Stages of Introducing Your Baby to New Foods2 Minutes read

The first year in a baby’s life is all about achieving the tiny milestones - for the baby and the new parents. The journey of young parents through various milestones is indeed unique. Much appreciation and kudos for jumping onto the world’s toughest job!

Babies are adorable and unpredictable. Through all phases of growth, they demand attention, care and love. One such critical phase is the shift from relying entirely on mother’s milk to the introduction of solid foods. There is no special order of foods to be followed but parents must ensure that all nutrients are covered and to keep allergies at bay. Here is a guide to the most simple and nutritious diet for your dear little one.

START WITH PUREED FOODS

Medical practitioners today recommend introducing pureed food items a little before the baby hits the 6-month mark. At this stage, the mother can alternate between breast milk or formula milk with homemade vegetable and fruit purees made with carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, pears and bananas. No salt or sugar is added at this stage. Paediatricians do not recommend any particular feeding order. Still, they suggest waiting for a day or two between introducing new items in order to all the baby to grow accustomed to the new taste and test the compatibility between the baby’s stomach and the puree.

MOVE ON TO SEMI-SOLIDS

By the time your baby is 7-8 months old, food preferences will start to take a more definite shape. Now, it is time to introduce legumes and meat (in small quantities) for that extra dose of protein to the developing muscles. Pureed chickpeas, beans, lentils, chicken and fish, can be introduced in tiny portions and with a pinch of salt. Iron-fortified baby cereals are also a good introduction at this stage.

MORE TEETH = MORE SOLIDS

With the teething period in full swing and your baby growing more curious about everything around the 10-month mark.it is a good time to introduce finger foods. Try handing over a piece of bread or an apple slice to see how those little

fingers work around it. Pasta, soft cooked vegetables, finely cut fruits, pureed meat are staples during this stage.

LEAVE BEHIND ALL THE FOLKTALES!

No eggs and nuts until 3 years of age!

Do not start with fruits if you want your baby to eat all the veggies when he/she grows!

Leave behind all these tell-tales. Always trust your pediatrician and believe that the best way for HEALTH AND WELLNESS is the simple homemade food that is full of love and care. 

A quite frantic neighbor once exclaimed that the best he has done for the wellness of his newborn is to sign up with one of the BEST HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES! While this is a significant move, the first step towards a better life is paying attention to the smallest details of the little one’s diet.

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