Starting solids

1.   Development readiness in baby

  • Baby can sit up by him/her self.
  • Baby tries to grab food.
  • Baby's tongue starts pulling food in, rather than pushing it out.

2.  Window of opportunity

  • Too early: choking, allergies, gas.
  • Too late: nutrition, feeding difficulties.

3.  Managing breastfeeding and solids

  • Up to baby's first birthday, breast milk first!.
  • After age one, solids first, then breast milk.

4.  How to begin feeding solids

  • Starting solids should be a fun experience.
  • Social time with your family.
  • Rice cereal: one first food, hypoallergenic.
  • Only 1/2 teaspoon for their first meal.
  • Don't feed from a baby food container: contamination with saliva.
  • You don't have to buy food in jars.

5.  Texture of foods

  • Some babies need their food pureed.
  • Use grinder to prepare food for baby from what you will serve your family, prior to seasoning.
  • Freeze portions in an ice cube tray.
  • Some babies like to pick up small pieces of food, vs being spoon fed.

6.  How to introduce foods;

  • Serve same food for 3 - 5 days to check for reactions.
  • Introduce one food at a time.
  • If they don't like something, move on to other things.
  • Try rejected foods again later.
  • Watch out for combined foods in jars.
  • Take note of allergy issues in your family.

7.  Signs of allergic reactions

  • rash, diaper or on face
  • diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • nasal congestion
  • fussiness

8.  Foods to avoid for the first year

  • Common allergens (i.e. egg whites...)
  • Choking hazards (i.e. hot dogs...)

9.  The process of weaning

  • Weaning begins when the first bite of solid food goes into your baby's mouth.
  • Baby-led weaning process.
  • Mother-led weaning process.

10.  Concerns for sudden weaning

  • Comfort measures.
  • Emotional support needs: Mom and Baby.

11.  Strategies to make things easier

  • Substituting bottle or cup.
  • Keeping yourself comfortable.
  • Using distractions.
  • What is partial weaning?.

a

Did You Know?

A Few Facts about Breastfeeding

  • Nursing babies need no other food for at least 4-6 months...not even water!
  • A little breast milk is better than none.  Even one feeding of mother's first milk (colostrum) is helpful for the baby.
  • Most nursing mothers do not have to avoid favorite foods, and they do not have to drink milk to make milk.
  • Sore nipples are not caused by the length of feeding.
  • Breastfeeding should not be painful - if it is, please contact us or an IBCLC Lactation Consultant for help
  • Completely breastfed babies rarely get constipated.
  • Women who have breastfed a baby have a reduced risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.
  • Pregnancy may cause breasts to sag - breastfeeding doesn't.
  • There are many ways to combine working and nursing.  Moms do it every day!

Why Should I Breastfeed?

Reasons That Breast Milk is the Best Milk!

  • Breast milk is the ONLY complete source of all the nutrients your baby needs.
  • Breast milk is free and always ready.
  • Breast milk is ideal for brain growth.
  • Nursing encourages proper alignment of teeth and good speech development.
  • Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, stomach upsets, tooth decay, allergies and other illnesses than formula-fed babies.
  • Breastfed babies are less likely to develop juvenile-onset diabetes (Type I diabetes) and certain kinds of cancer.
  • Nursing hormones are soothing to the new mother.
  • Breastfeeding helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnant shape and burns extra calories every day.
  • Breastfed babies can be nursed discreetly anywhere.

 

 solids