When should I start complementary feeding
(introducing solids)?
Breast milk or formula contains all the nutrients your baby needs from birth to around 4- 6 months of age. When complementary foods are introduced, the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests solid foods should be introduced from around six months but NOT before four months. Keep using breast milk or formula as the main fluid nutrition until your baby is 12 months old.
Every child is unique and has different growing and nutritional needs, and some babies may require solids earlier than six months. However, the introduction of solids before four months is not recommended because your baby’s digestive system is not able to cope properly with solids before this age.
If you are unsure, when your baby is ready for solids, consult your health care professional.
What are the signs my baby is ready for solids?
- They can sit with support and hold their head up
- They show interest in what the family eats
- They lose their tongue reflex (that’s when they push food out with their tongue)
- They bring items or fists to their mouth and start to chew on them
- They look for more food after their breast or infant formula feed
Planning your baby’s routine
Moving to solids is a big milestone for you and your baby, so it’s not surprising that some mums can feel unsure about what and when to feed. Establishing a feeding routine at set times each day will help your baby get used to their new foods.
First Complementary Foods
Introducing complementary foods is a big step for your baby because their nutritional needs start to change, as they get older. They need to learn how to take food from a spoon and accept simple new tastes.
Some tips to help you get started:
- Offer foods after breast milk or infant formula when your baby is settled.
- First foods should be a very smooth, thin consistency.
- Start with single ingredients such as baby rice then move to pureed vegetables or fruit.
- Pureed food is smooth with no lumps. Try apple, pear, apricot and ripe banana, sweet potato/kumara, pumpkin, carrot, potato and avocado.
- Remember to introduce baby to one ingredient at a time
- Use a small teaspoon and offer a small amount (1 ½ - 2 teaspoons for a start). Buy a soft-bite/silicone type feeding spoon as they are better than metal and kinder on teething gums.
- Try a new food every 2-4 days
- Use bibs and mats under highchairs (this can be a messy business after all!)
Don’t worry if your baby seems to spit up everything you give them, it can take a while for them to learn how to eat and get used to new tastes and textures – after all, they’ve only been used to your milk until now. Just take it slowly, be patient and don’t give up! It can take up to 10 tastes before your baby may like a new food.
For a more detailed plan of what to feed your baby, call us at Kariclub and we can plan it together.
Eating as a family
The texture should progress from pureed to mashed to chopped, adjusted according to your baby’s development and nutritional needs.
Once your baby is happier eating a variety of foods, you can save time and energy by giving your baby a mashed-up or chopped version of what you have cooked for the rest of the family.
Remember not to add any sugar or salt. Just take it slowly and let your baby take their time and before you know it, they’ll be feeding themselves and demanding seconds like the rest of the family!
If you are stuck for inspiration, we’ve got lots of ideas for healthy, tasty meals in our complementary feeding recipes section.