How to Introduce Your Baby’s First Food

It’s always stressful for new parents to raise their babies, and things become hard when introducing a baby to solid food. If you think about it, the baby that has lived inside the mother for nine long months is now out in the real world, and sooner or later, it will be time to introduce more solid ingredients into its diet rather than purees. There is a method to do so that’s both safe and delicious for the baby.

So, when is the perfect time to introduce a baby to more solid dietary ingredients? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the average timeline says anywhere between four to six months, it depends on your baby. If the baby can sit up, hold its head upright, is interested in everything you're eating, has lost its tongue-thrust reflex, or still seems hungry, it might be time for something more solid.

The most important thing to keep in mind as caregivers is the practice of responsive feeding. That means listening to your infant - it will tell you when it's ready for solid food. Try different ways - feed milk first and then give them solids as a bonus, or the other way around. Once your infant shows interest in mealtime, attempt to start them on a routine. And there are no clear instructions on the amount, as it depends on the baby's appetite and cues.

A more defined guideline given by the AAP is guided by the baby's age. It all begins when the infant is four to six months old, that's when you should go for single-grain cereals. They are rich in iron and the ideal starting line food. From four to eight months, you may want to try pureed veggies, meats, and fruits. At six to eight months, a meal should contain more single-ingredient finger food, and then at age nine to twelve months, you should introduce ground, chopped, or mashed foods.

Useful tips for caregivers are creating a routine, knowing solid foods will take longer to introduce, trying various foods, preparing for the mess, and starting the intake of water. Using these helpful tips will assist in making the transition to solids a lot easier, but make sure to read up on which foods to avoid at a young age.