American academy of pediatrics, united nations standing committee on nutrition and the enters for disease control and prevention all recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age.
NO solids until:
- Baby’s birth weight has doubled.
- Baby has good independent control of head and neck
- Baby can sit up with just a little support (no bumbo!!)
- Baby can show you they are full by pulling away when you offer food or by shutting their mouth.
There is also research that shows waiting to introduce solids until they get teeth. When teeth appear it is a sign that their body has the right digestive enzymes to process food.
Feeding a baby too soon is linked to gastroenteritis and diarrhea plus an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, eczema and celiac disease.
AAP, among others, says breastfeeding until 12 months of age is optimal – so even after starting solids you should continue to breastfeed.
FOOD BEFORE ONE IS JUST FOR FUN!!
How much should they eat?
- If you are just starting, baby will likely only eat 1/2 of the tablespoon sized portion you give them.
- Remember this is a new experience.
- MAJORITY OF NUTRIENTS SHOULD BE COMING FROM BREASTMILK OR FORMULA UNTIL AGE 1.
- As baby becomes accustomed to solids, increase the portion sizes.
Good starter foods:
- Fruits:
- Avocado
- Apricot
- Apple
- Banana
- Mango
- Nectarine
- Peaches
- Pears
- Plums
- Prune
- Pumpkin
- Veggies:
- Sweet Potato
- Acorn/butternut squash
- Carrots
- Green beans
- Yellow Squash
- Zucchini