weaning my baby onto solids?

Question

my baby is 4 months next week, i want to start weaning him onto solids what should i approach him and how much should i give him at first?

Answer 1

Start with rice baby cereal. It's easier to put some in his bottle or cereal feeder. Just try about an ounce of cereal at first and then increase it if he tolerates it. You could then add some fruit like bananas. I would be careful and don't add food too fast. Wait about 3 wks before adding another one. That way if he has an allergic reaction, you know what is the culprit.
Good luck.

Answer 2

Some (including mine) doctors recommend 4-6 months for starting solid food. I started my baby girl at 5 months. I just fed Gerber rice cereal in the morning before the bottle for a month. I would make up a tablespoon or two with breastmilk or formula to begin with. Make it very liquidy to begin, and as he gets the hang of it over days or weeks, increase the thickness by adding less milk. Some days, she refused it at the begining and I just said ok, we'll try it tomorrow. ALWAYS feed cereal with a spoon and never put it in a bottle. My daughter made a huge mess learning to take it from a spoon, but I look back with fond memories!

At 6 months I added a little jar of stage one baby food at lunch or dinner. She didn't eat it all at first. Doctors recommend you to feed each new food for about 5 days to watch for signs of allergy.

Also, if your baby can sit up assisted and hold the head up unassisted, has lost the tongue thrust reflex (otherwise how's he going to swallow the stuff?), turns away when full, and has an interest, then I'd see about solids if he's 4-6 months old. Maybe if he can't do these things consider waiting a month or so?

One line of thinking is the make sure and feed veggies first, so they won't just like the sweet fruits. On the other side, breastmilk is sweet, so they like sweet from the beginning. I think we just introduced 3-4 veggies, then interchanged fruits and veggies. Our girl loves both! I don't know if it really matters.

Answer 3

Start with Baby rice and nothing else, Just offer a little on the end of a weaning spoon, most of it will probably look like he's spitting it out, but eating is a new reflex to learn and he will try sucking it in until he learns. Dont force feed him though, just a little once a day for a week or so, do it all gradually with all new ingrediants as you need to be aware if your baby has any allergies to ffod. So keep the same meal for 3-4 days then other another meal.

Answer 4

Just remember that solid foods are really to introduce and teach him to have different textures and tastes in his mouth. Really, there is no a whole lot of nutritional value to pureed peas and rice cereal, but are still good things for babies to develop a taste for. Don't wean him from the bottle until he is over 12 months. I preferred stopping around 14 to 15 months. But as far as the solids go, start when he is getting close to feeding time (botttle) and give him a couple tiny bites of rice cereal. Really, at first they only take a teaspoon or two. Don't expect more than that. All of my children hated rice cereal and would literally gag from the taste of it. I eventually added a little pear or applesauce to it for taste. Then after doing this for a couple weeks, add a new veggie every couple days. It is fun, but always remember that their sole source of nutrition should be from the bottle. Have fun.

Answer 5

Don't start weaning him yet he should be breast fed exclusevely for 6 months and only then to be weaned. I have no Idea where all these folks want to do is feed their infants so soon, your babies tummy is not ready yet I am a registered midwife and have taught and advised 100's of new Moms to exclusively breast feed for 6 months, then ony to give say a half teaspoon of mashed potatoe - no salt added or butter either. Give this once a day for about a week. The next week give say half a teaspoon of very finely mashed carrot. Introduce vegies and or fruit one at a time in case he has a total dislike for one or other item and see his reaction baby prooidge can also be offered, but it is better to start on the fruits and vegies first Egg is only introduced after 2 yrs of age. Do not geve anything but what he has been on for another 2 months LOL!!!

Answer 6

Try baby rice but they recommend leaving weaning later if possible. They say it's healthier and baby less likely to develop allergies. That said, know plenty weaned at 4 months - no detrimental effect. A plastic teaspoon of baby rice will be ample at first as baby gets used to feel of food in his/her mouth. Just start once a day. Slowly introduce veggies and fruit as solids are tolerated. Single food items at first, no additives.

Answer 7

I am a trainee health visitor and latest research suggests that babies should have breast or formula only until 6 months.when their digestive and immune systems are more developed.At this age the kidneys are more mature and able to deal more efficiently with salts in food( never add salt but it does natrally occur in most things)
That said, I've had three kids and know how hungry babies can be. Rusks are very sugary and i would avoid them. Pured fruit and baby rice are good take things slowly and allow milk to make up most of the days nutrition for now. Are you living in the UK if so why not ask advice from your Health Visitor they like to feel useful!!
Good luck

Answer 8

When they first start, it's basically just tasting really! Fruit is usually a good starter food, as it is easily digested! A couple of spoons should be enough! Once you have tried all the fuits, move onto veggies! Once he is happy with this variety, you can start puree-ing a little of what you eat. I used to save a little of our dinner for the next days meal. Try and stick with fresh fruit and veg, but you may find that in the very begining it's more economical to buy a couple of jars of baby fruit, veg, as they really only have a couple of spoons to start with! Most of all enjoy the experience and remember its all new to him, so he may seem to play with it at first! Also some days he may be hungrier than others! Have fun!!

Answer 9

At 4 months start with rice cereal. I did rice cereal for breakfast one week then moved to rice cereal for breakfast and lunch the next week and then rice cereal for breakfast lunch and dinner the following. When my daughter was 5 months I moved to oatmeal and I fed her all 3 meals with oatmeal and rice cereals. At 6 months I started green beans for lunch and dinner (rice or oatmeal for breakfast), then sweet potato the next week and so on. When introducing a new food you should feed the same food for at least 3-4 days to make sure that they are not allergic to that food.
It's an exciting time! My daughter is now 14 months and is eating anything and everything. It's so much fun to watch them try something new. The faces they make when they absolutley hate something is hysterical! My daughter would throw her whole body into the disgust and the joy of a food too. Enjoy!

Answer 10

i'm weaning my girl at the moment. i started on gluten free rusks, they are a little bit more expensive but are better for her. i mixed half a one with her milk. i also tried her on carrots and bananas, sweet potato, baby rice and baby rice mixed with her carrots etc. hope it helps. but don't rush, it might take a few tries with the food until they decide they like it. oh watch out when the start to sneeze while they have a mouthful of food i get covered in food it goes everywhere. good luck you'll love this stage.