Guide to start solids

Introduce solids when you observe following in your baby:[between 4-6months or as indicated by your doctor]

• Can sit upright and hold up his head
• Is curious, looking at everything around him
• Has mastered tongue movement
• Seems hungry after getting a full day's portion of milk (eight to 10 breast feedings or about 32 ounces of formula)
• Has doubled his birth weight
• Has lost 'extrusion reflex', that is he has stopped using his tongue to push food out of his mouth
  

Does my baby still need Formula/ breast milk ?

Yes, baby will need breast or bottle in the morning, before or after meals, and before bedtime. Until baby is 7 to 10 months, your baby will probably majority of calories from milk.

• Up to 9 months, feed her 20 to 28 oz of formula daily or breast milk every 3 to 4 hours.
• At 9 to 12 months, feed her 16 to 24 ounces of formula daily or breast milk every 4 to 5 hours.

What should be the feeding schedule?

• At 4 to 6 months, feed her two meals, each two to four tablespoons.
• At 7 to 12 months, feed her three meals, each the size of baby's fist.

Mealtime routine

• Wash baby's hand and maintain a calm and peaceful environment. This will help baby to focus on her new found skill, that is the feel of the spoon and the texture of food

• First nurse or bottle-feed him, then give cereal mix using a rubber tipped spoon to prevent gum injury

• If baby does not seem interested, let him smell and look at the food, this may develop interest, otherwise try again later, never force him into eating

• Begin with once a day feeding and gradually increase the number of feedings
  

Food for baby

• Single-grain cereals (4 to 6 months) Fortified cereals with iron and why they're a good first food. Mix one teaspoon of single-grain cereal with four to five teaspoons of breast milk or formula. Once your baby is used to swallowing , thicken it by adding more cereal.
• Pureed veggies, fruits, and meats (4 to 8 months)
  
• Chopped, ground, or mashed foods (9 to 12 months) If your child is not ready to move to this stage, it's fine to stay with pureed foods a little longer. When he's ready, offer him some finely chopped or mashed finger foods -- like graham crackers, soft fruits and veggies, and ground meats. It's also safe to feed your child soft rice and casseroles at this point.

Foods to avoid

• Honey It can cause botulism, a serious illness, if introduced too early.
• Citrus Check with your doctor to determine whether baby's at risk for an allergic reaction. If she is, citrus can cause eczema or a nasty diaper rash.
• Cow's Milk Stick with breast milk and formula; both are rich in iron, unlike cow's milk.
• Nuts, Popcorn, Raisins, and Dried Cranberries These foods are choking hazards.
• Peanut Butter It's sticky and can block your child's airways.

Source:information adapted from www.huggieshappybaby.com