When should I introduce baby food to my baby?

Answer 1

As some other people have said, this is a subject you should discuss with your baby's pediatrician, who is (or should be!) familiar with *your* baby. However, there are, of course, some general guidelines about this.

Until not so long ago, the official recommendation was that babies be introduced to their first solid food between 4 and 6 months of age. About a year or two ago that recommendation was modified, and the American Academy of Pediatricians, and most practioners at this point, recommend that solids *not* be introduced before a baby reaches the age of 6 months. Why? It is believed that an earlier introduction of foods -- by "foods," incidentally, I mean anything other than breastmilk and/or formula -- increases the risk of a child developing food allergies, and also increases the risk of a child going on to develop diabetes later in life. Even if there is no history of food allergies in your family (or in your partner's/husband's family) early introduction of food is believed to raise the risk of it occurring with your child, but pediatricians seem to be more...flexible...on the issue in that case. If there is any known history of food allergy there seems to be less...flexibility... vis a vis the recommendation.

Another issue is maturity of a child's digestive system. When babies are very young their digestive systems are, quite simply, not mature enough to handle many foods. Although a baby may be fed food early on and *seem* to be okay that doesn't mean that it's not taxing on the system and/or a problem in terms of digestion.

As for starting cereals early for the purpose of aiding sleep, that is, unfortunately, nothing more than an "old wives tale." If it were true, believe me, there is no mother out there who, at some sleep deprived state or another, would not turn to that "solution" and holler its praises from any and every rooftop. Is it true that some babies who are given cereal in bottles appear to sleep better? You bet. But "sleeping through the night" is a developmental issue/milestone, and will not be rushed by things like rice cereal in a bottle.

As for: why cereal? True enough there isn't a whole lot of nutritional value in much of it, but the reason for introducing cereal has nothing whatever to do with nutrition. At 6 months, your baby's nutritional needs are met fully by breastmilk/formula, and continue to be for a while. Rice cereal -- the most recommended "first food" out there -- is highly unlikely to create an allergic reaction and is about the least allergenic food out there. That is why it's recommended.

In addition to the AAP guideline about when to introduce your baby to solid food there are signs of an individual baby's readiness, which others have mentioned, including interest in what others are eating, ability to sit up and support her/his own head, etc. But a baby may show all outward signs of readiness and, when given the food, is clearly not ready (often you can tell immediately because the tongue thruster reflex is still in action).

As far as personal experience: my twins were born 2 months early, and the pediatrician okayed cereals at 7 months.; we weren't sure they were ready, actually, but she okayed trying it out to see. They ate cereal for one month before we moved on to other solids.

Incidentally, a couple of excellent resources are the Web site at http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com and the book Super Baby Foods by Ruth Yaron. Both focus on parents who want to puree fresh foods for their baby but either way, both have very good charts/information/etc about different foods, and what foods are safe to introduce at what time.

Whenever you start to feed your baby solids, you should introduce only one new food at a time, and introduce it for several days before trying another new food. That way you'll be able to keep a better eye out for any allergic reaction, or gastrointestinal one, and quickly identify the culprit if something arises.

Sorry to run on so. Hope this helps, and enjoy feeding time!

Answer 2

This is a question that your pediatrician will help you decide along with your observations of your baby - you know him best. Most babies begin to eat solids at 4-6 months. Some start earlier and some aren't ready until later. Each baby is different. Some signs that a baby is ready for solids are he can hold his head still (a wobbly baby has trouble with eating from a spoon), he has lost the natural "tongue-thrust" reflex babies are born with (if his is still strong, he will repeatedly push the spoon out with his tongue, this doesn't mean he doesn't like the food, but means he is still only ready for bottle or breast), he seems interested in watching and/or reaching when he sees you eat and may even open his mouth when a spoon goes by. Many pediatricians OK starting out a little infant rice cereal about 4 months, some recommend waiting until 6 months. Some babies just aren't interested in food until 6-9 months. It is helpful to know that breast milk and/or formula provides all the vitamins and nutrients a baby needs to thrive and grow until they are about 6 months old. After that, breast milk and/or formula still plays a major part in a baby's nutrition until after 1 year old when whole cow's milk can be introduced.

