Feeding the First Year

Feeding your baby brings up a multitude of issues. First you have to decide to breast or bottle feed your child. This decision will see you through the first 4-7 months as all the nutrients your baby needs are provided in formula or breast milk. Next you realize that you that you will need to offer solid foods. This leads to a myriad of other issues and questions.

My advice is to follow your child’s lead, and your common sense and intuition. Your child will let you know when they are ready to start solids. Sometime between 4 and 7 months you will notice that your child can sit up with minimal assistance, move her head easily, and watches you intently as eating. He may reach for your food or make sounds while you eat. When you offer a spoon of food, your child will open her mouth or move forward to reach the spoon. He will also be able to swallow very soft foods such as baby rice cereal, soft banana mixed with breast milk or formula or baby foods without too much coming back out. Your child may, at first, push the food out with her tongue. If this is constant, she may not be ready for solids, but if she is ready, this will quickly decrease.

Current research shows that texture is more important then food group when offering first foods, so start with semi solids and thicken as time goes on. But try not to be too timid about increasing the solidity of foods offered. Remember, by 1 year most children are easily eating most table foods. In order to detect any allergies offer one new food every 4 days. If no unusual reaction occurs, offer another new food. It is recommended that children under the age of 1 year not be given liquid milk (yogurt and cheeses are ok if there is not history of dairy allergies in the family), honey including honey baked into crackers or cookies, and egg whites. Raw vegetables and crisp fruits are usually to difficult for babies until their 2 year molars come in.

During the first year we feed our babies on demand, usually every 1 to 2 ½ hours. Even if it appears that your child is not asking for food, offer it a least every 2 ½ hours. When feeding, choose 2 foods and let your child eat until they show you that they are finished. If they don’t eat either of the foods, the meal is over. Don’t go and get something else or cajole your child into eating. Babies eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full.

Every child develops differently. Try to stay away from developmental charts dictating exact foods and amounts your child needs to eat. Even if you offer the exact foods listed ona chart, this may lead to under of over feeding your child. Follow your child’s lead and your own loving instincts.