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Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby When to Start Around 6 months of age, the growth of your baby’s brain and body lead to physical developments that allow them to consume food. These include the ability to sit up, possessing head and neck control, showing interest in food, and opening their mouth to accept food. You can consult your pediatrician if you are not sure if your child is ready to accept solid food. Getting Started Prior to 6 months of age, a baby should get all their nutrition from breast milk or formula. After 6 months, solid food can be added to their diet, and the nutrition from milk should not be reduced. Initially, one or two small meals should be provided every day. The foods that are served should be mashed to make them easy to eat, and should contain essential nutrients for the baby. Good first food options include cereals, pureed poultry and meat, pureed lentils and beans, and mashed fruits and vegetables. Initially, serve no more than 2 tablespoons of food. New foods should be offered every 3 to 5 days to identify if there are any food allergies. Allergic reactions may include a rash and swelling. If your baby has difficulty breathing after consuming a food, contact emergency services. The recommendation is to incorporate common allergens like peanuts (liquid peanut butter, not peanut pieces), eggs, dairy, wheat, soy, fish and nuts, between 12 and 24 months of age. Children with eczema and/or food allergies should be evaluated by their doctor first. Food textures should be changed from smooth to mashed, and finally to soft and bite-sized, between 7 and 9 months, and 1 year, respectively. At 1 year, children should also be able to eat finger foods. Food should always be given under adult supervision, and with supplies inspected for safety. Whole grains, large pieces of raw vegetables and/or meat, and hot dog pieces should not be given. Honey and cow’s milk should also not be given, and salty foods should also be avoided. It is expected that a new food will not be accepted on the first try. Gagging should not be confused with choking. Crying and turning away are signs that a child is full.

Timing matters here. Most babies are ready to eat solid foods around 6 months old. Look for these signs of readiness: These include: sitting up, controlling his head and neck when in an upright position and showing interest in foods. Also, some babies lose their tongue thrust reflex around 6 months old and this is a good sign your baby is ready for solid foods. Before six months, however, your infant's only source of nutrition should be breast milk and/or formula. Your first meals are one of the most exciting milestones. Start small. Baby should be slightly hungry but not ravenous. Milk feedings are still the primary source of nutrition at this age, so don't overdo the solid foods. Continue regular milk feedings along with slowly introducing solid foods. Begin with only a few spoonfuls of food once or twice a day. Good first foods include bananas, cooked sweet potato, peas, or infant cereal. Infant cereal works very well as a first food. Pureed meat or poultry They provide iron Beans and lentils can be part of your baby's first foods. Vegetables like sweet potato, peas, carrots Fruits such as bananas, avocado Keep the first stage of solid foods simple. Start with a small amount of a single food item at a time. Let your baby get used to the taste and texture of this before introducing them to anything new. Adding new foods gives you a chance to introduce tastes and textures that will expand your baby's early food repertoire. Introduce one food at a time. Wait three to five days between foods. This makes it easier to identify what caused the problem if your baby has a reaction to something new. Watch for new or worsening problems such as diarrhea, a rash or swelling. Allergens should come into contact with the mouth in order to increase the likelihood of developing tolerance. Additionally, if parents wait until a child is older to introduce an allergenic food, it increases the likelihood of allergy developing. Peanut products should not be introduced in place of whole peanuts, however, in order to prevent choking. Texture comes next. Textures change gradually, progressing from smooth, thin purees to more grainy, thicker textures to finely mashed foods to softer foods and finally, to food cut into small bites. Safety comes first. Never leave your baby unattended while they are eating. Some foods are choking hazards. Whole nuts, grapes, raw carrots, and sliced hotdogs and foods of a similar size and shape should be avoided. Honey is off-limits for babies in their first year because it can contain a bacterium that causes infant botulism. Cow's milk should not be introduced before 12 months of age. Expect a slow process. Introducing solid foods takes time—lots of time. Acceptance takes time, be patient. Acceptance of new foods may only happen after 10 or more exposures. Gagging is normal, choking is not. Messy exploration is a normal part of this developmental process. Let your child determine the quantity, they’ll know when they’re full. This is a time of exploration.

A Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant Starting Solids Most babies can start eating solid foods around 6 months of age. Before that, breast milk or formula is all the nutrition your baby needs. Before you start solids, check with your baby’s doctor. Signs your baby is ready for solid foods: Can sit upright with only a little support Has good head and neck control Is interested in watching food being eaten Opens mouth when food is nearby Pushes food back out of mouth less (tongue-thrust reflex goes away) Tips for starting solid foods: Start with one or two small meals a day when your baby is in a good mood, not too hungry or tired. For the first year, your baby’s main source of nutrition should still be milk. Start with iron-rich foods such as: Iron-fortified infant cereal Pureed meats or poultry Mashed beans or lentils Pureed vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots, or peas Mashed fruits such as banana, avocado, or pear Start with just a teaspoon or two of food and let your baby take her time. She’s learning about food at this stage, not trying to get full. Introducing New Foods Try one new food at a time and wait three to five days before introducing another one. This will help you figure out if your baby is having an allergic reaction to a certain food. Signs of a food allergy include: Rash Hives Vomiting Diarrhea Swelling Seek emergency care if your baby has trouble breathing or swelling of the face after eating. Recent studies show that parents should not delay giving their babies potentially allergenic foods, including peanut (thinned peanut butter, not whole nuts), egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish, and tree nuts. Talk to your baby’s doctor first if your baby has severe eczema or has had a food allergy. Textures As your baby gets older you can slowly progress to different food textures: Around 7 to 9 months, try thicker mashed foods instead of smooth purees. By 9 to 12 months, try soft finger foods and small, tender pieces of food. Feeding solids with a spoon, practicing baby-led weaning, or using a combination of the two can help your baby learn how to chew and swallow. Tips for Introducing Solid Foods Safely Always supervise your baby while she’s eating and make sure she is sitting upright. Avoid foods that can cause choking such as: Whole nuts Whole grapes Popcorn Hard raw vegetables Chunks of meat or cheese Hot dog rounds Don’t give your baby honey until she’s older than 1 year because it can cause infant botulism. Don’t give your baby cow’s milk as a drink until she’s 12 months old. Don’t add salt or sugar to your baby’s food. Be Patient It can take 10 to 15 exposures before a baby accepts a new food. It’s normal for babies to gag while they’re learning to eat. Gagging and choking are not the same thing. Gagging is your baby’s way of learning to move food around in his mouth. Choking is when food gets stuck in your baby’s throat and he can’t breathe. Gagging is loud and choking is usually silent. Messy playtime with food is a way for babies to learn about food. Stop feeding when your baby turns her head away or closes her mouth. Don’t force your baby to eat.

# Starting Your Baby on Solids ## Age Your baby can most likely start eating solid foods at around the 6 month mark. Signs that your baby is ready for solids: They can sit up on there own with little help. Has head/neck control. They show interest in your food. Open their mouth when you bring food near them. No longer have the tongue thrust motion to push food out. Your baby does not need solids prior to the age of 6 months. Their nutrition can be provided through breast milk/formula. Always consult with your doctors before starting your baby on solids. ## Begin With Start your baby off with solids once or twice a day. Offer when they are content and not starving or sleepy. They will still be consuming mostly milk during their first year. Start your baby with iron rich foods. Your baby begins to deplete iron in there body around 6 months old. Some examples: - Cereal (Infant cereal that is fortified with iron) - Meats/chicken pureed - Beans/lentils mashed - Vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, peas etc) - Fruits (banana, avocado, pear etc) Feed your baby 1-2 teaspoons and go from there. They may only want to try new foods and not actually eat much. ## Add New Foods Add one new food at a time and allow 3-5 days before adding another. If your baby shows any signs of an allergy such as: Rash/hives, vomiting, diarrhea or swelling. Take your baby to the ER if they show signs of not being able to breathe or face becomes swollen. Introduce all common allergens to your baby. Peanuts(peanut butter thinned out no whole peanuts), eggs, milk, wheat, soybeans, fish, tree nuts. You should no longer wait to introduce these to your baby. Unless your baby has a known allergy or severe eczema speak with your doctor. ## Texture As your baby continues to grow you can start offering thicker foods. Around 7-9 months mash up foods that were once pureed. At 9-12 months offer finger foods and cut up foods. As long as they are soft and not too big for your baby to choke on it should be fine. You can feed your baby with a spoon, baby led weaning or both. ## Remember To Never leave your baby unattended during meal times. Keep them seated upright while eating. Never feed your baby: Whole Peanuts, whole grapes, popcorn, raw vegetables(hard), pieces of meat/cheese and hot dogs cut round. Do not give honey until your baby is one year old. Can cause botulism. Do not offer cows milk to your baby until 12 months of age. Do not add salt/sugar to your baby food. ## Patience It may take 10-15 times for your baby to accept a new food. Do not worry if your baby gags on food. This is different from choking. Its normal for your baby to play with their food and make a mess. Learn your babies cues when they are full. Do not force your baby to eat. Have fun with your baby!

