When should I introduce solids?
You can introduce solids any time after 6 months if your baby is ready.or at the end of the first year. Lots of babies will not want to eat until closer to a year old. Until then, breast milk provides all the calories and nourishment your baby needs. His digestive system simply isn't ready for solids until the end of the first year of life. Waiting until your baby is ready greatly reduces the risk of an allergic reaction and shortens or eliminates the transition time between spoon- and self-feeding.
How will I know when my baby's ready?
Some babies are eager and ready to eat solids at 6 months, while others need to wait until they're closer to 12 months old. Your baby will give you clear signs when he's ready to have more than breast milk.
There are many signs of food readiness. Cues to look for include:
• Head control.
To eat solids, your baby needs to be able to keep his head in a steady, upright position.
• Losing the "extrusion reflex."(or tongue thrust)".
To keep solids in his mouth and then swallow them, your baby needs to stop using his tongue to push food out of his mouth.
• Sitting un aided.
Even if he's not quite ready for a chair at the table,and is in a high chair. your baby needs to be able to sit upright to swallow better.
• Chewing motions.
Your baby's mouth and tongue develop in sync with his digestive system. To start solids, he should be able to move food to the back of his mouth and swallow.(no tongue thrust)
• Significant weight gain.
Most babies are ready to eat solids when they've doubled their birth and are over 6 months old.
• Growing appetite.
He seems hungry after eight to ten feedings in a day.
• Curiosity about what you're eating.
Your baby may begin eying your bowl of rice or reaching for a fork as it travels from your plate to your mouth
again this is not a clear sign that baby is food ready, baby will also watch you pick up a pen or other non edible object.(and try to put it in his mouth)
If your child is having a food reaction her are some common symptoms.
your baby gets an excess of mucus
Baby has difficulty passing stool
baby has blood flecks in stool
baby develops a hemorrhoid
baby suddenly starts throwing up, but appears fine otherwise.
baby tries to make himself gag(to throw up)
baby suddenly doesn't want to nurse(excess food or foods that make babys tummy upset will decrease nursing)
baby developes a heat rash type rash on the torso.
baby develops a rash around the mouth and lips
babys lips swell or appear more red
babys eyes get red rimmed and they get dark circles
babys skin gets rough and dry all over,(esp on torso) Sponsored by: Danjo Creations.ca
