The Ideal First Solid Foods To Feed Your Baby

Weaning your baby is an exciting milestone for any parent. It offers a real opportunity to bond with, and that can sometimes turn into a bit of an adventure, too! It helps establish a routine and introduces him to new flavours

When your baby is around four to six months old, he is probably ready to start solid foods. But remember, when you first begin, the process is more about understanding the basics than actually eating. This means, start small and introduce him to just one feed, gradually increasing to breakfast, lunch and dinner. After all, it’s a learning process for both you and your baby.

THE BEST START

The department of health recommendations state that babies should not begin weaning until they are six months old and that babies need nothing but breastmilk or formula for the first six months of life. Some studies suggest that weaning until six months gives a baby’s digestive system more time to mature. Dr Madhuri Kadam, paediatrician, SRV Hospital, Goregaon, Mumbai, says, “Ideally for the first six months the baby should be exclusively breastfed. Within the fourth month, the mother should start introducing clear liquids like soup or juice. Introduce one item in the first week, gradually include second in the next week and so on.” She further adds, “In the fifth month, mix the combination of juices and soups introduced last month, and keep an eye on how the child is accepting the change in the food pattern. Giving bottled milk can lead to problems like dental caries, gas trouble, loose motions, faulty dentition, pneumonia, etc.”