# How to get started with Solids ## When should I start? Most babies are ready for solids around the 6 month mark. Signs your baby will be ready for solids are being able to sit up with some support, they have some control of their head and neck. Showing an interest, opening their mouth when you bring food close and no longer pushing food out with the tongue. Before 6 months old your baby will get all of the nutrition from breast milk or formula. Always consult your paediatrician. ## How to get started Try starting with one or two small meals a day. Try to get your baby to eat when they are relaxed and not too hungry/tired. Remember they will still get the majority of their nutrition from milk so it should be supplementary. Start with foods rich in iron as your baby's iron levels will begin to drop around 6 months: Iron fortified baby cereals Meat or poultry purees Bean or lentil mash Vegetable puree such as sweet potato, carrot or peas Fruit mash such as banana, avocado or pear. Start with just a teaspoon or two. Let your baby dictate how much they want. They will just be getting used to different tastes. ## Introducing New Food One food at a time. Leave 3-5 days between introducing new foods. This will make it easier to spot if they have an allergic reaction. Symptoms can include rashes, hives, vomiting, diarrhoea. If they are struggling to breathe or swollen face seek emergency help. Current guidelines suggest it is better to introduce common allergens early. These can include peanut products (Never give whole nuts, thin peanut butter), egg, dairy products, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts. If your baby has severe eczema or existing food allergy speak to your doctor. ## Textures As your baby gets older (7-9 months) you can start to move from puree to thicker mashes. By 9-12 months you can start to give them soft finger foods. Make sure whatever method you use (pureeing with a spoon, baby led weaning or a mix of both) you are giving them safe textures. ## Safety Always supervise your baby whilst they are eating and ensure they are sat upright. Avoid foods that could cause choking. These include whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, firm raw vegetable, chunks of meat/cheese and hot dog rounds. Do not give honey until they are 1 year old as they could get botulism. Do not give cow's milk until they are 12 months. Avoid adding salt or sugar. ## Patience It can take babies up to 10-15 times to get used to a new food. Gagging is normal whilst they are learning. This is not the same as choking. Let them get messy whilst they are learning. Watch for signs that they are full such as looking away or shutting their mouth. Never push them to eat. Have fun with this milestone!

# A Parent's Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby ## Time for Solids? Solid foods should be introduced around six months of age. Signs your baby is ready include: - Ability to sit unsupported, or close to unsupported, - Head and neck control, - Interest in food, - Opening mouth when food is offered, and - No tongue-thrust reflex, meaning your baby doesn't push food back with his tongue. Before six months, breastmilk or formula has all the nutrients needed. Please consult your pediatrician. ## How To Start Start with one or two small meals a day, but not at times your baby is too hungry or tired. It's important to realize that milk will remain primary food during the first year, so feeding solids is meant to complement breastfeeding or formula-feeding. It's good to start with iron-containing foods. The thing is, a baby's iron supplies become depleted around six months of age: - Iron fortified baby cereals, - Pureed meats or poultry, - Mashed beans and lentils, - Pureed vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, peas) - Mashed fruits (banana, avocado, pear). A tablespoon or two is enough initially, and it's your baby's job to tell how much he/she wants. ## One Food at a Time Start with introducing new foods one-by-one and give three to five days between different types of food to easily detect if a baby has a negative reaction, such as rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling or other problems. You have to contact a healthcare provider if there is difficulty breathing or face swelling. At present, doctors recommend introducing allergenic foods, such as peanut butter diluted in water (never whole peanuts), egg, milk products, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts without waiting until the child grows older, but if your baby has eczema or an allergy to something, talk to your pediatrician first. ## Increasing the Texture Gradually increase food consistency from smooth purees to thicker mashed foods around seven to nine months of age, and to soft finger foods and tiny pieces by nine to 12 months old. It really does not matter whether you will go for traditional spoon-feeding or baby-led weaning approach, as long as safe texture is guaranteed. ## Feed Safe Foods - Always stay close during meals; make sure that a baby sits while eating, - Be careful about choking hazards: whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, raw hard vegetables, chunks of meat or cheese and hot dog slices, do not give to your baby under 12 months of age, - Do not give honey until baby turns 12 months, because of potential botulism. - Cow's milk cannot be used until 12 month as a drink. Salt and sugar additions are strictly prohibited. ## Have Patience Remember that sometimes 10-15 feedings may pass until your baby accepts a food. Your baby may choke on solids, and there will be gagging. Both processes are distinct. Learning process involves making mess; be attentive to see if baby feels saturated (for example, he turns away or closes his/her mouth); do not force feed!

