Feeding Infants:

Introducing Solid Food

Food $ense Nutrition Education

When should you start feeding your baby solid food?

Pediatricians recommend four to six months.

Weaning Your Baby

Your baby will learn more skills and get more nutrients. nutrients

Use caution when weaning.

Is your baby ready for solid food?

Doubled birth weight At least four months old Not satisfied with just breast milk or formula Wants to eat more frequently

Continued:

Keeps a puree in mouth Sits up and holds head up Drools when hungry Takes an interest in what you are eating Opens mouth when a spoon approaches

Baby Food

Equipment for feeding your baby solid food

Small spoon with rubber tip Small plastic bowl Cup with a spout Bib Protection for floor and furniture

Four to six months

Iron-fortified rice cereal should be your babys first solid food.

Feeding is still a time of bonding

Hold Hold your your baby baby the the first first few few times times you you feed feed him/her him/her cereal. cereal.

Add vegetables and fruit

If your baby does not like a new food the first time, try again later.

Food allergies
Symptoms of food allergies: Stomachache Diarrhea Vomiting Skin rash Wheezing Swollen lips, eyelids, hands or feet

Six to nine months

Offer Offer a a wider wider variety variety of of solid solid foods: foods: Strained Strained meat meat and and poultry poultry Yogurt Yogurt and and cottage cottage cheese cheese Diluted Diluted fruit fruit juice juice

Never Never give give your your baby baby juice juice in in a a bottle. bottle.

Let your baby self -feed self-feed

Some good finger foods are: Dry unsweetened cereal Crisp crackers, graham crackers, or pieces of toast Small chunks of soft or cooked fruit

continued

Let your baby self -feed, self-feed,

Small pieces of cooked vegetables Grated cheese Small cubes of cooked meat or poultry or pasta

Choking hazards

CHOKING HAZARDS: hard candy, chips, olives, popcorn, nuts, hot dogs, hard vegetables, grapes, cherries, and raisins.

Nine to twelve months

Let Let your your baby baby decide decide when when he/she he/she is is full. full.

Eat with the family

Three meals a day Mash or dice table food Offer a variety of textures and flavors

Eat with the family, continued

Continue Continue to to breast breast or or bottle bottle feed feed Offer Offer drinking drinking water water Provide Provide nutritious nutritious snacks snacks

Cows milk

Introduce pasteurized whole milk when baby is twelve months old.

Twelve to eighteen months Set a good

Set a good example. Your toddler will usually eat the same food you do, only in smaller portions.

Safety tips

Always stay with your baby while he/she eats Make sure your baby sits up to eat

Safety tips, continued

Cut food pieces to less than 1/4 inch Do not feed your baby honey Stir baby food well to avoid hot spots

Feeding tips

Be relaxed, loving, flexible, and patient Let your baby set the pace Let your baby s appetite determine the babys amount

Feeding tips, continued

Eliminate distractions Keep your baby safe while eating Do not get upset over a mess Do not use food as a reward, pacifier or punishment

Help your baby establish a positive attitude about food and eating.

Citations
Reference USDAs Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals WWW.EATRIGHT.ORG WWW.MISSOURIFAMILIES.ORG WWW.MYPYRAMID.GOV WWW.NATIONALDAIRYCOUNCIL.ORG

Edited/Designed/Modified Meagan Wade, F$NE Staff Assistant Heidi LeBlanc, State F$NE Director Debra Christofferson, RD, State F$NE Curriculum Coordinator
Originally Developed/Written Meagan Wade, USU Extension, F$NE Staff Assistant Kay Evans, USU Extension, EFNEP Supervisor Christina Hussey, RD Paula Scott, USU Extension, EFNEP Supervisor Judy Wilde, USU Extension, EFNEP Support Staff

Utah State University

Utah State University is committed to providing an environment free from harassment and
other forms of illegal discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 and older), disability, and veteran's status. USU's policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and academic related practices and decisions. Utah State University employees and students cannot, because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran's status, refuse to hire; discharge; promote; demote; terminate; discriminate in compensation; or discriminate regarding terms, privileges, or conditions of employment, against any person otherwise qualified. Employees and students also cannot discriminate in the classroom, residence halls, or in on/off campus, USU-sponsored events and activities. This publication is issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Noelle Cockett, Vice President and Director, Cooperative Extension Service, Utah State University. (2006)