How To Introduce Solid Foods To Infants
Hello Mamas!
If you’ve checked out my other video on spotting the signs of solid-food readiness in your baby and recognize them in your own child, you are ready to introduce your baby to solids! Easier said than done. In this video, I’ll give you step-by-step guides to introducing solid foods to your baby.
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How to Start Baby on Solids
Introducing solid foods to infants can be stressful, especially if you have a fussy baby. My no-stress method is to offer breast milk or formula first. That way, you know your baby won’t be dying of hunger and will be able to savor the new tastes and sensations in his mouth. I was ok with following this order of giving milk first because my doctor always reminded me that the nutrients in breast milk or formula are still so important to your baby.
Baby Feeding and Sleeping Schedule: Starting Solid Foods
When I had my first baby in 2004, I tried to introduce solids when he was 6 months old. My son was a very picky eater, and I would spend all this time each morning trying to cajole him to eat purees and baby cereal and then breastfeed him before going to work. It took a very long time and was incredibly anxiety provoking, especially as a first time working mom.
What I learned is that if you have a fussy eater or your time is limited, you should consider giving milk first. And this is actually a great schedule for any baby, because infants should still be getting their primary nutrients from breast milk or formula anyway during the first year. You can breastfeed your baby or give your bottle, and then wait 20-30 minutes or so before giving your little meal of solids (just enough time to take a shower!). That way your solid feedings are more relaxed, because your baby is just hungry enough but not starving.
Here’s a schedule that really worked for me, assuming a 7 a.m. wake-up time which can of course be adjusted.
7 a.m. – 1st Feed (Milk)
7:30/8 a.m. – “Breakfast” (Solids)
9:30 a.m. – Nap (1.5 hours)
11 a.m. – 2nd Feed (Milk)
11:30/12 p.m. – “Lunch” (Solids)
1: 30 p.m. – Nap (1.5 hours)
3 p.m. – 3rd Feed (Milk)
7 p.m. – 4th Feed (Milk)
7:30 p.m. – “Dinner” (Solids)
8 p.m. – Bedtime
Hope this works for you – best of luck giving solids to your baby!
Try my solid-food feeding guide sample and let me know if it worked for you! I would love to hear about your experiences with feeding your baby solid foods for the first time!
Comments
Katrina
Hi, there just wanted to give you y experience with my kids.
I am a Mom of 10 and with my first the Dr. pushed for me to put him on solids, so as most New Mom’s do I took his adivce, well my son stopped sleeping through the night immediately, and he has a hard time eating it. Well, that was not going to happen so I stopped the cereal immediately and he slept through the night. So then I started cereal and other foods when he stopped sleeping through the night, which told me he was hungry, then he did fine both in eating it and sleeping through the night. That has been the experience I have had with all of my kids, they let me know when it was time to give them solids and then there was no fight to get them to eat or sleep through.
sharon
When first introducing foods do not force it on the baby. Give a few spoonfuls to taste and if the baby likes it, continue. Do the same food for a few days to get them used to it before you move on to the next food. Don’t stress if they dont like every vegetable you give them. Ask yourself, do you like every single vegetable? No. Then why should they have to? Then move on to the next.
Jenn Jeskie
Yes, I agree with Melissa, give some milk first! They will be more willing to eat if they are not ravenous. Mix cereal with breastmilk if you are breastfeeding. My daughter never would take solids without a little breastmilk in it, at least at first.
Introduce solids slowly and be patient with your baby and yourself.
I did simply cereal with breastmilk once a day for a few days, then twice a day for a few days, then three times a day for a few days. Cereal only for the first couple of weeks when introducing solids. Then start with your veggies, like carrots, peas, or sweet potatoes. Introduce them one at a time, once a day for a few days, to watch for signs of allergies. Add some breastmilk to it if you can and you can even mix it with some cereal. That will give them a familiar reference point. Eventually you can phase it out.
This is all new to your little one! Good luck!
Janell
My daughter, second baby, was eager to start solids, but
when I tried at 4 months she had terrible gas and
constipation. I continued nursing her on demand
and stopped feeding solids until she was 6 months old.
Her response was better, but we took it slowly.
Our schedule is similar to the video suggestions,
I nurse her first and then offer her solids.
Erin
My pediatrician also recommends milk first, as solids at this point are more about experimenting with different textures. Baby may already be familiar with some of the flavors if you are breastfeeding! Also, don’t be afraid to start with veges and fruits instead of boring and bland rice cereal. My little gal took to carrots, peas and avocados straight away!
theo
I’m starting solids with my lil one, he has yet to sleep through the night and we pretty much a similar schedule to your 4-6 month old one. I offer first a bottle of milk, deducting the ounces I will use for cereal, then cereal. But my question is: more or less what quantity of solids per feeding…. a ball park.