# A Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant ## When to Start Babies can start to eat solid foods at around 6 months old. They need to be able to sit up with support, hold their head up and have good control over their torso. They should also show an interest in food, open their mouth when you offer it and not push it back with their tongue (a natural reflex that disappears by around 6 months old). Until this time, breast milk or formula will provide all of the nutrients your baby needs, growing and developing normally. Always check with your pediatrician before introducing your baby to solid foods. ## Getting Started Start with 1-2 meals a day. As the first year of a child’s life is dominated by milk, you need to think of solid food as a ‘topping’ to their normal meals. For new foods it is best to introduce one at a time, wait three to five days and then introduce the next new food. This will allow you to determine if your baby has an allergic reaction such as a rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling. In emergency situations such as difficulty breathing or facial swelling call for emergency assistance. - Iron-fortified infant cereal - Pureed meats or poultry - Mashed beans or lentils - Pureed vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots, or peas - Mashed fruits such as banana, avocado, or pear Begin with a small amount of a new food and gradually increase the amount as the baby becomes accustomed to it. Typically we start with a teaspoon or two of a new food at first and gradually increase the amount as the baby becomes accustomed to it and starts to grow. ## Introducing New Foods Introduce one new food every 3-5 days to determine if an allergy will occur. Symptoms of an allergy are a red itchy rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea or swelling. If your child has difficulty breathing or develops facial swelling, call for emergency help. We now know that some foods are more likely to cause an allergy than others, and for that reason most of them should be introduced early into your baby’s diet. However, the method of introduction would vary depending on whether your baby has severe eczema or already has a food allergy. Always discuss with your doctor. ## Progressing Textures Stages of Development for Solid Foods: By around 7-9 months babies can manage thicker mashed foods, then by around 9-12 months they are able to manage soft finger foods and small, tender pieces of food. Whether you decide on spoon-feeding, baby-led weaning or a combination of the two it is all about the textures that you are giving your baby. ## Safety First - Always supervise meals, with your baby seated upright. - Whole nuts (including peanut) - Whole grapes - Popcorn - Hard raw vegetables - Chunks of meat or cheese - Hot dog rounds - Honey is not to be given to babies under age one due to the risk of botulism. - Don’t give your baby cow’s milk drink before 12 months old, and avoid giving foods with added salt and sugar. ## Be Patient Some babies need up to 10-15 exposures to a new food before they accept it. Gagging is different from choking. Gagging is silent and is a normal phase of learning to eat solid foods and make a mess while exploring his or her environment. Pay attention to your baby’s cues of being full (e.g. turning his or her head away or closing his or her mouth) and do not force feed your baby. Enjoy this milestone together.

This information will help you understand how to introduce solid foods to your baby. ## When to Start Giving solid foods to babies is typically appropriate at about 6 months of age. The following behaviors indicate readiness: sitting independently with little support, maintaining good head and neck control, taking an interest in food, and no tongue-thrust reflex to eject food. Breast milk or formula provides all your baby needs before 6 months. Be sure to consult your pediatrician before starting. ## Getting Started Start with 1-2 small meals at a time when your baby is not too hungry, too tired, and is as calm as possible. For the first year of life, continue to use milk as the main food; solids should be complementary food and not providing the bulk of energy. Iron-rich foods are a good choice as a first food as babies' iron stores start to run low at 6 months: - Iron-fortified infant cereal - Any cuts of meat or poultry except for those listed above - Blanco cheddar with tomato sauce or hummus dip - Winter vegetables like sweet potato, carrots or peas purred - Mashed foods like banana, avocado or pear Begin with a teaspoon or two - let your baby take the lead. Early feeding is not about getting ‘full' but about taste and texture. ## Introducing New Foods Introduce food items a few each 3-5 days. This will then help to detect if there is an allergy to the medication, including rashes, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling. Get immediate medical attention for trouble breathing or swelling of your face. It is currently thought that early exposure is better than later exposure for common foods such as peanut products (thinned peanut butter -- never whole ones), egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts. If your baby suffers from severe eczema, or has a known food allergy, please consult with your doctor before using this product. ## Progressing Textures Advise going from smooth purees to thicker mashed foods starting 7-9 months and soft finger foods and small tender pieces starting 9-12 months. In any of these methods, the important part is to provide safe textures, no matter which approach you decide to follow. ## Safety First - Always supervise meals, with your baby seated upright. Avoid choking foods: whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, chunks of meat or cheese and rounds of hot dogs. - Avoid giving honey before the 1st year of life as it poses the risk of botulism. Prevent the use of cow milk for drinking until 1 year old and the addition of salt and sugar. ## Be Patient If they reject a food, they may need to try the food again 10-15 times before they are ready to accept it. Gagging is common whilst they learn, and is not the same as choking (which is silent). Make-a-mess exploration is part of learning. Look for signs of saturation such as turning away or closing the mouth and never push feed. Enjoy this milestone together.