Answer 3

Every child is different as are doctors who tell you how soon they can start. I am a mom of 4 27 25 23 11 and all mine were started when they were 2-3 weeks old. I know, some will say WHAT! They were all good eaters but the formula and or breast milk just wasn;t enough. They wanted to eat every 2-3 hrs. We started with rice cereal for a week or so then started adding bananas which they loved. By 6 months they were eating everything. 7-8 mo table foods....they're all healthy adults/preteens now. All their children they did the same. Each child is different as are adults. Do what YOU feel YOUR child needs. Some need to start sooner than others. I never read any books- too many different opinions and who to say what is right or wrong. Every one has an opinion and not everyone agrees with them. Use your best judgement what you feel and how your baby reacts. Good Luck and congrats on your little one!

Answer 4

It depends on the child. Some children like my son, he was 6 months old when he was eating baby food. If the child is drinking a lot of bottles and is not gettin full then start on baby cereal first. When you do start baby food give the child the same baby food for the whole week. That way you can see if the child has food algeries.

Answer 5

Later than you might think. A breastfed baby can wait until at least 6 months. Formula-fed babies may need to start sooner. I know tons of people reccomend starting with baby cereals, but there really isn't much nutrition in them. My kiddos started with pureed veggies (like sweet potatoes) and meats (for iron) at around 8 months. I used a blender or food processor to make large batches and froze them in ice cube trays. It really does not take long to steam veggies and puree them.

With my second child, she pretty much had a non-spicy version of whatever we were eating that night, as long as it was not on the no-no list (highly allergenic or irritating foods). I would mush it up with a fork. If it was too lumpy, I'd whir it in the blender for a minute or two to make it smooth.

Commercial baby foods are convenient, and there are many organic, preservative free ones available for around the same price as the standard ones. However, all are quite expensive. I saved a bundle by making the stuff myself.

p.s. a newborn wanting to eat every 2 to 3 hours when breastfed is biologically normal. Not convenient, but normal. I know that doctors used to use this as a reason to suppliment with food or formula, but a ton of research has been done that no longer supports this practice.

Answer 6

You can start at about 4-6 months. But before you do, here are a couple of interesting links re: commercial baby food vs. homemade.

http://www.cspinet.org/reports/cheat1.html

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/cost.htm

Someone up there said not to breastfeed after a year. That is absolute crap! You can breastfeed as long as you and your child are comfortable doing so. Some people have issues seeing a toddler breastfeeding - but those are THEIR issues and have nothing to do with the health and wellbeing of your child.

Answer 7

baby food.. as in Gerber stage 1 stuff?

Rice cereal 4-6 months. Then after that offer the fruit and veggies of stage one, as baby gets older and is solids are well established, you move to stage 2, then stage 3.. Then gerber also has Graduated toddler food =]

Answer 8

Do NOT give your baby the bottle feeders!! Those are not good for digestion for your baby!! It won't "help baby sleep". Thats what they thought in the 60's. Babies shouldn't eat any food before 6 months. Your baby should be able to sit up before 1st foods are introduced. You don't even have to start with cereal anymore; doctors recommend starting with veggies. If you introduce solid food to a baby to early, it could be too tough on their digestive track and also set them up for many food allergies.

Answer 9

You should really ask your baby's doctor on this one. But my daugthers doctor told me when she was drinking 30 oz. to start her on cereal and then add something new every few days. He gave me a list to follow. She is 11 months old today and has been on table food since 7 months old. Some may say that's to young but it was what worked for her.Every baby is different. Hope this helps.

Answer 10

I started introducing baby food to my daughter at 3 months. I think around 2 1/2 months I started giving her a little of baby food. Then at 3 months I started the baby food. And the rule to go by normally is one food for one week. So say you give your baby peas, do it for one week and then try something else. This way, its easy to determine if your baby is allergic to anything. Vegetables are normally better to start with and then fruit. Your doctor should be able to help you with this or in those books that tell you when your child should start things at each age, because each kid is different and its all how you feel as a parent. Good luck.