The Wide World of Food!
As with all of the new skills and adventures in nurturing that growth, it is important to remember the "WHY?" behind each "How-To". This will help you discern what and how you want to direct your child in each new area.
Some things to consider when introducing solid foods to your 4-6 month old: What are the goals?
1- introducing new flavors beyond the sweetness of your breast milk/ formula, and new textures beyond liquid (set the foundation for a good palate).
2- helping their digestive system develop and giving them what's appropriate for their digestive development
3- extra calories for growing bodies and brains (breast milk or formula will still be the primary source)
4- natural foods to gnaw on when teeth are trying to break through
5- encouraging eye - hand coordination
6- continued integration into the family system
Some things to consider when introducing solid foods to your 4-6 month old: What are the goals?
1- introducing new flavors beyond the sweetness of your breast milk/ formula, and new textures beyond liquid (set the foundation for a good palate).
2- helping their digestive system develop and giving them what's appropriate for their digestive development
3- extra calories for growing bodies and brains (breast milk or formula will still be the primary source)
4- natural foods to gnaw on when teeth are trying to break through
5- encouraging eye - hand coordination
6- continued integration into the family system
Nutritional Guidelines
After the interplay of those factors listed, you want to end up with them eating a healthy variety of foods with all the essential nutrients... but again, that definition varies slightly depending who you ask!
When you see differing suggestions and opinions, from the xeroxed sheet at your pediatrician's office, to the all-natural blogs, try to filter those things through the goals that you are most committed to. The fact of the matter is, nutritional guidelines vary as you can well see in your own life, and they will for babies as well. We like the Canadian guidelines and appreciate they are backed by scientific studies.
If you are taking your vitamins and nursing your baby, then your milk will have the important vitamins and minerals needed.
Pre-biotic/ pro-biotic foods to aid digestion: much is still being learned about the helpful flora (bacteria) that line the intestines and digest food, but the big picture is that a healthy gut flora is a very important factor in overall health. Some foods that are considered "pre-biotic" (that good bacteria flourish when eating it) are often the very foods suggested for baby's firsts. Pears, sweet potatoes, avocados, bananas and plain yogurt are all soft foods for mashing and spoon feeding or giving in bite sized lumps for baby to eat.
The point is, you can ask yourself what's the risk and what's the goal and keep those as guidelines as you pick foods from the traditionally suggested route or the "natural" route.
When you see differing suggestions and opinions, from the xeroxed sheet at your pediatrician's office, to the all-natural blogs, try to filter those things through the goals that you are most committed to. The fact of the matter is, nutritional guidelines vary as you can well see in your own life, and they will for babies as well. We like the Canadian guidelines and appreciate they are backed by scientific studies.
If you are taking your vitamins and nursing your baby, then your milk will have the important vitamins and minerals needed.
Pre-biotic/ pro-biotic foods to aid digestion: much is still being learned about the helpful flora (bacteria) that line the intestines and digest food, but the big picture is that a healthy gut flora is a very important factor in overall health. Some foods that are considered "pre-biotic" (that good bacteria flourish when eating it) are often the very foods suggested for baby's firsts. Pears, sweet potatoes, avocados, bananas and plain yogurt are all soft foods for mashing and spoon feeding or giving in bite sized lumps for baby to eat.
The point is, you can ask yourself what's the risk and what's the goal and keep those as guidelines as you pick foods from the traditionally suggested route or the "natural" route.
Food and Family
Point 6 above suggests that you want to help your kids get ready to eat with you, at the table together as a family. Verna loved the hook on high chair because it integrates the baby in with the rest of the family around the table. Many self-standing high chairs can be adjusted to the height of the table and pulled right up. We recommend doing this!
What you choose as your child's first foods, whether it's pureed peas, rice cereal with coconut milk in it, or whole canned green beans, will also reflect your family's preferences and culture. You are free to do this! What sounds good to you? Have you tasted the rice cereal made with water? Would you eat it?
Introduce "table food" as soon as your child is able to safely chew and swallow. This allows you to simplify your meal preparations.
What you choose as your child's first foods, whether it's pureed peas, rice cereal with coconut milk in it, or whole canned green beans, will also reflect your family's preferences and culture. You are free to do this! What sounds good to you? Have you tasted the rice cereal made with water? Would you eat it?
Introduce "table food" as soon as your child is able to safely chew and swallow. This allows you to simplify your meal preparations.