# Starting Your Baby On Solid Foods When to Start Babies are typically ready to try solid foods at approximately six months old. Key readiness cues include being able to sit well with little or no support, keeping their head and neck upright, appearing interested in what the family is eating, opening their mouth as food approaches, and the absence of the "tongue-thrust" reflex that automatically pushes food out of the mouth. Until your baby is six months old, breast milk and formula are sufficient sources of nutrition. Please consult with your pediatrician before getting started. Getting Started Start out with one or two small solid meals a day at times of the day your baby is calm and settled and not too hungry or tired. During the first year of life the main source of nourishment is breastmilk or infant formula. Foods are a complement to it and not the base of a baby's diet. Here are some good first food options, that are rich in iron as baby's iron stores may start to drop at six months: - Iron-fortified infant cereal - Pureed meats or poultry - Mashed beans or lentils - Pureed vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots, or peas - Mashed fruits like banana, avocado, or pear Begin with a few spoonfuls and gauge their interest; baby should take the lead. You're mainly just looking to introduce a new experience. Introducing New Foods Introduce foods one at a time and wait three to five days between each new food. This allows you time to note any signs of allergic reactions, including a rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling. Seek emergency care immediately if a child has a reaction that involves difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, tongue, or lips. Current advice is to start common allergens – including peanut products (diluted with water so it's a thinner consistency, never give whole nuts to a baby), egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts – earlier rather than delaying. Always speak to your GP before introducing these if your baby has a known severe eczema or a known food allergy. Progressing Textures Transitioning from a runny, pureed consistency to thicker, mashed, fork-smashable foods between 7 and 9 months, eventually leading to soft finger foods and tiny bite-sized, soft food pieces between 9 and 12 months. Whether you introduce purees (spoon-feeding), finger foods (baby-led weaning), or a hybrid of both, the progression will look relatively similar. Safety First – Give meals only while under the direct supervision and in an upright position. - Keep it safe: avoid things you could choke on like whole nuts or grapes, popcorn, raw hard veggies, chunks of meat or cheese, or coins of hot dog. - Wait until the age of 1 year to give honey to avoid the risk of botulism. - No cow's milk as a drink before 12 months, and avoid adding salt or sugar. Be Patient It may take 10-15 different exposures for babies to try and enjoy a new food. Some gagging is typical as they explore how to swallow different textures and is not the same as choking. Choking is quiet; gagging can be a bit noisy and may involve some coughs. It is also good to allow a bit of a make-a-mess during meals as exploring food and playing with it is a vital part of learning to eat. Babies usually provide cues when they are full. Keep an eye on your baby and watch for signs they are finished eating such as turning their head away, sealing their mouth shut, or pushing food away. Do not try to force feed a baby that has indicated they are done. Enjoy this milestone together.

A Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant When to Start At about 6 months old most babies can start eating solid foods. Signs of being ready for solids include: being able to sit up with little help, having control over his/her head and neck, being interested in what people are eating, opening up his/her mouth when someone brings him/her some food, and losing the "tongue-thrust" reflex that makes them push food out of their mouths. Breast milk or infant formula provides everything your baby needs prior to turning 6 months old. You should always speak with your doctor before starting to feed your baby solid foods. Getting Started Start with offering 1 to 2 small meals per day. Offer these meals when your baby is relaxed and has some time to eat, but before they are too hungry or tired. Milk is still the main way to provide nutrients until your baby turns one year old, therefore, you should use solid foods as a supplement to milk and not replace it. At approximately six months, babies start to run out of their natural supply of iron. Therefore, good initial foods should be rich in iron. Iron-fortified infant cereal Pureed meats or poultry Mashed beans or lentils Pureed vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots, or peas Mashed fruits such as banana, avocado, or pear Let your baby determine how fast you feed him/her/them. Begin with one or two teaspoons and use those early feeding times to introduce new foods and textures, rather than to make sure your baby is full. Introducing New Foods Only introduce one new food per day, then wait 3 to 5 days before introducing a second. This allows you to easily recognize when your child has an allergic response to a food (i.e. rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling). If your child experiences difficulty breathing or facial swelling seek immediate medical attention. Current advice is to start feeding common allergenic foods such as peanuts (thinned peanut butter only - not whole), eggs, dairy products, wheat, soybeans, fish, and other tree nuts earlier in life instead of waiting until later. You should discuss introducing these types of foods with your pediatrician prior to doing so if your child has severe eczema or already suffers from another food allergy. Progressing Textures Transition slowly from smooth pureed food to thicker mashed food around 7-9 months. Continue transitioning from mashed food to soft finger food and small tender pieces around 9-12 months. Regardless of if you use spoon feeding, baby led weaning, or a mix of both, the main goal is to provide your infant with safe texture options. Safety First Always supervise meals, with your baby seated upright. Avoid choking risks: full nuts, full grapes, popcorn, raw hard veggies, pieces of meat or cheese, and round slices of hot dog. Do not give honey before age one, due to botulism risk. Avoid cow's milk as a drink before 12 months, and skip added salt and sugar. Be Patient Babies may require 10-15 exposures to try a new food. Gagging is an acceptable response to learning how to eat and differs from choking, which occurs without sound. Making a mess with food is also a way for babies to explore eating. Pay attention to signs of fullness (e.g., turning away or closing their mouths), and never force feed. Enjoy this milestone together.

A Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant When to Start Most infants can begin eating solids at about 6 months old. To know if your baby is ready to eat solid food look for the following: ability to sit up without too much help, good head and neck control, curiosity about what you are eating, willingness to open his/her mouth as you approach it with food, and loss of the "tongue-thrust reflex" which will push food back out of his/her mouth. Until 6 months of age, your baby will get all of the nutrition he/she needs from either breast milk or formula. Be sure to consult with your pediatrician prior to starting. Getting Started Start by offering 1 or 2 small meals per day, while your baby is calm and neither excessively hungry nor fatigued. During the initial 12 months, milk will continue to be the main form of nutrition; therefore, solid foods should be provided in addition to milk, not as an alternative to it. First food choices that are rich in iron are good for babies because their iron stores will start to decrease at about six months of age. Iron-fortified infant cereal Pureed meats or poultry Mashed beans or lentils Pureed vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots, or peas Mashed fruits such as banana, avocado, or pear In early feedings, start with a small amount of food (a teaspoon or two) and let your baby determine how fast he/she eats. Early feedings are for your baby to explore new tastes and textures rather than eating until full. Introducing New Foods Introduce a single food item at a time, then allow three to five days prior to introducing an additional food item. Introducing items individually allows you to easily recognize when there is an allergic reaction to a specific food item. Allergies may include but are not limited to rashes, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or facial swelling. If your child experiences difficulty breathing or swelling of their face, seek emergency medical attention. At present, there is a strong recommendation to introduce common allergens (peanut products, such as thinned peanut butter but not whole peanuts; eggs; milk/dairy; wheat; soy; fish; and tree nuts) to babies as early as possible. Do not wait until later. However, if your child has severe eczema or already has a food allergy, please consult your physician before introducing any of these foods. Progressing Textures Gradually transition from smooth puréed food to thicker mashed food from 7–9 months of age, and then transition to soft finger food and small tender pieces of food from 9–12 months of age. Regardless of which method of feeding your infant (spoon-feeding, baby-led weaning, or both) you decide to use, it's most important to offer safe textures for your infant to eat. Safety First Always supervise meals, with your baby seated upright. Prevent choking: whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, raw hard veggies (such as carrots), large pieces of meat or cheese, and round slices of hot dogs. Do not give honey before age one, due to botulism risk. Avoid cow's milk as a drink before 12 months, and skip added salt and sugar. Be Patient Babies will require 10-15 attempts before accepting a new food. While gagging is normal while babies are learning, gagging is different than choking because gagging makes noise and choking is silent. Messy exploration of food is also a way that babies learn about food. Pay attention to signs of being full such as turning away from food or closing their mouth, and never make them eat. Enjoy this milestone together.

# a Guide to starting solids with your baby ## how old is my baby? Typically most Babies will be ready for solid foods by the time they are six months old. The best way to determine if your baby is ready is to look for these signs of readiness: - he/she sits up without much support. - has very good head/neck control. - shows an interest in the food. - opens his/her mouth wide enough for the food to go into it. - does not have the "tongue thrust" reflex where he/she pushes the food back out after trying to eat. Before six months of age, breast milk or formula provide everything that your baby needs. Always consult with your pediatrician before starting your baby on solid foods. ## Getting Started Start off with either one or two small meals per day. It is easiest to start feeding your baby when she/he is calm, and not too hungry or tired. Milk should still be the main source of nutrition for your baby through-out their first year. Solid foods can be used as a supplement instead of replacing milk. Here are some examples of good first foods for your baby. These foods are rich in Iron because Babies' Iron stores begin to decline at approximately six months of age: - Iron-fortified Infant cereal - Pureed meats/poultry - mashed beans/lentils - Pureed vegetables such as sweet potatoes/carrots/or peas - mashed fruits such as bananas/avocados/or pears When you first introduce new foods, try using one or two teaspoons at a time and allow your baby to set the pace. In the early stages of eating, the purpose of mealtime is for taste testing and texture exploration versus filling the tummy. ## introducing new foods To make it simpler to find out whether your baby develops an allergic reaction to a particular food item, always offer one new food at a time. Wait for three to five days before introducing the next new food. Common symptoms associated with an allergic reaction to a specific food may appear within minutes to hours of ingestion and could include but are not limited to rash/hives/vomiting/diarrhea/swelling. Please seek immediate medical assistance if your baby experiences difficulty breathing or facial swelling. Recent recommendations suggest that introducing common allergenic foods, including peanuts/thinned peanut butter/neither whole nor chopped nuts/egg/dairy/wheat/soy/fish/tree nuts, earlier in life may reduce the occurrence of developing allergies compared to waiting until later in life. However, please discuss introducing common allergenics with your pediatrician prior to introduction if your child has severe eczema or already has a diagnosed food allergy.

