When to start feeding will be recommended by your pediatrician after assessing whether the child is ready to switch to solid food. Most often this happens around the age of 6 months, sometimes later, especially if the child was exclusively breastfed.
At the beginning of feeding, the goal is not to replace the portion of milk with puree or porridge, but to introduce the child to a different taste, aroma and consistency of food. Babies have a natural reflex to tongue most things that enter their mouths, especially unfamiliar ones. This protects them from suffocation, but over time this reflex disappears - the little one begins to explore the world with his mouth and try different objects.
That's why it's normal and you shouldn't worry if the baby pushes his first spoonfuls of solid food. Don't immediately think that he is rejecting her because he didn't like her. Be consistent, but also carefully monitor what signals your child is sending you, after all, you know them best.
How to know if the child is ready for feeding?
Judging whether the right time has come is important, as feeding too early carries a high risk of allergies. There are several generally accepted signs of readiness to start powering, such as:
- the child shows interest in the food in the hands and plate of the adult;
- sit firmly in a chair;
- he's teething;
- produce enough saliva;
- can hold a spoon;
- can push food into its mouth with its tongue.
How to power it?
First, wait until you know he's going to be hungry, but not too hungry, because then he might get nervous at the novelty and insist on a breast or a bottle.
Put him in a sitting position, don't forget to put a bib on him and give him the spoon.
What is it full of?
In the first months, gluten-free foods are recommended. So you can try with: mashed potato, pumpkin, carrot, peas, green beans, and from fruits: banana, melon, pear, apple. Avoid solid foods that can cause choking.
Prepare the first porridges/purées with breast milk or infant formula. Read the labels of ready-made porridges and purees carefully, lest they contain gluten!
In the beginning, dilute to a more liquid consistency and offer the little one a spoonful a day until he gets used to the new taste. Serve the new types of food separately - this way you will know if there is an allergy to any of them.
Keep in mind that sometimes introducing new foods can cause colic, bloating and even reluctance on his part to eat and try new tastes.
