One of the exciting milestones of your baby’s first year is when you feed him solids for the first time. Many parents look forward to giving their baby that first bite of food and sharing in the experience of watching their child enjoy it. But there is no need to rush it; pediatricians advise that babies who start solids before the age of 4 months have a higher risk of obesity later in life. In addition, each baby is individual, and physically ready to swallow the food at different times. Yet, not everyone in a family always agrees that waiting until 4 months (or later) is a must.
“When my first daughter was born, I waited until 5 months to start solids under the advisement of our pediatrician,” says Marie Ramirez, a mother of two from Murray Hill. “My sister-in-law who had a baby the same age had been feeding her child solids since he was 2 months old.”
Dr. Roshini Raj, a board-certified gastroenterologist and internist, and attending physician at New York University Langone Medical Center Tisch Hospital, also advises that parents should start feeding solids between 4 to 6 months of age, but says to “make sure your child can sit up well with good head control and shows interest in the food he sees you eating.”
“In addition to head control, you will know when your child is ready when he stops pushing food out of his mouth with his tongue. As with all health and development issues, your pediatrician knows your child best and you should consult with him or her if you have any questions or concerns,” she adds.
That is exactly what Ramirez did. When she faced pressure from her in-laws to feed her baby solids sooner, she assured them that her pediatrician was part of their planning team, and that her daughter was getting the best nutrition possible.
“After all, feeding a baby ice cream, only to have him throw it up the way members of my family did, was not at all practical or nutritional,” she explains.
Dr. Raj (who you may know best from Fox 5’s “Good Day New York”) recently released her first book, “What the Yuck?! The Freaky & Fabulous Truth About Your Body,” and offers these tips to parents about starting solids:
• The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends giving one new food at a time and waiting a couple of days before adding another to monitor allergic reactions. If there is a history of family allergies, wait a week in between. Keep a journal of which foods your child is eating, and the amount, so that if a problem arises, you can track it with your pediatrician.
• It is important to introduce new textures slowly — you won’t be able to go from breast milk or formula straight to chunks of fruit. Mushy foods are a great place to start. I recommend mashed fruits and veggies like avocado or banana.
• Don’t be surprised if most of the first few solid-food feedings wind up all over your baby’s face, hands and bib. A good tip is to use vinyl bibs that are very easy to clean up! Also, use a plastic splat mat under the high chair.
• Make sure to use a soft, plastic spoon to prevent damaging your little one’s gums.
• As an adult, pureed meats like chicken and roast beef may sound unappealing, but don’t shy away from offering your child meat. The nutrients are important for a child’s growth.
• Once your child develops the “pincer grasp” where he can pick up objects between his thumb and forefinger, you can try diced and pea-sized bites of food. Remember that little hands call for little pieces!
• If your child pushes away or winces after trying a new food, don’t be so quick to banish it from the table. Little ones may need to try a food as many as 10 times before accepting it, so abide by the golden rule to “try, try again.”
• Parents sometimes develop the habit of only serving plain fruits and veggies. But it’s okay to add in a few mild spices. Think mild taco seasoning; not cayenne chili pepper.
• By offering a variety of foods, including various fruits, vegetables, and meats, you’re helping your little one grow now, and also setting up healthy eating habits for the future.
• As a gastroenterologist, I should add that the color and smell of your child’s bowel movements will change at this time. Before you cringe, know that this is totally normal.
Danielle Sullivan, a mom of three, has worked as a writer and editor in the parenting world for more than 10 years. Sullivan also writes about pets and parenting for Disney’s Babble.com. Find her on Facebook and Twitter @DanniSullWriter, or on her blog, Just Write (Pet) Mom.