# A Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby. ## When to Begin Most babies are ready for solid foods at about six months of age. When babies are ready to eat solids, they will show these signs: they can sit with little or no support, they have good head and neck control, they show an interest in food. In fact, they open their mouth when food comes closer to them and they lose the tongue-thrust reflex which pushes food back out. Six months ago, your baby’s entire diet consisted of breast milk or formula. Always check with your pediatrician before starting. ## Let’s Begin Start with giving them one or two small meals a day, after they are calm and not too hungry or tired. For the first year milk is the main form of nutrition, so offer solids as a complement, not a substitute. Iron-rich foods are a good first choice as the baby’s iron levels start to decline by six months. - Iron-enriched baby cereal. - Ground meat or poultry. - Beans or lentils that are mashed. - Vegetable purees such as sweet potato puree, carrot or pea puree - Mashed bananas, avocado, or pear are also a good option. Give your child a teaspoon or two at a time and allow them to continue as they wish. Exploring tastes and textures of food, not filling tummies, is the goal. ## It means introducing new foods. Introduce one new food at a time, and allow three to five days before introducing another. It makes it easy to identify any allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea or swelling. If you are facing difficulties with breathing or getting your face swollen, seek emergency medical attention straight away. Present guidelines recommend that common allergens such as peanut products (thinned peanut butter, never whole nuts), egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts should be introduced early rather than delayed. If your infant is experiencing eczema flare-ups or has a food allergy, consult your doctor first. ## Moving forward with textures. You can progress from smooth purees to thicker mashedd foods at 7-9 months, then to soft finger foods and small, tender pieces at 9-12 months. Whatever way you go about doing it, spoon-feeding or baby-led weaning or both, you must serve safe textures. ## Safety Precautions Necessary - Ensure your baby is seated upright during meals. - Do not give young children whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, hard raw vegetables, chunks of meat or cheese, and hot dog rounds. - Don’t feed honey to babies under one year old as it can cause botulism. - Don't offer cow's milk as a drink before 12 months. Avoid adding salt or sugar. ## Stay low and keep things steady. A new food may require 10 to15 exposures to the baby. It’s important to remember that gagging is normal as they learn. Choking, on the other hand, is silent and different. Exploration is learning even if it makes-a-mess! Look out for signs of fullness, like turning away or shutting the mouth, don’t force-feed. Relish this achievement together.

# Guide About Starting Solid Foods for Your Baby. ## When to begin Most babies are ready for solid food around the age of six months. When your baby begins to show signs of readiness for solids, such as sitting upright with little support, good head and neck control, interest in food, opening their mouth when food approaches and losing the tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food back out, you may commence first foods. For the first six months, your baby’s only nutrition should come from breast milk or formula. Always consult your doctor prior to beginning. ## Begin Your Experience. To start, offer one or two small meals a day when your baby is calm, not too hungry, and not tired. For the first year, milk makes up your child’s major source of nutrition, so solids should be offered as a supplement and not a substitute. Iron-containing first foods are a good idea as the iron stores of babies start depleting at around six months. - Cereal for babies contains iron. - Ground meats or poultry. - Beans or lentils which are mashed. - Pureed vegetables, such as sweet potato, carrots, or peas. - You could use mashed fruits like banana, avocado or pear. Use a teaspoon or two and let your baby set the pace. At an early feed, nutrition is not as important as tasting and exploring. ## Beginning Our New Foods. Introduce just one new food at a time, waiting three to five days before trying another. It allows you to identify whether someone is allergic after which you can find out what has happened. Get emergency treatment if you have trouble breathing or your face is swelling. The guidance we have today is to introduce allergens like peanut products (thinned peanut butter, never whole nuts), egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish and tree nuts early and not to delay. Consult your doctor before feeding allergenic solids to your baby suffering from eczema or food allergies. ## Advancing Textures. Between 7 to 9 months, change from purees to thicker, mashed foods. 7 to 12 months, the food may also include soft finger foods and small, tender pieces. Whether you do spoon-feeding or baby-led weaning (or both), offer safe textures. ## Safety Always. - Always monitor mealtimes with your baby sitting up. - Do not give your child whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, hard raw vegetables, lumps of meat or cheese and hot dog rounds. - Honey should not be given before one, due to botulism risks. - Do not give whole cow’s milk as a drink before 12 months; and don’t add salt and sugar to foods. ## Show Restraint. Young children usually require 10-15 tries before accepting a new food. It’s common for babies to gag while they learn; this is different from choking which is silent. Being a messy explorer is a fun part of learning! Look for signs of fullness, like turning away or closing the mouth, and never force-feed. Savor this moment together.

