Feeding Baby First Foods

Parents are often overwhelmed by the number of things they have to learn for their first child. One important fact that comes up with infants is when to start first foods and how to expand the diet. While physicians differ in their specific instructions, there are some basic rules that most parents are told to follow.

Start Trying foods Early

Most physicians want babies to stay breast fed if possible for the first 6 months, but they encourage parents to let babies try foods as early as 4 months. Trying food may only be one spoonful. While parents often wonder what the point of one spoonful is, babies often have to practice in order to eat efficiently. Letting a baby try one bite of food can help them practice before it is really time to start eating solid foods.

Start With Simple Foods

There are many foods that are considered much more likely to cause allergic reactions in children. Experts recommend that parents start with a simple, one-ingredient food, like rice or oatmeal cereal. Some parents want to avoid starting with processed grains and choose simple veggies, like peas or sweet potatoes to start.

Four Day Rule

Physicians realize there could be a serious problem if allergic reactions occur and the parent doesn’t know the cause. This has caused experts to recommend parents only add new foods every four days for their baby. 

Parents must always look for allergic reactions with each new food. Some reactions can be so severe, the baby develops hives and struggles to breath as the throat swells. 

If a baby has a serious reaction to a food, parents must call their local urgent care clinic Jenkintown or hospital for immediate assistance. Less severe reactions, like a rash or vomiting, should be noted and brought up with the pediatrician at a later date.

It is rare for a baby to have a severe allergic reaction, but parents should still be prepared to act quickly. It is far more likely that a small reaction occurs, which is why pediatricians recommend a parent feeds a child for four days before moving on to a new food. 

Starting With the Veggies

Many children’s experts and pediatricians also recommend parents start with the less sweet foods, like simple grains and veggies. Babies often want to eat the sweeter foods more than their veggies, so it can be hard to get them to eat a green vegetable once they’ve gotten used to apples, sweet potatoes, pears or other sweeter foods.