A new baby opens the world to many new adventures, some of which can be both exciting and scary. Feeding a baby is one of those adventures. It is an honor to nourish new life, but it can also be intimidating. There are many recommendations out there, and it is hard to know what to follow. Let us start by saying you know your baby best. While there are certain foods or methods that are ideal in general, not everything is realistic for every family. Read on for a summary of the best advice out there. You will see that everything is simpler than it may seem at first!
Starting with Milk
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) are the general nutrition recommendations for all Americans at every age and life stage. They are developed by a team of scientists and published in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services. The DGAs are long, so let us be the ones to take the time to sift through the details. In brief the DGAs recommend the following for infants immediately after birth:
- Exclusively feed infants human milk, if possible, for the first six months. This can be directly from the breast/chest or from a bottle.
- NOTE: As busy parents, this can seem almost impossible. There are many resources out there to support you if you choose to feed your baby this way. If you are a working parent, you may be able to get a breast pump to rent or to keep through MassHealth or WIC. Also check out the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Initiative for a number of additional resources.
- When human milk is not available, feed infants an iron-fortified formula. Talk with your pediatrician and a WIC dietitian to help determine what the best formula is for your baby. Note that if needed, you can use WIC and/or SNAP to help pay for formula.
- Supplement babies with Vitamin D droplets daily. Human milk does not contain enough vitamin D. Some infant formulas may contain enough, but you will have to check your container specifically.
Introducing Solid Food
When your baby is about six months old, you can begin introducing solid foods. This may happen earlier than six months, but the DGAs strongly recommended to wait until at least after four months of age. Look for these signs that baby is ready to start to eat food other than milk:
- Baby can sit up with assistance or alone.
- Baby is grabbing things and bringing them to their mouth.
- When you attempt to give your baby food, they swallow it, and do not just push it out with their tongue.
Food Options for Babies
Once you know your baby is ready to start eating solid foods, you will have to choose what food to offer. Our advice—start simple! Single ingredient pureed or smashed fruits or vegetables work wonderfully. You can purchase canned baby foods with WIC and/or SNAP, or you can use foods you already have. A ripe banana or cooked carrots mash very easily. If the food is not blended perfectly, mix it with a little human milk or formula to thin it down. Start by feeding your baby a thin consistency and gradually increase food thickness as your baby grows and becomes a stronger eater. Once baby is eating beyond purees, check out this WIC handout to learn more about choking hazards for children under age 4.
After starting solids, human milk or formula continues to be a baby’s primary source of nutrition until around their first birthday. Even still, there are a few nutrients to keep in mind when you start giving your baby table food. Follow the advice of the DGAs and the American Academy of Pediatrics to keep your baby on track.
- Offer high iron foods, like meat or seafood. Babies’ iron levels start to fall around six months, and these foods will help your baby have enough of this essential nutrient.
- Give plenty of fruits and vegetables to make sure your baby gets all the vitamins and minerals they need.
- Wait 3-5 days after introducing a new food to see if baby has an allergic reaction. Be especially careful with highly allergenic foods, such as soy, nuts, wheat, eggs, fish, shellfish, cow’s milk products, and sesame.
- Watch salt and sugar levels, and try to give your baby foods without these as added ingredients. Baby and toddler bodies are not as efficient as adults at processing these ingredients. Even a little extra salt can be harmful to baby kidneys.
- Avoid cow’s milk until after your baby’s first birthday. Other forms of dairy, like yogurt and low sodium cheese, are fine, but babies should only be drinking human milk or formula for their first year of life.
- Do not give honey to a baby under age 1. A baby’s weak immune system cannot process honey properly. This makes it more likely that a baby will get sick with a foodborne illness called botulism.
When it comes to feeding babies and toddlers, there is a lot of conflicting advice out there. Family, friends, and social media all seem to have something different to say. Take these recommendations here and modify what you need. Keep up the great work as a new parent and have fun introducing your baby to the exciting world of eating!
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