Solid Foods
Signs that your baby is ready for solid foods
Signs that your baby is ready for solid foods are:
- Has doubled in birth weight and weighs at least 13 pounds.
- Breast fed baby frequently demands feedings before two-three hours have elapsed since the last feeding.
- Bottle fed baby is not satisfied on 32 ounces of formula in 24 hours.
How to introduce solid foods
Start with rice cereal (not wheat) as it is less likely to cause an allergic response. Mix one tablespoon dry rice cereal with breast milk, formula or water until fairly thick. Offer cereal twice daily when your baby is hungry, usually morning and evening. Your baby will gradually take up to three to four tablespoons of dry cereal mixed with liquid. After three to four weeks, begin vegetables. Offer twice daily starting with yellow, alternating with green. Fruits can be started after vegetable to avoid sweet taste preference.
How to introduce new solid foods
When starting new foods, offer a few tablespoons at first and add one new food three to five days in a row before starting another food to determine any reactions (excess gas, diarrhea, constipation or rash). To prevent allergic responses: no orange juice until six months and no wheat until 12 months. Avoid honey because of the risk of infant botulism.
How much solid food should I give my baby
Amounts of solid food varies with each baby. Some babies eat less and some eat more. Babies will give signs of being satisfied by leaning back or turning away from the food. Do not push your baby to finish all the food in the dish or the much you have prepared.
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