One of the most fun parts of being a parent can also be the most stressful, food! It's hard to know when to feed that first bite, what to feed and just how often to feed. Take a quick glance at baby feeding tips and suggestions to ease the stress and create a unique bonding time with your little one.
The Food Facts
Just as you get ready to take a breather and relax, you've figured out the car seat, the nursing and the sleep schedule, you think your safe- think again, it's time yet for another change in your fast growing baby's life: FOOD! It almost becomes every parent's nightmare, navigating the world of first foods. What should they eat? When should they eat? How much should they eat? It can be almost a big a headache as the sleep deprivation, and as if you needed one more thing to keep you up all hours of the night besides your baby, now you get to spend the nights worrying about his nutritional intake as well. Don't worry; we'll try to make it easy for you!
The First Months
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), breastmilk or formula will continue to make up the essential vitamins your baby will need during the first year of life, and sold foods will only compliment that nutrition. Just as every baby develops at a different rate, the time to start solids will also vary between babies. Most babies are ready sometime between the ages of 4-6 months and some typical signs that they are ready for solid foods include:
- Your baby is demanding feedings more often during the day
- Your baby is able to sit with support and reaches and grabs for toys or puts his hands in his mouth
- Mimics your eating behavior, such as biting or chewing
- Grabs at the food off of your plate.
There is also nothing wrong with delaying solids as breastmilk or formula is substantial nutrition for your infant. Some benefits of delaying solids include, allowing the baby's intestines to mature, allowing baby to out-grow his tongue-thrust reflex, allowing the swallowing mechanism to mature to avoid choking incidences and delaying potential food allergies.
First Food Choices
When choosing babies first food, it is important to choose something that is least likely to cause allergies and is most like the baby's milk. For breastfed babies, that might be a banana, which has a sweet taste similar to that of breastmilk. A formula fed baby may prefer rice cereal mixed with formula. Other first food options might include mashed avocados, pureed carrots or mashed sweet potatoes. Doctors often recommend rice cereal as a first food, because it is the most intestinal-friendly grain, as it is gluten-free, low in protein and high in carbohydrates. The more soupy the consistency the easier it will be for baby to digest this first food choice.
First Food: Avocado! Sometimes more food gets on the face than in the mouth!
Food Options:
Another decision for the overwhelmed parent to make- jarred baby food or homemade baby food? Making baby food is not that overwhelming a task, as it really is just regular food, strained or mashed and lacking the zest of your meal! Making your own food gives you the ability to make food catered to your baby's preferences of taste, texture and consistency. It is even as simple as taking portions of your meal, prior to adding extra flavors!, and mash them to your baby's preference. You can even make several portions of this food and freeze them in ice cube trays for a convenient out of the freezer meal for your little one! When you are ready to use it, simply take out one cube, and thaw in the fridge for about 4 hours and warm slowly in the microwave before serving. Stir the food to avoid any potential burn hazards to baby's tongue.
Start slow!
Most pediatricians will recommend using your finger as baby's first spoon. Take it one small bite at a time, watching babies face and reaction. If she swallows the food, and smiles, she is ready for another try. If the food comes flying back at you accompanied with a frown, try again another day. Keep in mind that your baby may only swallow a small teaspoon full of food a “meal” and will probably keep this up for the first few feedings. You can gradually increase the amount of food offered, keeping in mind that the over-all goal of the experience is to introduce baby to new tastes and textures. If baby's lips are tightly shut, just try again, never force-feed him! The most important thing to remember at this stage is to relax and have fun! Just enjoy the new experience with your baby and do not stress out- remember, most of his nutrition is still coming from the breast of the bottle!
