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As seen on BCTV July 17/01

SAFE INTRODUCTION OF SOLIDS TO A BABY
Choosing what foods to feed your baby is not always simple, especially during the transition from liquid to solids. The following is a guide to help you pick appropriate foods for your baby to ensure that he safely progresses to a nutritious solid diet. Babies let their parents know when they are ready for solid food. If you notice your baby is not gaining weight and seems unsatisfied after being breast or bottle-fed, it may be time to introduce solids on a regular basis along with your milk.

Pay attention to your baby's actions. If they are hungry they will waive their arms and kick their feet at the site of food and lean forward and open their mouths. If they are not hungry they will turn their head, close their mouth or fall asleep. It's best to introduce new foods when you are feeling relaxed and unhurried and when your baby is calm and happy too.

Don't force feed your baby, you may be setting the stage fir poor eating habits and creating negative associations with food and mealtime.

  • Do not start solids until 4-6 months of age. At this point the baby's digestive tract and chewing/swallowing abilities are better developed, and the risk of developing allergies or choking is not as great.

  • Introduce single grain infant cereals first. Start with rice cereal, and progress to include a new grain every 5-7days. Start with one tablespoon per meal. Finish feeding with breast milk.
    Infant cereals are fortified with iron, calcium, phosphorus and vitamins B1, B1 and niacin.

  • Iron: babies between four and twelve months should have 7 mg of iron daily, which can be obtained through iron-fortified infant cereals or iron-fortified infant formula.

  • B12: If you are a strict vegetarian and are breast-feeding your baby, he or she may need a B12 supplement.

  • At 5-7 months, your baby should be ready to eat pureed vegetables. Progress to mashed to develop chewing skills. Introduce vegetables first. Fruit is sweet and more appealing than vegetables so it may be harder to introduce vegetables if they have already tried fruit. Try serving juices from a cup at this time. Apple is the least allergenic.

  • At 6-8 months introduce chicken, beef, fish and meat alternatives such as beans and egg yolks (no whites: they are too allergenic). Finger food such as dry toast, unsalted crackers and soft fruits and vegetables will promote independent eating habits.

  • At 9-12 months add whole milk and finely cut up table foods for texture and variety.

  • At one year egg white may be offered. Your child should be eating a variety of nutritious foods from Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating at this time. Lower fat milks should not be introduced to your child before 2 years of age since toddlers need extra fat for proper growth and brain development.

    • Choking is a risk for babies when they are first introduced to solids. To prevent this from happening, you should pay attention to the size and shape of foods. For example, small round items such as grapes or weiner chunks are the perfect size for blocking the baby's airway. Because it is difficult for infants to chew such foods, cut any suspect items into smaller irregular-shaped pieces and keep your baby upright while eating.

    Homemade baby foods are a nutritious and economical way to introduce solids to your baby. Just remember to carefully practice safe preparation and storage techniques and include appropriate foods for the age. When introducing solids to babies, do not add salt or sugar. When serving commercial baby food, serve what you need into a bowl, don't spoon it from the jar. This will reduce contamination.

    If you plan to make your own food here are a few things to keep in mind:

    1. Choose bland easy to digest foods like carrots, potatoes and applesauce.
    2. Wash your hands and clean and peel all foods before cooking
    3. Do not add sugar or salt
    4. Select fresh rather than canned
    5. Stay away from strong spices
    6. Consider cooking in bulk and freezing extra in ice cube trays (well covered)

    Children copy their parents so lead by example. Try to include your child at mealtime and promote healthy eating behaviors when you eat. Offer nutritious foods to your child, and do not use food as a reward. This may cause the child to place an emotional value on food.

    Watch for the Eating for Energy segment every Tuesday on BCTV's Noon News Hour!

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