s urge to taste solid foods, and increasing pace according to their demands. Be creative and balance their diets, while encouraging them to eat their food. Babies tend to play with their food and mess up the table, so it is recommended to feed them to let them understand better, and also get used to feeding themselves.
● Learn The Baby’s Likes And Dislikes
Once you figure out what your baby’s favorite foods are, you will get better at introducing your baby to new foods! Try adding their favorite foods to any meals as that will encourage them to eat more and expand their food selection.
● Introduce Them To Fruits
Fruits are delicious, packed with nutrients, and increase hydration in the baby’s body. These fruits are beneficial to your baby’s health, indulging in a mashed fruit stuffed in a baby sucker can act as a teething toy while providing the baby something to snack on.
● Introduce appetizing foods
Babies are curious. A food that looks more colourful than the other would be more likely to be picked by a baby. Mashed fruits look colourful and vibrant, and adding extra vegetables to your mashed potatoes makes them more nutritious and colourful for a baby to eat.
It’s important to trust the process and have fun with your baby as you find out what is best for them.
Best Foods To Introduce To Babies
It has been reported that a baby could eat any type of food if they see it fit. However, a baby can have digestive problems, alongside kidney problems if certain types of foods are introduced to the baby. That’s why it is important to do a little bit of research before going into feeding your baby with solid foods.
These are the best foods for your baby that are beneficial to the baby’s health and digestive system.
● Hard boiled eggs; They are a nutritious source of protein and folate which is beneficial to a baby’s nervous development. Half an egg is enough serving of protein for breakfast alongside other foods.
● Mashed potatoes with boiled carrots; This is the most common type of solid food given to a baby. It is simple and filling, as it provides energy and nutrients from the soft and delicious meal.
● Mashed bananas; This is a tasty and nutritious food recommendation for a baby. It is filling also, and with its natural sweetness and texture, your baby is sure to love this delightful fruit.
● Diced-up berries, watermelon, puréed cucumbers, and mashed avocados are also great options for a baby to consume
These foods have their benefits to a baby’s growth and development, as well as their health.
What Not To Feed Your Baby
Babies are still developing and growing. Their systems might be delicate and susceptible to injuries or complications. Some food sources or additives are very dangerous to a baby’s delicate organs, so be sure to know the foods to hide away from your baby’s curious mouth.
● Unpasteurised milk and dairy products contain harmful bacteria that are very harmful to babies. Also, digesting unpasteurised milk will be difficult and stressful for a baby.
● Uncooked eggs might contain salmonella which could degrade babies’ health
● Food with salt destroys the function of the kidneys in babies and increases dehydration.
● Limes and lemons are very acidic and undesirable to babies.
It is important to keep these food sources away from babies. As they grow, you try what will benefit their health and protect their immune system.
Tips To Keep A Baby Healthy
Before handling a baby, you should keep a few things in mind as babies can get infected easily. You should also check their hygiene, yours, and their overall health.
Here are a few tips that could help you manage a baby as a new mom.
● Wash your hands before attending to your baby. Your baby is very fragile and can contract infections easily. Washing and sanitising your hands is very important and recommended to all mothers to prevent complications from bacterial infections.
● Never shake your baby as it can cause bleeding in the brain and death. Never attempt to play roughly, throw the baby into the air or engage in very active workouts with your baby. It causes so many complications that will affect your baby’s health later in life.
● Always wash them properly, but not frequently to avoid irritation, nappy rash and dryness.
● Give your babies attention, care and love and bond with them as much as you can.
● Feed them regularly and frequently, and never miss their meal time.
● Always support their head and necks, as they lack support. Cradle your baby’s head when putting it down, support the head when carrying the baby up, and fasten your baby securely to a stroller or carrier.
● Never lay your child on their stomach or side, as this may increase the risk of sudden infant death. Always lay them on their backs.
These tips are lifesaving and very helpful to new moms who lack experience in how to manage their newborns and infants. Alongside the healthy diet of the child, make sure to also practise healthy eating habits, hygiene and self-care. Take care of your mental health, and seek help from family and friends. A healthy mom with better mental health is sure to have healthy, happy babies also.
Summary
Introducing solid foods to a baby can be a hassle sometimes, especially when you’re new to motherhood. This post discussed how you can safely and effectively introduce solid foods to babies. Solid foods are beneficial to a baby’s health as the baby’s body needs additional vitamins and minerals to nourish the body. This post also shared what a baby should eat to improve health and also gain energy. Food sources that are rich in protein, iron and folate are highly recommended for babies.
Watermelon and cucumbers for hydration, eggs for iron, folate and protein, berries for vitamins, fiber and potassium are good examples of what mothers should introduce their infants to. Tips on how to keep a baby safe and healthy while bonding were also shared. Important factors should be kept in mind when handling infants. Cradling your baby carefully, practicing proper hygiene and balancing your baby’s diet are tips for keeping a baby nourished and healthy.
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