Routines and Solid Foods
4-7 months: Offer solids after nursing or a full nursing/bottle feed
6-8 months: Increase number of times offering solids after nursing or full bottle feed
9-10 months: Offer solids before one time a day instead of milk first
10-12 months: Offer solid foods before liquids
*Don't forget to start offering water as the solid food intake increases. Introduce a sippy cup or just use a regular cup with guidance, to avoid constipation
Age in months is a rough guideline; notice sleep patterns, bowel movements, spit up, and general mood when awake, and weight gain to help you decide if your child is getting enough calories (sleeping well), is being overfed (consistent or excessive spit up, hard bowel movements)
6-8 months: Increase number of times offering solids after nursing or full bottle feed
9-10 months: Offer solids before one time a day instead of milk first
10-12 months: Offer solid foods before liquids
*Don't forget to start offering water as the solid food intake increases. Introduce a sippy cup or just use a regular cup with guidance, to avoid constipation
Age in months is a rough guideline; notice sleep patterns, bowel movements, spit up, and general mood when awake, and weight gain to help you decide if your child is getting enough calories (sleeping well), is being overfed (consistent or excessive spit up, hard bowel movements)
Self-Feeding or "Baby-Led Weaning"
"Baby-led weaning" is a relatively new title for introducing soft solids as soon as our child can put things in his mouth. It is messy, and slow, and unpredictable, and worth every extra minute it takes to feed, and every extra cleaning of the floor, and seat, and baby...
giving your kids independent eating skills is another example of early Responsibility Training!
Here is a good basic overview of BLW. http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyledweaning.htm .
Some foods you can start with:
small chunks of avocado
cut up banana
cheerios
canned green beans (or well cooked fresh)
sweet potatoes
When we first start they usually have had tastes of things off of our plates like mashed potatoes, applesauce or sweet potatoes so they have had a feel for solids in their mouth and how to swallow them. When they are able to put things to their mouth to chew or suck, that is a clue that they are getting ready to feed themselves. It is hilariously fun to watch this development. At first they can't seem to pick it up and then it is hard to get it into their mouth. But soon it all comes together!
giving your kids independent eating skills is another example of early Responsibility Training!
Here is a good basic overview of BLW. http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyledweaning.htm .
Some foods you can start with:
small chunks of avocado
cut up banana
cheerios
canned green beans (or well cooked fresh)
sweet potatoes
When we first start they usually have had tastes of things off of our plates like mashed potatoes, applesauce or sweet potatoes so they have had a feel for solids in their mouth and how to swallow them. When they are able to put things to their mouth to chew or suck, that is a clue that they are getting ready to feed themselves. It is hilariously fun to watch this development. At first they can't seem to pick it up and then it is hard to get it into their mouth. But soon it all comes together!
Toddlers, Kids, and Picky Eaters
There's no hard evidence to prove that what babies eat their first two years is linked to preferences and palate adaptability, but the logic stands that if you begin introducing new tastes and textures early on, it will be easier for a toddler to learn to eat foods that they really do need for optimal nutrition (and integrated into the family; i.e., only one meal needs to be made for everyone to eat)
Most children will hit a stage around 12 or 18 months where a previously easygoing eater will suddenly refuse foods, throw, drop, scream or otherwise become difficult to feed. This is normal. It could be the new molars, but it's most likely the newfound freedom of communication, and a free will. "Scream until I get something sweet" could be the driving force.
There are a few ways of thinking about this. We appreciate "French Kids Eat Everything" author's take on it. Here's one review of that book http://cupofjo.com/2012/06/motherhood-mondays-french-kids-eat-everything/
Another way to look at it, by lowering the tension and battles at dinner times: "You don't have to eat it."
http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/2013/05/end-mealtime-battles-forever-with-these-5-simple-words/
Something important to consider if you decide to say "you don't have to eat it," is that you continue to establish yourself as a loving authority in the child's life. You do know better than he does about nutrition. You do need to be thanked and respected for the work you did preparing the food. This article says a bit about picky eaters that should be taken into consideration. I thought this psychologist's point was really interesting: "Intuitively, we know that if we're coercive, we're going to get resistance." For trivial choices such as which colour of pants to wear, this approach is fine, he says. But "when we consult our children about issues that symbolize nurturance like food, we put them in the lead." That triggers an innate psychological response, and their survival instincts activate: "They don't feel taken care of and they start taking the alpha role."
http://www.macleans.ca/society/the-collapse-of-parenting-why-its-time-for-parents-to-grow-up/
Most children will hit a stage around 12 or 18 months where a previously easygoing eater will suddenly refuse foods, throw, drop, scream or otherwise become difficult to feed. This is normal. It could be the new molars, but it's most likely the newfound freedom of communication, and a free will. "Scream until I get something sweet" could be the driving force.
There are a few ways of thinking about this. We appreciate "French Kids Eat Everything" author's take on it. Here's one review of that book http://cupofjo.com/2012/06/motherhood-mondays-french-kids-eat-everything/
Another way to look at it, by lowering the tension and battles at dinner times: "You don't have to eat it."
http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/2013/05/end-mealtime-battles-forever-with-these-5-simple-words/
Something important to consider if you decide to say "you don't have to eat it," is that you continue to establish yourself as a loving authority in the child's life. You do know better than he does about nutrition. You do need to be thanked and respected for the work you did preparing the food. This article says a bit about picky eaters that should be taken into consideration. I thought this psychologist's point was really interesting: "Intuitively, we know that if we're coercive, we're going to get resistance." For trivial choices such as which colour of pants to wear, this approach is fine, he says. But "when we consult our children about issues that symbolize nurturance like food, we put them in the lead." That triggers an innate psychological response, and their survival instincts activate: "They don't feel taken care of and they start taking the alpha role."
http://www.macleans.ca/society/the-collapse-of-parenting-why-its-time-for-parents-to-grow-up/