Breast milk (or formula if you opt for bottle feeding) continues to provide substantial amounts of key nutrients beyond the first year of life.
Health experts advise that weaning the baby too early may increase the risk of allergies. If you want to introduce solid foods before six months, consult your doctors first. Food should be avoided for babies below six months include eggs, shellfish, fish, peanut and tree nuts which your baby’s immune system is too young to handle, and may trigger allergy.
Look out for some signs to show that your baby is developmentally ready for weaning:
• Sits with support and has a good head control
• Seems hungrier than usual
• Has almost doubled his or her birth weight
• Shows an interest while you are eating or preparing food
• Frequently puts objects into his or her mouth
• Can sit up with little support and turn his or her head away when full
• Can move a dab of thinned baby food to the back of her tongue and swallow it
• Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have questions or need more specific advice.
Most doctors recommend a single-grain cereal like rice cereal as the baby’s first solid food as rice is least likely to cause allergic reaction. Look for infant cereals that are fortified with iron and essential vitamins and minerals. Read the label carefully and prepare according to the instructions.
Use a little of your baby’s usual milk to mix with the rice cereal (1 to 2 teaspoons) to soup-like consistency. You may place the spoon up to the lips and not in the mouth. Give your baby the first solid food when he or she is calm and alert, probably at the mid-morning after the morning feed.
Tips on first foods
• A single baby spoon or two of any solid is enough for the first taste.
• In the first days, start with milk feed to take the edge off baby’s hunger, then offer your baby just a couple of teaspoons once a day.
• Allow baby to be familiar with the feel of the spoon until he/ she learns to take food from spoon.
• Give more if your baby wants more, and stop feeding if there is a rejection
• Be sure to wait about three days between each type of cereal to see how your baby tolerates them. Watch for any allergic responses and if any of these occur, eliminate the food from her diet and call your pediatrician.
Suggested menu ideas:
• Infant Rice Cereals mixed with milk
• Pureed cooked vegetables such as carrot, potato and sweet potato
• Mashed banana, scraped apple, pear
Get information about what foods can your baby eat and some yummy recipes.
Sleep
Are you still co-sleeping with your child? While there are many bonding advantages to this, do try teaching him/ her to sleep independently. The older baby gets, the more resistant he/she will become towards sleeping alone.
