How To Start Baby On Solid Food Safely

With the rise of food allergies on babies, it is important to understand why and how to introduce our babies to eating solid food?  Babies are started on solids far too early now days.  It was not so in past generations.  Some have even told me how they let their baby eat at three months.  This is one of the reason for many baby sicknesses and disorders like eczema, constipation, food allergy and digestive disorders and others.  Babies's stomachs are not developed enough to digest most foods until after one year old.  Even then, stomachs continue to mature so they can't fully digest many vegetables until 5 years old.  So, Mom, relax if your toddler doesn't like vegetables.  If he is over one year old, continue faithfully to offer cooked vegetables but never force them on your child.  You enjoy them as to encourage him to try them.  It will take about 15 tastes before they develop taste buds for it.  It is a battle not worth fighting in contention.

Ok, back to baby food.  Process foods have been outlawed in our home, at least by me.  The law is broken once in awhile though.  How could highly processed rice cereal be the first food I give my baby?  To be clear, babies don't need any other nutrient from solid food than breastmilk (or formula).   What you can do is introduce them to the concept of solids, different textures and tastes, and eating skills.  You can do this when baby seems ready, usually wanting to grab the food you are eating and when they have developed pincer fingering- picking up small objects.  Nothing should be given to babies before 6 months.  My ideal would be after one year.

My experiences:

My second daughter, Destiny, didn't eat until one year old.   She did great.  I didn't have to worry about food allergies.  She was ready, her stomach was moredeveloped and has been a healthy girl.



Danielle, my first one, tried out pureed carrots at 6 months.  She flared up with eczema in her face.  I stopped the food and kept her on breast milk.  After a year she resumed solid food with no problem.  She breastfed until she was 3 and a half years old.

Noah, however, would want to eat at 7 months.  That's when he showed signs of ready to start leaning to eat.  But I was so careless to let him grab pieces of bread.  This severely constipated him.  For two months he suffered from constipation.  I eliminated grains and only allowed him to try soluble fiber foods like fruit.  Drinking an herbal tea also helped him.  I had a hard time keeping him away from food.  To this point, this little boy loves to eat.  But since he was 9 months old, no more constipation.  After a year old, he was fine eating everything.  But I was always cautious on the bread.

Then Liberty here started taking food in at nine months.  At 8 months I would give her the carrot, celery, cucumber and apple sticks for her to grab and play with, not eat.  That is all they need when we sit at the table and they want to eat.  They will be content.  But at nine months, she wanted more.  So slowly I gave her some food.

Here is a list of good foods to start with:

Avocado

egg yolk (cooked, not the white)

blueberries

chicken stock

cooked vegetables

cooked apples, pear, peach

cheese

yogurt

Bananas can be constipating and create mucus, so I stay away from them until one year old.

Of course, you will introduce one at a time.  Remember, taste buds are being developed.  Try to keep the food simple without sugar and salt.

Overall, keep it simple.  Food introduction before 1 year is only for taste and learning how to eat, not for nutrition.  Breast milk is all they need at this time.  After a year, baby can eat pretty much everything.  But be cautious with anything that would upset him.  Keep vegetables cooked.

What are some ways you start your baby on solids?  What are some experiences you have had with your babies?