Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods

Introducing solid foods to your baby is an important milestone in his/her life. Health Canada recommends waiting until babies are six months of age before starting foods other than breast milk or formula. At about six months your baby may show interest in the foods that others are eating.

You will know your baby is ready for solids when he can:

• sit up with some support
• can hold food in his mouth without pushing it out
• pick up food and try to put it in his mouth

Six month old babies have a small stomach size and are still growing rapidly. They need small amounts of foods that are high in energy and nutrients. These foods need to be prepared so that the child can eat them easily. Iron-containing foods are recommended as the first solid foods. Mashed egg yolk, pureed or strained meat, tofu, canned mashed lentils or legumes and iron-fortified cereals are rich in iron. Iron from meat is better absorbed than iron from other foods. Ripe, soft foods like banana, avocado and cooked root vegetables like sweet potatoes can be added next. Breast milk or formula should remain the main source of nutrients for your baby when first introducing solids.

Some handy tips for starting baby on solid foods:

• Let your baby open his mouth before you feed him.
• Start with single foods. Avoid mixtures until all single foods are tried.
• Wait about four days before trying another new food. If your baby develops an allergic reaction, it is easier to know which food may have caused the problem.
• Let your baby touch the food in the dish or on the spoon. Let him feed himself with his fingers as soon as he shows interest.
• Slowly add more textures and more foods as your baby learns the skills to self feed. Begin with pureed foods and move to mashed foods and then finger foods. Finger foods include bread crusts, dry toast, pieces of soft cooked vegetables, soft ripe fruit, cooked meat and poultry and cheese cubes.
• Feed your baby at his own pace. Do not try to get your baby to go faster or slower than he wants to.
• Stop feeding when your baby shows that he has had enough. Do not force your baby to finish food.
• Be patient when offering new foods. Feeding is a time of learning and enjoyment for the child and family. It takes patience and loving care to introduce a baby to new food tastes.

By about one year of age, or the time your baby can walk, he will have made the transition to eating nutritious foods from the family table. Breastfeeding can be sustained, with the addition of solid foods until two years of age and beyond.

Keep in mind that it can take months for toddlers to learn how to feed themselves well. By making meal times happy times you will be letting your baby explore and try the many foods available. For more information, or for a copy of Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods, contact your Public Health Nutritionist.

WRITTEN BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITIONISTS OF SASKATCHEWAN

Originator: Jennifer Kambeitz, Dietetic Intern, Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, Lisa Vance, Public Health Nutritionist, Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region

References:

INFACT Complementary Feeding Fact Sheet, www.infactcanada.ca/Complementary_Feeding_-_Starting_Solids.pdf.

Podiluk K and Bergerman J. 2007. "Transition from Exclusive Breastfeeding to Family Foods", Health Matters.

Saskatchewan Health, "Feeding Your Baby Solids".