Solid Food For Babies

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Weaning is the gradual introduction of solid foods into the baby's diet, to supplement milk which still forms the main part of the diet. Most babies should not have any solid food before they are 4 months old. Below that age the kidneys and digestive system may not be developed sufficiently to cope with this solid food. By six months, all babies should have a mixed diet (a variety of solid food and milk).

Food should be offered from a spoon rather than a bottle. This will encourage the baby to try more solid foods, and the food will be in contact with gums and teeth for a much shorter time. Different should be introduced a little at a time, and should be sieved and pureed so that the baby can swallow them with out choking. Suggested introductory foods include:

- Low-sugar rusks or unsweetened ground rice in milk. Breast milk can be squeezed out by the mother into a sterile bottle and kept in refrigerator for this.

- Pureed cooked vegetables, e.g. carrot and potatoes, parsnip and peas

- Pureed cooked meat and fish with unsalted gravy

- Pureed fruit, e.g. banana and fresh orange juice, cooked apple, pear and mango

- Sieved, cooked egg yolk

It is not necessary or advisable to add sugar or salt to these foods. This would encourage a taste for salty and sweet foods, which can be undesirable and unhealthy. Salt also put extra strain on the kidneys.

As the baby eats more solid foods, it will drink less milk, and can drink water with a meal instead. From 6 months babies should be encouraged to drink from a trainer beaker. As the baby's start to erupt, coarser foods can be introduced similar to those listed above but finely pureed. Foods to encourage chewing and to help teething can be given, such as dry low-sugar rusks and toasted bread, commercially made bread sticks and pieces of fruit.

Food for babies can be prepared fro family meals using a liquidizer, processor, sieve or special baby-food grinder. The recommendation to reduce fat intake does not apply to babies and children under 2 years of age and full-fat milk should be given to his age group.

A variety of protein food should be offered, including plant proteins. Gradually, more carbohydrates foods and less fatty foods should be offered as the child approaches 2 years of age. Infants need adequate calcium and iron, along with vitamin D and C to help absorb them.