Just as you follow the doctor's advice on your baby's formula and vitamins D and C supplements, you will let him direct the addition of solids. He should decide when your baby is ready for them, suggest what should be served and the order in which they should be added.
Doctors have varied opinions on when solids should be started. There is widespread medical agreement that appropriate cereals and strained foods agree with babies almost from birth. On the other hand, there is seldom a reason why they need to started so early and it takes much time and patience to spoon feed a newborn baby.
That's why the majority of doctors delay the starting of cereals and/or strained food until sometime within the baby's second or third month. The family and baby have made many adjustments by this time, permitting the introduction of solids under more favorable circumstances.
The doctors who start babies on solids in the second and third months don't expect large quantities to be consumed. It is more with the idea of giving the baby plenty of time to get used to spoon feeding before there is a great nutritional need for solid foods. Knowing this, parents can offer the first solids in a relaxed frame of mind, not worrying about how well they are accepted the first day, the fist week or even the first month.
Set the Stage, starting solid foods is a limestone in your baby's development. The "feel" of the spoon and of cereal or strained food will be puzzling. Movements of the tongue and throat muscles, beyond those used in sucking and swallowing liquids, will have to be learned. The occasion merits careful staging so that the first experiences with solids will be relaxed and pleasant.
Timing is important. The first solid food should be given while the baby is in a pleasant frame of mind. Morning is usually a good time. It should be when the baby is reasonably hungry but not necessarily at the beginning of the meal. Babies very greatly in when they are most receptive to new foods. It may take a bit of experimenting to learn what works best with yours.
Prepare a small portion of the first solid food recommended by the doctor. This probably will be pre-cooked cereal but it might be plain strained fruit, vegetable or meat. For the first few feedings, it is well to thin down cereal with either formula or milk. A starting strained food could be thinned similarly but this probably will not be necessary. Test the food for body temperature by putting a drop on your wrist.
A small, narrow, shallow-bowled spoon is best for early feeding. The preferred style might be described as a "long-handled, after-dinner coffee spoon."
Take it Easy. When ready to try the solid food, hold the baby in your lap in a comfortable position. This should be similar to that used in breast or bottle feeding but more upright. This familiar position helps the baby anticipate food. Also, the food is less likely to "go down the wrong way." Draw a deep breath, relax and put on your best smile. Remember that it's unimportant whether the first try is successful or not.
Take a small amount of the new food on the tip of the spoon and place it well back on the baby's tongue. His head maybe tipped back slightly at the same time. This offers the best chance for the food being swallowed. Rather than the above method, some people advocate making the food more liquid and letting the baby suck it from the tip of the spoon. With some babies, this may work better. However, it doesn't teach a new skill and there's more chance of the food being pushed out when the baby's tongue encounters a new "feel."
Even with the best method of introduction, your baby may spit out the first few portions of solid food. It has nothing to do with whether he likes or dislikes it. He simply doesn't know what to do with it. Whatever happens, present a calm, unconcerned front. Offer another bite or so in the same casual manner, giving your baby plenty of time to get used to the idea. Avoid antagonizing the baby by holding him too tightly or using force or pressure. Make every effort to maintain the pleasant atmosphere you want your baby always to associate with eating.
Usually a baby will accept a new food or appear merely indifferent to it. The latter simply calls for a little more time and patience. But occasionally there will be signs of determined resistance or serious objection. When this happens, just calmly remove the food and make a fresh start the next day. If the same thing occurs then, it might be better to forget that food for several days, or even weeks, moving on to the many alternates available.
No Food a "Must". It is reassuring to know that there is no one food which your baby must eat to be healthy. Certain amino acids in proteins, certain fatty acids in fats and many individual minerals and vitamins are essential nutrients. But one gets these nutrients from so many different foods. If your baby strongly dislikes some food or one doesn't agree with him, there are any number of alternates choices.
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