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Introducing Solid Foods — Beyond the Basics
Learn when to add extra meals and introduce new foods.
by: Nancy Ripton
Solids
- Start by introducing one solid food once a day and increase to two feedings as your baby gets used to new textures and flavors.
- Start with a few spoonfuls and don't worry too much about quantity–breast milk or formula will remain your baby's main source of nutrition until he's a year old.
- By age one your baby should be eating three solid meals a day.
- Wait until the one-year mark to feed your baby dairy.
hen it comes to introducing solids details like when to start new foods and how much to give your baby can be confusing. Here's what you need to know:
Start With One Feeding a Day
Experts recommend starting solids at six months of age and introducing new foods one at a time to ease digestion and help you detect potential allergies. "When you first start solids, try once a day," says Dr. Jennifer Shu. "As your baby gets used to the new textures and flavors, you can increase feedings to twice a day."
Depending on the baby, this can take a few days or weeks. Work towards a goal of three solid meals a day and four (or more) breastfeeding sessions. How often you breastfeed will depend on the amount of solids your baby eats. Ideally, your baby should eat three solid meals a day by the time he turns one, or when he is only going down for one daily nap.
Sample Feeding Chart at Six Months
(Note: This is just a rough guideline, so work around your baby's sleep schedule and hunger needs.)
7:00 a.m. Breastmilk or formula
10:00 a.m. *Solids (plus breastmilk or formula)
1:00 p.m. Breastmilk or formula
4:00 p.m. Solids (plus breastmilk or formula)
7:00 p.m. Breastmilk or formula
(Additional nightly breastfeeding or bottle feeding if needed)
*As a general rule you should try solids first, then top off with breast milk or formula. Some babies are so hungry that they want what they're used to first before they'll try anything new. Eventually baby may only eat solids at this feeding.
Just a Spoon or Two
Start out with a few spoonfuls and learn to take cues from your baby. Don't worry too much about quantity. Breastmilk or formula will remain your baby's primary source of nutrition until he is a year old.
Introducing New Foods
Vitamin-fortified cereal (thinned with breastmilk, formula or water) and smooth purees of squash, peas, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas and pears are the first foods your baby should try. After these first foods, you can slowly introduce new foods. Here is a list of first foods to introduce by age:
6-8 months
PRIMARY NUTRTION SOURCE Breastmilk or iron-fortified formula
GRAINS Vitamin-fortified cereal–rice, barley, oat
VEGGIES Pumpkin, Yellow Squash, Zucchini
FRUITS Apricots, Avocado, Nectarines, Peaches, Plums
PROTEINS Chicken, Tofu, Turkey
DAIRY None
8 -10 months
PRIMARY NUTRTION SOURCE Breastmilk or iron-fortified formula
GRAINS Vitamin-fortified cereal–mixed, Graham crackers, Low salt crackers, "O" shaped cereal
VEGGIES Asparagus, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Green Beans, Snow Peas, Spinach, Sugar snap peas, White potato
FRUITS Grapes (cut in 1/4's), Mango, Papaya
PROTEINS Beans–pinto, black, white, navy, Lean beef
DAIRY None
10 - 12 months
PRIMARY NUTRTION SOURCE Breastmilk or iron-fortified formula
GRAINS Egg-free pasta, Rice
VEGGIES Artichokes, Beets, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant
FRUITS Cherries, Dates, Cantaloupe, Coconut milk, Melons, Pineapple, Prunes
PROTEINS Lamb, Liver, Egg yolks (fully cooked)
DAIRY None
Over 12 months
PRIMARY NUTRTION SOURCE Variety of healthy foods
GRAINS Bread, egg noodles, pasta made with eggs, whole grain crackers
VEGGIES Lettuce, Collard greens, Swiss chard
FRUITS Egg whites, Fish, Nuts–almonds, pecans, walnuts, Seeds–flax, sesame, sunflower
DAIRY Milk, Plain yogurt, soft and semi hard cheeses
Making Your Own Food
It's easier than you think. Here's a recipe to get you started:
Green Pea Puree
1 ¾ pounds fresh peas or 24 ounces of frozen peas
Step 1: PREP - Wash and shell peas. Discard pods. If using frozen peas, start at step 2.
Step 2: COOK - Place peas and 2 Tablespoons (30ml) of water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover. Cook six to eight minutes. Let stand for five minutes. Peas are done if they can be mashed easily with a fork.
Step 3: PUREE - Place peas and cooking juices into a blender of food processor. Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup (30-60 ml) of water. Puree. Add additional water, as needed, to develop a smooth texture.
Step 4: FREEZE - Spoon into ice cube trays. Cover. Place in freezer eight to 10 hours or overnight. Remove cubes from trays, place in storage container or freezer bag, and return immediately to the freezer.
Makes 24, 1-ounce servings. Stays fresh for 2 months in the freezer.
To serve, select frozen green pea cubes from the freezer, defrost and warm, check the temperature and feed.
Meet our experts:
Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby. They are the creators of the award-winning So Easy Baby Food Kit and Good Clean Fun Placemats, available at many fine specialty stores and national chains including Target and Whole Foods Markets.
Dr. Jennifer Shu is a board-certified pediatrician in Atlanta. She is editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Baby & Child Health: The Essential Guide from Birth to 11 Years and co-author of the award-winning books Heading Home with Your Newborn and Food Fights, both published by the AAP.
For more information go to www.jennifershu.com
