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STARTING FOODS
Who can’t wait to see the face of an infant when they get their first taste of ice cream?
The grimaces they make when that first spoonful of tart fruit hits their mouth. But hold
on. There is plenty of time to feed our babies. There are also plenty of reasons to wait.
At birth, infants are equipped with primitive reflexes such as swallowing, suckling, and
rooting (that is where the baby turns his head and starts sucking with any touch on his
cheek. This allows him/her to find the nipple easily). The newborn is able to start sucking
and nursing right in the delivery room! As such, infants need only breast milk or formula
as the sole nourishment for the first four (4) to six (6) months of life. The primitive
reflexes start to disappear by three (3) to four (4) months of age. By this time, their jaw
and tongue muscles are starting to learn how to eat. This developmental step is very
important before introduction of solids can begin.
For the first four to six months of age, breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for the
infant. The advantages include an energy concentration of about 20 calories per ounce
(the same calorie amount is also found in infant formulas).
• A Fat source that is better absorbed by the baby.
• A Solute (concentration of ingredients) that are better handled by the kidneys.
• Antibody and immune factors that may reduce the incidence of certain types of
infections in the first few weeks of life.
After this time, a majority of babies will require some additional nutrition. This is where
solid food plays a role. Some reasons and myths NOT to start solids earlier include:
• Cereal will make my baby sleep through the night!
• Foods will make him happier between feedings!
• He need something to chew on to help his teething!
• She is hungry!
Feeding solids before the infant is ready can lead to poor eating habits, overfeeding,
obesity, and improper caloric needs (improper amount of fat vs. protein vs.
carbohydrates).
Before starting foods, your infant must be able to:
• Sit up in a high chair and have good head support.
• Open her mouth when the spoon comes near.
• Start to make chewing motions.
• Can use the tongue to put the food in the back of the mouth, instead of sticking
the tongue out for sucking motions.
• Show interest in food when other family members eat.
If they can do all this, then you both are ready.
PREPARING INFANT FOODS
• Wash hands with soap and water first.
• Handle infant foods carefully. Pour out a small portion of strained food, or
mix a small portion of cereal in a serving dish. Do not feed an infant
directly from a baby food jar, as saliva from the spoon will contaminate
the remainder of the food in the jar.
• Remember that contact with your skin will contaminate the infant’s food.
• Do not touch the nipple or rim of the cup. Do not put a spoon with strained
food onto your arm to test temperature and then into the baby’s mouth. Do
not stick your finger into the jar of baby food or test it with the tip of your
tongue. Test by the temperature of the container or of a sample dripped
onto your wrist or inner elbow.
• Do not warm baby’s food in the microwave oven. Microwaving may leave
hotspots in the food, so that one spoonful of food may be cold, while the
next spoonful may burn baby’s mouth. Babies accept cold or room
temperature foods, making warming unnecessary. If you do need to warm
food for babies, do so carefully, and stir the food to even the temperature.
BOTTLE TOOTH DECAY
• Always hold an infant for feeding. If an infant falls asleep while feeding,
and an adult is not present to remove the bottle, milk may remain in the
mouth during sleep. The sugar naturally found in this milk can cause
cavities in new or forming teeth. Teeth with cavities may hurt or break,
making it difficult for a child to chew. Inability to chew makes it difficult
for children to get the calories and nutrients they need.
• Do not allow toddlers to carry bottles of milk, juice, or soft drinks while
playing. Sugars in these liquids also contribute to bottle tooth decay.
Damage to the teeth can be long-lasting, and eating may become more
difficult as the child grows.
• In addition to bottle tooth decay, children who carry bottles may share sips
with other children. By sharing sips, they also may share infections.
4 to 6 Months
Single grain baby cereal is recommended first. I usually suggest rice cereal to start.
Brands such as Beech-Nut®, Gerber®, Earths Best®, or Heinz®. These are all ironfortified
cereals. Adult hot cereals do not have the right texture, or iron that your baby
needs. Adult cereals may also have too much salt for the infant’s kidneys to handle. Mix
one or two spoonfuls of the cereal with enough breast milk or formula to make is soupy.
The baby should be hungry, but not so famished that he pushes away the spoon looking
for a nipple. The first few spoonfuls will most likely be met with a face, and pushed
away. Keep trying slowly. After a while the baby will learn to eat the cereal off the
spoon. Gradually, you can increase the amount and thickness. After several weeks, most
babies will be eating twice a day, with a total of approximately ½ cup. Since infants’
appetites are not the same from day to day (just like adults), they will vary in how much
they eat. Babies will turn their heads when they are full. Do not force more if they are
refusing it. Once they have mastered the rice, you can try oatmeal or barley. It is not
unusual for the baby’s stools to change once they start solids. If the baby develops rashes,
coughing, wheezing, diarrhea or vomiting, then stop the food, and let your pediatrician
know.
5 to 7 Months
After a month of cereals, we usually start other foods. Single strained or pureed fruits
(applesauce, bananas) given at Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, are next. This is followed
by vegetables (carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes) at Lunch. Only introduce one new
food every few days to allow the baby to adjust, and for symptoms of intolerance to
appear. I usually recommend starting new foods early in the day. This way, any reactions
can be noticed early, avoiding misery during the night. By now, the infant can have three
meals per day, with an equivalent of ½ to one cup of total solids per day.
Your baby has a lifetime ahead of them to try new foods. Patience and going slowly will
help you and your baby appreciate these times together without causing nutritional
problems later on.
