It is very common question and very common mistakes by parents,regarding when and how a solid food is introduced to baby.All babies should exclusively be breast fed right from birth ,preferably starting within 30-60 minutes of birth till the age of 6 months.Some mother says that since the child is born through caesarean section(OPERATION),I have started the baby to feed through bottle with formula milk.This is not the correct reason to start formula feeds.Milk production is very less during initial 3 days of child birth but it is sufficient for the baby and it is highly nutrItious and immunobooster to the child.Milk production begins only when the baby starts sucking.If the baby sucks more ,the milk production will be more,if the child sucks less,the milk production will be less and if the child does not suck,there will be no milk production.

Solid foods should be started at the completion of 6 months of age.It should be noted by parents that the child is able to hold his or her head before starting solid foods.

It can be started with any food available in the house but it should be in purees form.There is sufficient evidence from agriculture based families that they start with any grain available to them like corn,millets,rice,wheat.What they do it that,they make the grain in powder form and mix it with animal milk and feed the baby.We have sufficient evidence from hunter and gatherers family that they start giving meat that is made like purees.

So,it is safe to start with any food items like rice,millets,banana,apple,wheat but it should be in the form of purees.It is a good practice that mother should taste the food before feeding the baby.If mother can propel the food placed over tongue through the roof of mouth towards the back of tongue  very easily,it can be given to baby safely.

It should be noted that ,it is the time, just to start the baby on solid foods,not to completely feed the baby with solid foods.The staple food for the baby is still breast milk.So,give the starting food 2-3 times daily and continue one item for 1 week then change to another item.

Some baby may reject the food .In such circumstances,try giving the food with spoon 3 times before stop giving for that session.It has been seen that on third attempt most babies accept the feed.If the baby tries to hold the spoon,let the baby do it,and you can feed them with another spoon.

NOTE:The baby  should be seated upright as shown in picture at the outset, and food should not be sticky or lumpy to avoid the chance of chocking.

SPICY AND FLAVOURED FOOD:These food items can be given at this age of weaning the child.Since the child is already exposed to these spices and flavours in food through breast milk or even before birth in the uterus through the blood of mother,the child accepts it and there is no harm to the child.

ALLERGIC FOODS:Allergic food items can safely be started at this age and moreover,introducing allergic foods like egg,peanuts,fishes at this age may lessen the chance of developing allergy later in life.

NOTE:If the elder sibling is allergic to some food item,it is mandatory to get the baby tested for allergy before giving that food.

Food items should be changed every week and all kinds of foods should be introduced by the age of 9 months.It has been observed that by doing so,the child accepts all kinds of food items later in life.

Breast feed should be continued till the age of 2-3 years.It has been observed that the child who continue to breast feed till 2-3 years ,accepts all home made foods easily in comparision to those who continue breast feed for lesser period.

The quantity of solid foods should be increased gradually and by the age of 9 months, some lumpy foods which dissolves easily in mouth or mashed foods should be given to baby.Teeth are not erupted completely at this age but the child learns to manage food items with gums and propel towards back of tongue.By doing so ,the chewing muscles also gain strength.

NOTE;There should not be particles of food in mouth after getting broken in mouth by baby to avoid choking.

Honey should not be given before 1 year of age due to risk of BOTULISM

It is a common practice in India to start weaning with DAL WATER(Pulse water) It is a wrong practice.Start with whole DAL in the form of purees,(any dal)then give khichri after 1 week,then give rice and pulse after 1 week like that.

you can make powder of multiple grains and give one grain mixed with breast milk or animal milk at a time then add another after 1 week and gradually give multiple grains after 4-5 weeks . Fruits and vegetables should be given in the same manner.

REFERENCES:

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American Academy of Pediatrics. 2017. Starting Solid Foods. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Switching-To-Solid-Foods.aspx (12/28/2018).

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. 2000. Hypoallergenic infant formulas. Pediatrics. 106(2 Pt 1):346-9.

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title image of baby touching hands in high chair by lmnop88a / flickr

imagine of baby foods by Frédérique Voisin-Demery / flickr

image of baby making funny face while eating by Fimb /flickr

image of baby turning away from food by Abigail Batchelder /flickr

image of baby grabbing spoon by César Rincón / flickr

Content last modified 1/2019