Starting Baby On Solids

This page discusses about starting baby on solids.

STARTING BABY ON SOLIDS

A difference of opinion exists over the best time to introduce solid foods into the infant's diet. The committee on nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics states that there are no nutritional advantages to introducing solid foods at 3 to 4 months.  Although there may be no harm done if fed carefully,  supplementation of milk diets of infants with solid foods of inferior nutritional content may, because of satiety, result in decreased intake of milk.

The belief that the early introduction of solids hastens the onset of sleeping through the night is completely erroneous.

A study conducted by the Child Research Council, University of Colorado School of Medicine, points out clearly that infants are not ready to accept solid food until at least 2.5 to 3.5 months of age.

This timetable closely follows their need for additional nutrients. At 2.5 to 3.5 months, cereal was accepted, followed in the next two months by vegetable, and finally by meats.
 

Following these recommendations, here's a tentative schedule for starting solids:
Cereal: 3 months
Fruit: 31/2-4 months

Vegetables: 4 months

Meat: 5 months
Egg Yolk: 6 months
 

OFFERING THIS NEW FOOD

For the first week, give cereal at the morning and evening feedings—usually at the 10 A.M. and 6 P.M. feedings. Initially it is perhaps better to offer the milk first and then the cereal. The baby is accustomed to the milk and may balk at taking solids. Later, in a few months, cereal and other solids may be offered with or before the milk feeding.

CHANGE IN THE BABY'S STOOLS

As soon as solid foods is started, you'll notice a change in the appearance of the baby's stools. They'll resemble the type of solid food you're giving the baby.

Most mothers accept this change without alarm, but once beets are started, and the stools are red, they start worrying that the baby is bleeding. There's no cause for concern, if you'll just remember that the red is from the beets.

As a general rule, the consistency of the stool does no change markedly when solids are started. In many cases, the stools do become a little pastier.

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