Back in February, when I took Julia for her 6 month well-baby check up, I was happy to hear that science has replaced tradition and fortified cereals are no longer #1 (source: Into The Mouths of Babes: What Parents Need to Know About New Canadian Feeding Guidelines from Solids to Sippy Cups – read the rest of the article here). There are few restrictions when it comes to introducing baby to solids. From about 6 months, offer baby:
- iron-rich foods
- fruits
- veggies
- grains
- milk products
- soft finger foods
Imagine how intense and interesting it must be to try solids after breast milk/formula for the first 6 months of life. Let baby take the lead and if he doesn’t like a particular food, try it again in a few days. Search the web for a ton of yummy baby food recipes – easy, quick, and nutritious! Start slowly and gradually add in a variety of foods. No sugar/salt but don’t be afraid to add seasoning/spice; bye, bye bland. I like the thorough resource Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. Also check out Sprout Right for what to eat if you’re breastfeeding and excellent feeding advice for babies and toddlers..png)
I offered Julia pear first. She was unsure of this new texture and even now, at 9 months old, though she does like most finger foods, she’s just starting to enjoy lumpier textures. Her favourite food is yogurt and she also loves to share my morning green smoothies with me. What was your baby’s first food? Did he/she like it? A friend of mine gave her baby brussel sprouts first and has the photo framed in her kitchen. Talk about a funny photo op!