# Guide to Beginning Solid Foods for Infants ## When to Start Generally, most babies can begin solid foods after six months of age. Here are some signals that it is time for your infant to start solid food: stance in an upright position unless fully supported, controlled movements of the head and neck, displaying of interest in food, opening the mouth whenever food is about to enter it, and eliminating the tongue-thrust reflex that shields the mouth from the flow of solid food. Before six months of age, breast milk and formula provide sufficient nutrition for babies. Consult with your pediatrician before starting solids. ## Steps to Start Start solid feeding with one or two meals each day when your child is calm and not overly hungry or tired. It should also be noted that during the course of the first year of life, milk is the very main source of nutrition and thus solid foods should be a component and not a substitute. Good first foods should be those rich in iron because iron stores in babies start decreasing after reaching the sixth month: - Iron-fortified baby cereal - Puree of meat or poultry - Mashed beans or lentils - Pureed vegetable puree, that includes sweet potato, carrots, or peas - Mashed fruits, such as banana, avocado, or pear It is important, starting with a teaspoon of one or two and allowing the infant to dictate the pace. The early feedings focus on tastes and textures rather than filling the stomach. ## Introduction of New Foods Always introduce one food at a time and add on after waiting for three to five days to make things easy if there were allergies and look for signs such as rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling. Any difficulty in breathing or swelling of the face is a reason for immediate medical assistance. Modern-day recommendations suggest that many food combinations that might have been avoided in the past are now viewed as normal to introduce including peanut butter thinned down, eggs, dairy, soy, wheat, fish, as well as tree nuts. ## Progression of Textures There is a need to provide variations from a smooth pureed consistency to thicker mashes by the seventh or ninth month, leading to the provision of bites of finger food as well as small-sized tender encouragement. ## Safety - Always supervise feeding sessions and ensure that the child is seated in an upright manner. - Avoid choking items such as nuts, grape fruit, popcorn, hard foods, and pieces of hot dogs. - Do not feeding any honey from the infant until reaching one year basically because of their risk of acquiring botulism syndrome. - Cow's milk is not to be fed to the baby when they are still under twelve months. ## Being Patient Learning during solids intake is a task that involves making experiences on as many times as possible to make the infant used, while gagging is okay in the process.

# A Guide to Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant ## When to Start Babies usually become ready to start eating solid foods at about six months of age, and the following are signs that they are ready: they can sit up with only a little support, have good control of their head and neck, show an interest in food, open their mouth when food is brought near them, and have lost the tongue-thrust reflex which pushes food out. Prior to six months of age, breast milk or formula supplies all the nutrition your baby requires. As always, you should consult your pediatrician before starting solid foods. ## Getting Started Start by giving your baby one or two small meals each day, only when they are calm and neither very hungry nor very tired. Since milk is the main source of nutrition during the first year of life, introduce solid foods as a supplement not as a substitute. Good first foods include iron-rich options, since a baby's iron stores begin to decline around six months: - Iron-fortified infant cereal - Pureed meats or poultry - Mashed beans or lentils - Pureed vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots, or peas - Mashed fruits such as banana, avocado, or pear Begin with one or two teaspoons and let your baby decide how much to have. The main aim of the early feedings is to help your baby get used to different flavours and textures, not to fill their stomach. ## Introducing New Foods Introduce only one new food at a time and then wait between three and five days before introducing another. This way you can more easily spot any allergic reaction, for example a rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling. Get emergency treatment if you have difficulty breathing or facial swelling. It is currently recommended that common allergens—such as peanut products (this including thin peanut butter but not whole nuts), egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish, and tree nuts—be introduced from an early age rather than doing so later. In this case, if your baby has severe eczema or is already known to have a food allergy, you should first consult your doctor. ## Progressing Textures From smooth purees, go on to thicker mashed foods at about 7 to 9 months, and by 9 to 12 months offer soft finger foods and small, tender pieces. Whatever method you decide on—spoon-feeding, baby-led weaning, or a combination—the important point is to provide safe textures. ## Safety First - Make sure to supervise your baby during mealtimes by seating them upright. - Make sure to avoid any choking hazards, such as whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, hard raw vegetables, chunks of meat or cheese, and hot dog rounds. Honey should not be given to children until they are one year old because of the risk of botulism. - Do not give cow's milk to drink before the child's first birthday, and leave out added salt and sugar. ## Be Patient It usually takes babies between 10 and 15 tries to get used to a new food, gagging is normal since they are learning and it is different from choking which does not involve noise, exploration by making a mess is part of the learning process, look out for signs that they are full, such as turning their head away or closing their mouth, and never force them to eat. Enjoy this milestone together.