Solid Food

As a new mom, I heard and read that introducing solid to baby varies according to their readiness.I even read in Dr. Spocks book that you can introduced solid food to baby at 2 months old. Jake started eating solid food like rice cereal when he was four months old. Now, I wanted to start Justine with solid food for the reason that she is been using my breast as pacifier and she seems always hungry even after nursing her. She drools when she sees us eating or have foods. I caught Jake couple of times tried to feed his sissy a stick, toy car and cookie and Justine was so eager to eat them. She has all the signs for being so ready with solid food. But hubby said we have to wait until her doctors appointment on the 10th and see what will the doctor says about it.

First solid foods yet?

You may be beginning to get nudges from eager grandmas or friends with older children to start introducing solids. Some doctors still recommend solids for 4-month-olds, but many currently advise waiting until the 6-month mark. Until you start the transition, all of your baby's nutritional needs are met through breast milk or formula. Somewhere in the 4- to 6-month range, his digestive system will finally be ready to accept solids as another element of his diet. Every baby shows readiness on a different timetable. Some signs to look out for: • Wants more than milk alone and still seems hungry even after eight to ten feedings a day. • Starts making chewing motions and begins teething. • Can control his head and keep it upright and steady. • Has doubled his birth weight. Most doctors recommend starting with rice cereal, as it's less allergenic than other foods. Begin with one feeding a day of about a tablespoon of cereal, mixed with enough breast milk or formula to make a semi-liquid. As your baby shows more interest, gradually thicken the consistency of the cereal and add another cereal feeding or two. After a couple of weeks of cereal, you can start introducing new foods at three-day intervals. This schedule allows your baby to get used to new tastes and helps you tell whether he's having an allergic reaction to any new food. Of course, your baby will still need breast milk or formula until he's a year old because solid food can't replace the vital nutrients he gets from breast milk or formula. He won't be able to tolerate cow's milk until he's 12 months old.

Source:BabyCenter

Solid Food