Guidlines to starting food in your 4-6 month old

TIPS: Starting solids should be enjoyable for you and your baby. If the baby seems unhappy, wait a few weeks and try again.

Introduce new foods in a pattern consistent with ease of digestibility and least risk of allergies. Start with rice cereal, then add vegetables, fruit, and finally meats (after 6-7 mos.). By 9 months start some amount of dairy (cheese, yogurt, or cottage cheese).

Introducing solid foods will cause your babies stools to become more solid and variable in color.

The goal is solid food - 3 meals a day by 7 months and mostly table food by 1 year.

Introduce a cup by 9 months. Place water and formula in cup.

FOODS: Introduce new foods one at a time and wait 3-5 days before adding new foods. Start a new food early in the day. If the baby has a problem, you will know before bedtime.

— Cereal: Rice, Oat, Wheat, Mixed
Rice is the easiest to digest, with very little allergen potential.
Amount: 3-4 Tbls. Mix in a bowl with breast milk, formula or water and feed by spoon.
When: Hungriest time of your baby’s day, maybe twice a day.

— Yellow Vegetables: Squash, sweet potatoes and carrots.

— Fruits: Applesauce, peaches, pears and bananas. Any fruit without citrus or citric juice in them, until baby is 12 months old.

— Green Vegetables: Peas, green beans, then gradually add other green vegetables

— Meats: Lamb, poultry, veal, beef, pork (in that order) but not until after 6 months old. Combination meat foods may be used.

— Eggs: Egg yolk at 9 months (baby food egg yolk), egg whites at 12 months.

— Juices: Juice is not necessary. Water is sufficient for additional fluids but if desired use no more than 6-8 oz. a day. White grape juice, apple, cranberry, cherry, or any combination of these can be used. Juice should be diluted in half with water. Do not give unpasteurized juices.

MENU IDEA:
— Breakfast: Cereal/Fruit.
— Lunch: Fruit/Cereal or Fruit/Vegetable/Meat.
— Dinner: Fruit/Cereal or Fruit/Vegetable/Meat.

ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Skin rash, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other concerns stop the new food. If you have family allergies, introduce new foods 7-10 days before starting another new food. Foods to avoid before 12 months old: whole eggs, cow’s milk, citric fruit/juices, strawberries, honey, nut products and shellfish.

QUANTITY: Feed your child until they are satisfied. Do not force feed. Most infants and children will show signs of fullness by turning their head away or by spitting food.

Average Quantity:
6 months - approximately 1 4oz jar per meal.
9 months - approximately 2 4oz.jars per meal.
The quantity of breast milk/formula may decrease as the amount of food increases.

PREPARING OWN FOODS:
No salt. Remove baby’s portion before seasoning.
Use water that food is cooked in for pureeing to retain important nutrients.
Nutrients are greatest if vegetables are fresh. Next best are frozen vegetables and last use canned (be sure they contain no salt!).

Ideas: Use ice trays. One cube is enough for one serving. You can freeze them inside zip-lock bags (easy to take to baby-sitter).

SAFETY TIPS TO HELP AVOID CHOKING:
You want to give small, non-round pieces of easily dissolvable or soft foods.

Foods to avoid until around 4 years of age: raw vegetables, raisins, nuts, popcorn, whole grapes, hard candies, and hot dogs that have been sliced into circles.

*** We encourage all parents to learn CPR and First Aid for choking.

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