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08 Mar 2008 10:22:47 | Tony Luck
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The best time to wean your baby onto solid food is at about age
6 months. This is because your baby's mouth will start to change
around that time to help her cope with the transition. Another
guide is to start when baby doubles in weight.
Before then your baby's digestive system and kidneys are able to
cope only with breastmilk and formula. But don't leave it too
late as baby may find it difficult to adapt to swallowing food,
and she will need a balanced varied diet.
What You Will Need Bibs - and plenty of
them! At first she will spit out more than she swallows and
feeding will be very messy. Unbreakable bowls and
spoons. Lidded containers for storing the food.
A food processor. You could manage with a fork and a sieve,
but the one thing you won't have plenty of is time, so a blender
will make life easier.
You don't need a high chair, not at this stage anyway.
Baby won't be able to hold her head up until about age 12
months, so feed her while she is in your lap or in a seat that
supports her head.
Foods To Try And Some To Avoid Baby rice is
usually the first solid for babies, it has a low protein content
and is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Mix with milk
(expressed breast milk or formula) to make the rice easier to
swallow. Rice also has the advantage that it can be mixed with
both vegetables and fruit, so after a few days, mix in a little
puréed potato, vegetable or fruit.
You may wish to start with vegetables to ensure she establishes
a taste for savoury foods as well as the sweeter fruits.
Foods to try include: potato, carrot, swede, parsnip, sweet
potato; and apple, banana and pear. Cook where appropriate and
purée. If the result is too dry or lumpy,
add milk (breast milk or formula). Avoid cow's milk until she is about 12 months
old. Other dairy products like cheese and yoghurt can be
introduced after a month or so. Avoid soft-boiled eggs; nuts; blue-veined cheese;
salt; sugar or sweeteners, including those found in fruit drinks
and squashes; bread and pasta; and rusks.
The Transition
The move from milk to solid food can take
place only gradually. At first, solids should take the place of
one of the milk feeds. Then, over the next 3 or 4 months,
introduce more solid food and cut down on the milk; and chop and
cut food rather than purée after a few weeks.
Vegetarian
If you are vegetarian and want your baby to
avoid meat and fish, this should not be a problem. The same
nutrients present in meat are also available in other foods and
you will be familiar with what is required for a balanced diet.
However, if you are a vegan, your baby could miss out on certain
vitamins as well as sufficient protein. Prolong breastfeeding as
long as possible, and take expert advice on any necessary
supplements.
Baby's In Charge
Of course no two babies are the same and
there are no rules laid down regarding exact timing. Appetites
vary too and your baby will tell you by her actions whether she
needs to be 'topped-up' with a bottle of milk.
About Author :
Tony Luck runs a website with advive to new moms and babycare.
Included is the fascinating which
supposedly tells you whether the baby you are expecting will be
a girl or boy.
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