First Foods for Baby

by Md Delower Hossain

What are appropriate first foods for baby? Babies are generally ready for their first foods at around 6 months. If you start them earlier, there is a greater likelihood of allergies and other issues. If you wait too long, they may resist the change. Homemade baby food is perfect for first foods.

While you should always check with your doctor about what to feed your baby, here are some tips for starting your baby on solid food. 

Experts usually suggest that babies start with rice cereal since it is rare for rice to cause food allergies. Cereal can be mixed with breast milk or formula to make a thin consistency that just coats a spoon. Since baby is transitioning from liquids to a more solid meal, thick foods are too much for them and can cause them to gag. This can set up negative feelings about solids. As your child becomes more used to swallowing, you can slowly thicken the cereal every few days to make it more porridge-like.

The conventional wisdom was to start babies on cereal then transition to vegetables first, then add fruits and eventually meats. The idea is to get your little one used to the stronger flavors of vegetables before they get used to the sweeter tastes of fruit. This is still good advice. However, many nutrition experts now suggest adding meats to your baby's diet before adding fruits. This helps baby get extra protein and accustoms them to the flavors and textures of pureed meat. 

The most important thing is to start with individual foods so if there are any signs of an allergy, you can easily identify which food is the culprit. For the same reason, it is wise to wait 3 days between adding new foods. Signs of allergy or sensitivity include tummy aches, excessive or painful gas, face rashes or diaper rash, stuffy nose, or increased spitting up after eating.

Make this new adventure fun for your baby. Talk to them and praise them for their efforts. Talk about the flavors and textures of their food. 

Once baby is used to eating single foods, you can start combining foods for improved flavor and texture. For instance, some babies prefer bananas mashed with applesauce to change the texture. Others are happy to eat chicken as long as it is hidden in sweet potatoes, but won't eat it alone. My little girl loves mashed prunes in her bananas, but refuses to eat bananas or prunes alone.

Don't give up if your baby refuses to eat a new food. Studies show that it can take 7 or more tries before a baby accepts some new foods. In the interest of good nutrition, put a little extra effort into familiarizing your baby with vegetables so they don't expect all foods to taste sweet. This will serve them well as they grow and make them more adventurous eaters as they move into adulthood.

Enjoy this time and be sure to take a lot of pictures, time goes by so quickly. You'll cherish these memories of rice cereal and mashed fruits - they'll make you smile when your teenager is devouring the contents of the refrigerator in one afternoon snack.