Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
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Solid (Strained) Foods
AGE FOR STARTING SOLID FOODS
The best time to begin using a spoon to feed your child is
when your baby can sit with some support and move his head
to participate in the feeding process. This time is usually
between 4 and 6 months of age. Breast milk and commercial
formulas meet all of your baby's nutritional needs until 4
to 6 months of age. Introducing strained foods earlier just
makes feeding more complicated. Research has shown that in
most cases solid foods won't help your baby sleep through
the night. The only exceptions are those few breast-fed
babies who are not getting enough calories or gaining enough
weight.
TYPES OF SOLID FOODS
- Cereals
Cereals are usually the first solid food added to your
baby's diet. Generally these are introduced to
formula-fed infants at 4 months of age and to breast-fed
infants at 6 months of age.
Cereals should be fed with a small spoon and never given
with formula in the baby's bottle. This is because an
infant should be taught to differentiate between what he
eats and what he drinks.
Start with rice cereal, which is less likely to cause
allergies than other cereals. Barley and oatmeal may be
tried 2 or 3 weeks later. A mixed cereal should be
added to your baby's diet only after each kind of cereal
in the mixed cereal has been separately introduced.
- Vegetables and fruit
Strained or pureed vegetables and fruits are the next
solid foods introduced to your baby. The order in which
you add vegetables and fruits to your baby's diet is not
important. However, you should introduce only one new
food at a time and no more than three new foods per
week.
- Meat and protein alternatives
By 7 to 8 months of age your baby should be ready for
strained or pureed meats and protein alternatives (such
as beans, peas, lentils, cottage cheese, and yogurt).
- Possibly allergenic foods
Egg whites, wheat, peanut butter, fish, and orange juice
may be more likely to cause allergies than other solid
foods, but this is controversial. Avoid adding these
foods to your baby's diet until 1 year of age,
especially if your infant has other allergies.
For more information, see Food Allergies.
SPOON FEEDING
Begin feeding your baby with a spoon at 4 to 6 months of
age. Place food on the middle of the tongue. If you place
it in front, your child will probably push it back at you.
Some infants get off to a better start if you place the
spoon between their lips and let them suck off the food.
Some children constantly bat at the spoon or try to hold it
while you are trying to feed them. These children need to
be distracted with finger foods or given another spoon to
hold.
By the time they are 1 year old, most children want to try
to feed themselves and can do so with finger foods. By 15
to 18 months of age, most children can feed themselves with
a spoon and no longer need a parent's help to eat.
FINGER FOODS
Finger foods are small, bite-size pieces of soft foods.
They can be introduced between 9 and 10 months of age or
whenever your child develops a pincer grip.
Most babies love to feed themselves. Since most babies will
not be able to feed themselves with a spoon until 15 months
of age, finger foods keep them actively involved in the
feeding process.
Good finger foods are dry cereals (Cheerios, Rice Krispies,
etc.), slices of cheese, pieces of scrambled eggs, slices of
canned fruit (peaches, pears, or pineapple), slices of soft
fresh fruits (especially bananas), crackers, cookies, and
breads.
SNACKS
Once your baby goes to three meals a day, or eats at 5-hour
intervals, he may need small snacks to tide him over between
meals. Most babies begin this pattern between 6 and 9
months of age. The midmorning and midafternoon snack should
be a nutritious, nonmilk food. Fruits and dry cereals are
recommended. If your child is not hungry at mealtime, cut
back on the snacks or eliminate them.
TABLE FOODS
Your child should be eating the same meals you eat by
approximately 1 year of age. This assumes that your diet is
well balanced and that you carefully dice any foods that
would be difficult for your baby to chew. Avoid foods that
he could choke on such as raw carrots, candy, peanuts or
other nuts, and popcorn. (For more information, see
Choking. )
IRON-RICH FOODS
Throughout our lives we need iron in our diet to prevent
anemia. Certain foods are especially good sources of iron.
Red meats, fish, and poultry are best. Some young children
will only eat lunch meats, and the low-fat ones are fine.
Adequate iron is also found in iron-enriched cereals, beans
of all types, egg yolks, peanut butter, raisins, prune
juice, sweet potatoes, and spinach.
VITAMINS
Added vitamins are not necessary after your child is 1 year
old and is eating a balanced diet. If he's a picky eater,
give him one chewable vitamin pill a week.
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