10 answers to common questions about the transition to solids
Starting solid foods with our babies can be both exciting and overwhelming michael kors outlet store locations toronto. I remember being so nervous the first time I tried solid foods with my daughter I didn know what to do. Looking back now, it was really a piece of cake and even fun, but when I was in the middle of it I had more questions than answers.
To help guide you through this transition, I worked with the BabyCenter Editorial team and Happy Baby nutrition advisors to pull together answers to some of the most common questions about the transition to solid feeding asked by BabyCenter Moms. Hopefully you find this to be a helpful guide as you get started.
BabyCenter Medical Experts say you’ll know your baby is ready when she is at least four months old, has good head control, is sitting well when supported, has had significant weight gain (usually about double her birth weight) and has a curiosity in what you’re eating michael kors outlet store locations toronto. You may also notice that she has a growing appetite, and is still seems hungry after eight to ten feedings a day. Your baby may also be losing the urge to push things out of her mouth with her tongue, known as the “extrusion reflex.”
Keep in mind, each baby’s readiness for solids depends on his or her own rate of development. Look for these signs of readiness and discuss your decision with your pediatrician or health care provider.
2. Do I still give my baby breast milk or formula?
BabyCenter Medical Experts say yes! Your baby will need breast milk or formula until he a year old michael kors outlet store locations toronto. Both give your baby important vitamins, iron, and protein in an easy to digest form. Solid food can replace all the nutrients that breast milk or formula provide during that first year and should be seen as a supplement and not a replacement.
3. Should I pay attention to the stage on baby food?
Stages of baby food can make deciding which foods to try easier. If your baby a beginner, it best to stick with stage 1, which is typically fruits, vegetables or meat pureed to a thin liquid. Stage 2 is similar in consistency to stage 1 but usually introduces more food combinations. Stage 3 has a thicker consistency, and can include larger pieces of food.
4. What’s the “dirty dozen” and how can I avoid it in baby food?
The “dirty dozen” is the Environmental Working Group list of fruits and vegetables that typically contain the highest levels of pesticides. The stage appropriate foods for baby on this list include things like strawberries, peaches, apples, blueberries, nectarines, spinach, potatoes, and kale. BabyCenter Medical Experts say choosing organic versions of these foods will help limit your baby’s exposure to pesticides. But they warn, whatever you do, just don skimp on fruits and veggies in an effort to reduce your baby exposure to pesticides.
5. How long is baby food good after I open it?
It’s hard to let go of food our baby didn’t quite finish michael kors outlet store locations toronto. BabyCenter Medical Experts say in general, baby food containing poultry, fish, meat, or eggs should stay fresh in the refrigerator for 24 hours, and those made with only plain fruits and vegetables should last two days. Container labels sometimes carry recommendations for how long to keep the opened jar or pouch, too.
Here’s a tip: If you don’t think your baby is going to eat all of her food in one sitting, just pour or squeeze some out and into a bowl. If baby is feeding right from a pouch spout or you are reusing a spoon when feeding from a jar, you’ll be inviting bacteria to grow in the leftovers michael kors outlet store locations toronto.
6. Should I use the microwave to heat baby food?
Since food heated in a microwave can have spots that can be deceiving, a better warming method would is to place the jar or pouch of baby food in a bowl of hot water. Leave it in the bowl for a few minutes and it warm nicely.
7. When can my baby eat yogurt?
Most babies can start eating plain, unsweetened, pasteurized, whole milk or plain Greek yogurt after they start eating solids at around 6 months. You can serve it as is, or mix in fresh fruit to add more flavors.
Happy Baby nutrition advisors recommend, cow’s milk is not recommended until 12 months, yogurt can be introduced earlier because the cultures found in yogurt break down the milk sugar, lactose, making it easier forbabies to digest. Yogurt can be introduced around 6 months. your baby has been diagnosed with a milk allergy or shows signs of an allergy of any kind (such as eczema), don give him yogurt until you checked with your baby doctor.
8. What are finger foods? What are the best ones for baby?
Just about any bite size piece of food that your baby can pick up and eat by himself could qualify as a finger food. BabyCenter Medical Experts say your baby may be ready to explore with this type of food around 6 to 8 months old.
They suggest starting with foods that she can gum or that will dissolve easily in her mouth, making sure vegetables are cooked to be soft and easily chewed to avoid choking. Personally, I like Happy Puffs from Happy Baby because they dissolve quickly, are easy to pick up and are sweetened by 100% fruit and vegetable juice.
Happy Baby nutrition advisors recommend, may want to avoid giving their babies hard foods that require too much chewing for young babies and small round foods that can lodge in the throat michael kors outlet store locations toronto. Foods you may want to wait to introduce until age 2 or older: nuts, seeds, popcorn, snack chips, pretzels, raw carrots, raisins, whole grapes, hot dogs or sausage links, hard candy, or large chunks of meat or other tough foods. What do I do if my baby rejects the food?
Try mixing it up. Offer him bites of foods you know he likes then add in the peas or green beans he’s been avoiding michael kors outlet store locations toronto. Sometimes you even have to get creative and present it a different way.
10. Feeding is so messy! How can I control it from getting everywhere?
I used waterproof bibs with my daughter but often just fed my son in a diaper because a lot of his food completely missed his mouth. The bottom line is mealtime can be messy when you’re just beginning to figure things out. That’s totally normal, and a part of the fun!
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