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Labor Contractions: Types & Timing

Introducing Solid Foods

Around 4-6 months, all that moving around and developing your baby is up to will require more nutrients than formula or breast milk alone can provide. That's where solids come in.

Of course, the majority of her daily calories should still come from breast milk or formula until the end of her first year. Here are some things to consider before introducing solid foods for the first time:

When to Start Introducing Solid Foods

Most babies are ready for solids by 4-6 months. But it actually goes by infant growth and development. In other words, she must be able to push food to the back of her mouth with her tongue in order to swallow it.

If your baby is 4-6 months old and can sit with support, control her head, turn away from you, and move food to the back of her mouth with her tongue, she's probably ready.

What Foods to Start With

  1. Your baby's doctor may suggest starting with iron-fortified rice cereal. Just a couple of bites at first. Then you can work up to a couple of tablespoons, several times a day. Some pediatricians believe it is best to start with meats to make certain babies get enough iron.
  2. After about a week, you can try barley or oat cereal.
  3. If the cereal is going well, introduce one fruit or vegetable at a time. Wait a week before you introduce another new type. Strained single foods like applesauce, sweet potatoes or peas are good choices.
  4. Or, you can try strained or blended meats like chicken, turkey, or beef. Wait a week before you introduce another new type.

What to Watch For When Introducing Solid Foods

Food Allergies

Some common first-year food allergies are cow's milk, soy, and eggs. Don't give your baby any foods your doctor hasn't okayed first. And introduce new foods one at a time, so you can watch closely for allergic reactions.

Choking

Your baby's airway is small. To help prevent choking, cut your baby's food into very small pieces. Avoid things like popcorn, grapes, hot dogs, and cherries. And never leave her unattended while eating.

Eating Healthy

While her tastes may change, her eating habits start now. So encourage her to enjoy what she's eating by making mealtime a fun adventure. Expose her to a wide variety of different flavors, colors and tastes. It may take repeated exposure to a new food before she will eat it. Set a good example by eating nutritiously yourself. And avoid connecting food to approval or comfort.

Solids Don't Guarantee Sleep

There's no proof that feeding a baby solid foods helps babies sleep through the night. What's more, experts do not recommend starting babies on solid foods until 4-6 months of age. That's in part because right now, formula or breast milk is giving your baby all the nutrients he needs.

In his first few months, your baby goes through rapid growth and needs calories. But remember that his stomach capacity is small. So frequent feedings are necessary. Your baby sleeping through the night comes along later.

A Word About Texture

Trying foods with different textures helps babies learn how to handle foods in their mouth. Babies who stay on pureed foods too long may be less willing to eat textured foods. So it's important to vary both tastes and textures when serving foods. Your baby will start on pureed food. Next, progress to lumpy pureed, then mashed or minced food as baby gets older. Even with few teeth, babies can chew and swallow lumpy, mashed or small pieces of food.

Here is a guideline to help you determine what texture to try with your baby.

Your Baby's Development

Texture of Food

Sits with support
  • Pureed, mashed foods
  • Semi-solid foods
Sits on own
  • Soft mashed foods without lumps
Crawls
  • Ground or soft mashed foods with tiny soft noticeable lumps
  • Foods with soft texture
  • Crunchy foods that dissolve (such as baby biscuits or crackers
Walks with assistance
  • Coarsely chopped foods, including foods with noticeable pieces
  • Foods with soft to moderate texture
  • Toddler foods
  • Bite-sized pieces of food
  • Finger foods

Makes the transition to the family diet at about 12 months of age.

Fun Fact

Sometime between 7-10 months, your baby will develop the pincer grasp, which is the ability to pick up small items between his thumb and forefinger. This puts him on the road to independent self-feeding.

Sample Menu at 6 Months

(Remember that the amount your baby eats will vary. Each baby is different. This is only a guide).

Early Morning

Give feedings as needed

Breakfast

  • Breast milk or 6-7 ounces (180-210 mL) iron-fortified formula

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) iron-fortified infant cereal

Lunch

  • Breast milk or 6-7 ounces (180-210 mL) iron-fortified formula

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) pureed meat or alternatives

Afternoon

  • Breast milk or 6-7 ounces (180 - 210 mL) iron-fortified formula

Supper

  • Breast milk or 6-7 ounces (180-210 mL) iron-fortified formula

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) iron-fortified infant cereal

Evening

  • Breast milk or 6-7 ounces (180-210 mL) iron-fortified formula

Night

  • Give feedings as needed

Sample Menu at 6-9 months

(Remember that the amount your baby eats will vary. Each baby is different. This is only a guide).

Early Morning

  • Give feedings as needed

Breakfast

  • Breast milk or 7-8 ounces (210-240 mL) iron-fortified formula
  • 4-6 tbsp (60-90 mL) iron-fortified infant cereal
  • 
2-3 tbsp (30-45 mL) mashed fruit

Snack

  • Small pieces of toast, bread, crackers, roti or pita

Lunch

  • Breast milk or 7-8 ounces (210-240 mL) iron-fortified formula

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) mashed vegetable
  • 
2-3 tbsp (30-45 mL) mashed fruit

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) mashed or finely chopped meat or alternatives

Afternoon

  • Breast milk or 7-8 ounces (210-240 mL) iron-fortified formula

Supper

  • 4-6 tbsp (60-90 mL) iron-fortified infant cereal or 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) mashed or finely chopped meat or alternatives
  • 
2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) mashed fruit

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) mashed vegetable

Evening

  • Breast milk or 7-8 ounces (210-240 mL) iron-fortified formula
  • Small pieces of toast, bread, crackers, roti or pita if desired

Night

  • Give feedings as needed

Sample Menu 9-12 months

(Remember that the amount your baby eats will vary. Each baby is different. This is only a guide).

Early Morning

  • Give feedings as needed

Breakfast

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) soft fruit
  • 
4-6 tbsp (60-90 mL) iron-fortified infant cereal
  • 
4-6 ounces (120-180 mL) breast milk or iron fortified formula, some offered from a cup

Morning

  • Unsweetened dry cereal or 1/2 slice dry toast

Lunch

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) chopped meat or alternatives

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) chopped vegetable
  • Breast milk or 7-8 ounces (210-240 mL) iron-fortified formula

Afternoon

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) soft fruit
  • 
Cubes of soft cheese

Supper

  • 2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) chopped meat or alternatives
  • 
2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) cooked rice or pasta
  • 
2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) chopped vegetable
  • 
2-4 tbsp (30-60 mL) soft fruit or yogurt or cottage cheese
  • 
4-6 ounces (120-180 mL) breast milk or iron-fortified formula, offered from a cup

Evening

  • Breast milk or 7-8 ounces (210-240 mL) iron-fortified formula

  • Small pieces of toast, bread or crackers

Night

  • Give feedings as needed