How many times have you heard the following statement?
“Food before one is just for fun.”
I was told many times by so many women I looked up to and respected - including my mother - that when you start your baby on solid food it is about fun, not nutrition.
It’s about exploring texture as your baby squishes pieces of banana through their fingers.
It’s about new tastes. I can still remember (and giggle about) the look on my daughter’s face when she tried her first pureed vegetable.
It’s about motor skills as your baby moves that piece of avocado from their plate to their mouth. These are all true,
And all very important reasons to start your baby on solids. But it is not the MOST important reason to do so.
Food before one is fun, that’s for sure. But it is also about something most nursing moms will be surprised to know:
Food before one is about NUTRITION.
Before we discuss why food before one is about nutrition, let’s address one of the biggest misconceptions about those first feedings…
TIMING!
Did you know that 1/3 of infants are receiving their first solid or semi-solid food TOO EARLY?
And what is too early?
I remember my mother-in-law recommending a little taste of banana as early as 4 months. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting this introduction to solid or semi-solid foods no earlier than 6 months.
Here are some indications that your baby is ready for solids:
They can sit upright and hold their head up.
They are curious about and express an interest in what you are eating.
They have lost their tongue thrust reflex - this is a reflex!
They still seem hungry after getting 8 to 10 breastfeedings or 32oz of formula a day.
Now that your baby is ready to start solids, let’s discuss how to introduce them and how often. Starting at 6 months, your baby should receive 4 of the 7 following food groups each day:
Grains
Legumes
Dairy
Flesh Foods
Eggs
Vitamin A Fruits and Vegetables
Other Fruits and Vegetables
While most parents start with (and then stick with) grains as their baby’s first “food,” I have to stress the importance of Flesh Foods.
Your baby’s #1 source of IRON will come from FLESH FOODS. It’s true that baby cereal is a good source of iron, however the iron in cereal is much less absorbable than when introduced through meat. Additionally, adding Vitamin C foods like broccoli and citrus to meat-containing meals is a great way to aid in iron absorption.
Check out our handy PDF for a reference and suggestions of the above-mentioned foods. Now that you know what to feed, what about frequency and amount? It is so ingrained in us to feed three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But for introducing solids to your baby, it’s recommended to follow the schedule below:
2 meals a day (2-4 tablespoons) when baby is between 6-8 months. 3 meals a day (each the size of baby’s fist) when baby is between 9-23 months. 4 meals a day for exclusively formula-fed infants between 6-23 months.
It is also important to note that it’s not essential that you feed breakfast, lunch, and dinner as we do as adults. So, instead of cereal at breakfast, parents are encouraged to feed meat at breakfast. Follow these guidelines to ensure your baby starts solids the best way and receives the nutrition they require. And remember, BREASTMILK is still a vital source of nutrition, so if you are nursing, continue to do so for one year or more. See these resources below for additional information regarding nutritional guidelines for starting solids:
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