In order to make your baby strong and increase its overall development, the right nutrition is important. Initially, most infants are dependent on breast milk which is required for the first 6 months when they are just born from the mother’s womb. Pediatricians recommend breast milk as one of the best foods for the baby’s health and personal care. But, in rare cases, a substitute should be fed to the baby when the mother is unable to produce milk. At such an instance, the mother should visit the doctor and discuss what steps she should take to boost milk production.
When you baby has gained enormous weight and he has become independent enough to sit on his own with minimal support, then it’s the time to start feeding him with solid foods. You as his mother can see these developments within 4 to 6 months. Whichever food you opt for your baby, it should be in semi-liquid form and something that can be easily digested. The baby might not respond and throw away when you feed solid foods for the first time. But, then there is nothing to worry about. You can try again after a couple of days. It is suggested that you should opt for mild grains such as rice, barley or millet. Moreover, cooked apples, pears, bananas or sweet potato can also serve as an alternative and make the baby’s day with a meal that is always enjoyable. Avoid feeding the baby with beans, peas, broccoli, and cauliflower because there are greater chances that the infant might be susceptible to allergies. In case the baby starts vomiting, wheezing, coughing or feeling uneasy due to burning red rashes, then you need to consult the doctor at the spur of the moment.
Preparing and feeding solid food
If you are purchasing food from health and personal care stores, then you should read the instructions printed on the pack. Ride slowly and move on gradually in providing a wholesome meal to your infant. It’s better to start with 1 teaspoon of the food dissolved in sufficient amount of milk and water enough to make the solution just like a melted chocolate. This is equivalent to 4 to 5 teaspoons of water or milk. If you think that making the mixture sweet, would add on to the baby’s intake and taste, then it is a misconception. Honey, sugar or syrups are heavy and should not be mixed with these health care supplies. So, avoid adding them to the cereals. Later, when the baby is on the brink of becoming a year old (9 to 12 months), it is safe to feed him pureed food or better still with ground meats, or mashed vegetables, or fruits which aren’t hard and are easy to eat.
As far as the schedule is concerned, once the baby has understood how he should eat then that steers the excitement within and the longing for more food. A normal daily routine for the infant should comprise of small three meals with two to three short intervals for snacks. When the baby is 4 to 6 months old two meals are sufficient, but three meals as big as the infant’s fist fills the stomach when the baby is aged anything between 7 and 12 months.
On a concluding note, belief or not, a babies requires more food to satiate its hunger because energy levels are relatively higher. The introduction of solid food helps to furnish with the right nutrition and inculcate a healthy eating habit. You can find many health care products online to get an idea about what to feed.
