When should you begin giving your baby solid food?

When should you begin giving your baby solid food?

Baby foods are recommended when breast milk or formula is not enough to satiate a child's hunger. Although, these continue to be nutritious, baby foods mainly supplement breast milk and/or infant formula. Breast milk must be fed as the primary source of nutrition until the baby is 12 months old. One must not go by dieting fads for adults (low fat, lean foods, etc.) when it comes to baby food. Infant growth is rapid in the first year and a baby's body needs the maximum amount of nutrients and calories to aid the process.

• Infants learn to eat solid food naturally and gradually. Don't be in a hurry to wean your baby away from liquid food, onto solids.
• In the first 6 months or so, breast milk provides all the nutrients your baby needs. At about 6 to 8 months of age, infants are still hungry after having their fill of milk. They may also demand frequent feeding. Parents need to look out for this sign to graduate to the next level as far as their infant's dietary needs are concerned.
• Pureed vegetables and fruits, mashed cereals, etc., are examples of semi-solid baby food. Care should be taken with certain foods, for example, raw or undercooked vegetables, lumpy cereals or big pieces of cut fruits.
• Infants do have teeth in order to cut or break pieces of food, but the absence of molars makes it difficult to grind solid food. Hence, parents should take care and mash or break their baby's food into manageable pieces.

• When the baby is able to sit up without help or displays an active interest in food that others are eating it is a sign that he/she may be fed with solid food. Start with a fruit or vegetable or cereals and stick to it for a couple of days before introducing a new recipe. In this way, you will be able to identify the source of an allergy if it occurs.

Health Notes

The WHO recommends that an infant be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of his/her life to achieve optimal growth, development, and health. At six months, the baby displays readiness for new foods, textures, and modes of feeding.

Early introduction of complementary baby foods may satiate the hunger of the infant, resulting in less frequent breast-feeding and consequently, less nutrition. Iron absorption from mother's milk decreases when the milk comes in contact with other foods in the infant's small intestine. Therefore, early use of complementary foods may cause iron deficiency anemia.