Introducing Solid to

InfantBy: Sara Mohammed

Huma

Renu

When should you introduce a child solid food?

Child introduced solid when they are 6 month old. Some times parent’s like to introduce their baby earlier at age of 4 month. It is important to talk to physician. After six month breast milk alone doesn’t provide a baby with enough nutrition’s so other foods are needed.

How do you know a child is ready for solid?

• Child is able to turn head away to show that a child doesn’t want food.

• Child is showing chewing motion.

• Child is strong enough to hold head up.

• Child sits well.

• Holds food in child’s mouth instead of pushing it out with tongue right away.

• Curiosity about what others eating and open mouth when a child sees food coming closer.

Why should parent wait until a child six month?

Waiting until six months to introduce solid food in to child’s diet will help minimize the risk of child developing harmful reactions to food and allergies. Waiting until a child is physically ready for solid ideally sitting on their own, also reduces the risk of choking.

How to introduce solid food?

Introduce your child 1-2teaspoon of cereal mix with breast milk or formula so it is a fairly liquid at first. Introduce other solids gradually, one at a time, waiting at least three days after each new food. This way your will know if a child has an allergy reaction to one of food. When the baby mastered cereal offer a few table spoons of vegetables of fruit in the same meal as a cereal feeding.

Bibliography:

• http://www.eatrightontario.ca/ en/viewdocument.aspx?id=318

• http://www.wholesomebabyfo od.com/solidfood8to10montholdbaby.htm

Age four to six month

Cereals & grains: - Rice – Barley –Oat.

Fruits: - Avocados – Apples – Bananas – Pears.

Vegetables: - Acorn/ Butternut squash – Sweet potatoes – Green beans.

Protein: - none

Dairy: - none

Age six to eight month

Cereals & grains: - Rice – Barley – Oat

Fruits:- Avocado – Apple – Bananas – Mangos – Nectarines – Peaches – Pears – Plums – Pureness – Pumpkins.

Vegetables: - Sweet potatoes – Acorn/Butternut squash/zucchini – Parsnips

Portions: - Chicken – Turkey- Tofu

Dairy: - Plain whole milk yogurt

Age eight month and older

Grain & seeds: - Amaranth – Barley – Buckwheat – Flax – Millet oats – Pasta – Rice – Wheat – Wheat gram – Sesame – Spelt

Fruits:- Avocado – Apricots – Apples – Bananas – Blueberries – Cantaloupes – Cherries – Cranberries – Dates – Fogs – Grapes – Kiwi – Mangos – Nectarines – Papayas – Pears – Persimmons – Plums – Prunes – Pumpkins

Vegetables:- Acorn squash – Artichokes – Asparagus – Broccoli8 – Butternut squash – Carrots – Cauliflower – Eggplant – Fennel – Green beans – Leeks – Mushrooms – Onions – Parsnips – Peas – Peppers – summer squash – Sweet potatoes – Zucchini

Protein: - Bens/ Legumes – Beef – Chicken – Egg yolk (whole eggs) – Fish – Pork – Tofu – Turkey

Dairy: - Cottage cheese – Cheddar no (soft cheese)