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Every child develops at their own pace, so there are no strict rules of when and how your little one should be developing and reaching certain milestones. You should just go with what feels completely natural for your child. After the 6 month period, if you feel they are ready, you could start to gradually introduce solid foods into their diet, but definitely approach this in a gentle and patient manner.
How to Know They are Ready For Solid Foods
A few signs to suggest that your baby is ready to begin weaning are the following.
- Once your baby is able to hold their head up, this is a good starting point, as they will be able to eat without choking.
- Are they ready to swallow food? You would be able to tell if they are not able to if they force the food back out as they cannot swallow it yet.
- If they are looking at the food and able to coordinate with their eyes and hands to try and touch it as well, this is a good sign.
Where to Begin?
Be aware that there are certain foods that you should not give your little one just yet.
- No salty foods as their bodies cannot process this yet.
- No sugary food either, as it is too soon for this and not good for healthy teeth development.
- Start with a very small amount of food to see how they swallow and digest it, along with either breastfeeding or Alula baby formula as well throughout the day so they can still benefit from the vitamins and minerals in the milk.
What Type of Foods?
Generally, anything soft that has been cooked well is a good place to start. So things like;
- Mashed potato.
- Soft carrots.
- Parsnip.
- Spinach
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Cooked apples,
- Soft pears
- If they are not lactose intolerant, then from 6 months onwards, plain yoghurt (with non added sugar) and pasteurised cheese.
There are various recipes and meals ideas to create at home which do not take up much time and are simple, healthy foods which you want your baby to enjoy. The more fruit and vegetables you can introduce from a young age, the more likely they are to enjoy a healthy balanced diet and not be fussy eaters when they get a bit older. You can try feeding them with a spoon or allowing them to pick up and eat the food themselves. Allow them to eat at their own pace and try not to pressure them.
Cherish These Moments
It can be quite an exciting time for you as a parent as you are experiencing their first visual reactions and taste towards new foods which will be nice to commemorate by taking photos or filming a video on your phone, particularly when they react with such visual expressions on their little faces. It can be quite amusing to look back upon.
