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Summary: Most infants develop a regular eating habit during the first few weeks and the babies hunger and appetite varies similar to adults. Most of the infants adapt to solids as they start to wean away from breast-feed.
A newborn baby in the family is a source of joy or a source of crisis? This statement stands true for a couple who is all set to welcome their first child. A first child means a basic, understanding difficulty between husband and wife who not only turn suddenly man and woman but mother and father. The demands of the child are completely different from the parent’s imagination, no matter how prepared new parents are.
The unending demands of the new born baby and the routine caring procedures absorbs the mother and leaves her constantly feeling tired and wondering about her infant’s feed. New born, usually adjusts to the food time schedule set by the parents. Mothers keep wondering about when should her baby start eating solids? And how should she feed her baby? However feeding schedule should suit the babies demand. Sensible feeding requires intelligent interpretation of babies needs like eating rhythm. Each child has different food demand rhythms and it’s the mother’s skills to follow it.
Usually health professionals suggest that babies should start of with solid foods when they are four months of age. However most of the babies are quite happy with breast feeding till the age of 6 months or sometimes even longer. Infants should be started of with solids because sometimes breast milk no longer can provide the required nutrients. A full term baby requires all the nutritional values after the first six months. Breast fed baby adapts well to solid foods better than any artificial bottle fed baby because breast milk contains enzymes that help the baby to digest the fats, starch and proteins found in solid foods.
Infant’s digestive system cannot digest the solids up to six months. Babies should be breast fed until they adapt to solids.Infants give out clear signs when they get tired of their regular liquid diet and wish to move beyond for extra nourishment. As a parent you should be able to understand this transition by following clues like.
· Before starting solids the baby needs to be able to hold his head steady and in upright position.
· The baby should be able to control his tongue movements and stop pushing the food out of his mouth.
· The baby should be able to sit well as he or she should sit straight for the food to be swallowed.
· The baby’s tongue and mouth should be in sync with his or her digestive system. The baby should be able to move the food back and front of his mouth and be able to swallow before you start of with solids. This difference can be noticed when the baby drools less.
· Babies are generally ready to eat solids when their birth weight doubles or weighs over 15 pounds.
· When the baby’s appetite increases and demands regular feeds.
· Last but not the least, when your baby develops a curiosity to what you are eating and tries to snatch it from your plate.
The next question a mother is always worried about is How to introduce the solid food? The best time to start of solids is anytime between 4-6 months and the most common solid food to start off with is cereals. Before giving cereals, first nurse or bottle feed your baby. Then start of by giving one or two teaspoon or dry cereal mixed with breast milk to make it somewhat semi-solid. Always feed your baby with rubber spoon to avoid any injuries. Start with small amount of cereal by taking it in the tip of the spoon.
Never force your baby if he or she does not show interest, allow your baby to smell the food and taste it and then wait till he or she wishes to eat it. Don’t force then with anything as they are best to judge as to what they want. Once they like the taste they will be ready to take two or three tablespoons of cereals at a time and thus you can gradually thicken the cereal or even keep altering it with the breastfeed.
How much should he be eating?
Baby’s appetite varies from one feed to another, so you should be very careful in accounting the feed intervals. Never try and overfeed your baby as it may develop complications. While feeding if your baby leans back or turns his head away, or starts playing with the spoon or cries then probably you should stop feeding. Always give your baby time to swallow. Try and start of with healthy eating baby products.
First let your baby get adjusted and adapted to semi- liquid cereals once a day and then by around 8-9 months start giving solids three times a day and see to it that a typical diet point should include
· Iron
· Green and Yellow vegetables
· Fruits pulps
· Small amount of proteins like cottage cheese, tofu, poultry and meat.
There are many products that need not be given like for example Honey, as it causes botulism in babies if given before one year. Try and commonly avoid allergic foods such as cow’s milk, peanut butter, shellfish, and egg whites etc. As parents you should be relaxed during the feed time and don’t spend much on artificial commercial baby foods. Try and feed through the easiest ways like for example if you wish to give your baby extra iron then try and give him meat and don’t introduce vegetables before fruit. Try and substitute artificial food by natural foods as it will reduce constipation in infants. Try and respect your infant’s likes and dislikes and don’t push. Try and make their feeding time interesting by keeping their toys around and making it joyful as starting your baby on solid foods is the beginning of lifelong eating habits, hence be careful with it.
While eating solids mothers are always worried and confused and keep asking others questions like when can babies start drinking juice? You can simultaneously feed your baby with seasonal fruit juices as solid foods cannot replace all the nutrients during the first year. Start of with seasonal fruit juices and the varieties are many which you can think of if the child does not develop any cramps, rash, colic or diarrhea from any of the fruits. Most infants like sweet foods and will take them in preference to cereals or vegetables or meat. So try and understand your baby’s tastes.
Some children are very regular with their eating habits and will practically eat every four hours. Others may be unstable and should be given more flexible schedules. Therefore it’s important as a parent to understand and recognize the infants difference and to then respond to it.
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