| Prior to this age, babies have not lost their | | | | rashes. If any of these occur, consult your babys |
| tongue-thrust reflex that will push out a spoon or | | | | doctor or health advisor. Within a couple of months, |
| anything else inserted in the mouth, including food. Most | | | | your babys diet will consist of breast milk or formula, |
| babies lose this reflex at about four months. | | | | cereal, vegetables, fruit, and meat among three meals. |
| Interestingly, this is also around the same time that a | | | | Foods to avoid during the first year: |
| babys energy level increases, thus making it a perfect | | | | Honey, as it can make baby very sick with botulism, a |
| time to increase the caloric intake. | | | | type of food poisoning. |
| To prevent choking, make sure that your baby is sitting | | | | Hard sweets, chocolate and potato chips, soft drinks, |
| upright, either in your lap or in an infant seat, when you | | | | drink crystals, sport drinks,tea, coffee, herbal teas, salt, |
| introduce solids. If he or she cries or turns away, dont | | | | pickles, diet foods sweetened with sugar substitutes, |
| force the issue. The goal should be to keep feedings | | | | low-fat or calorie reduced foods. |
| positive. If the timing is not right, go back to nursing or | | | | Foods to LIMIT during the first year: |
| bottle-feeding for a week or two and then try again. | | | | Fried foods including french fries, cakes, cookies, |
| Always use a small spoon to feed your baby solids. | | | | sugar-coated cereal, jelly, butter, margarine, oils, gravy, |
| Do not add solids to a bottle of milk. This can lead to | | | | salad dressings, mayonnaise, fruit juice, avoid foods |
| over-consumption of calories and unhealthy weight | | | | that can cause CHOKING. |
| gain. Its important for your baby to get used to the | | | | These foods should be avoided until your child is at |
| process of eating -sitting up, taking bites from a spoon, | | | | least 4 years old: |
| resting between bites, and stopping when full. These | | | | Solid foods that are hard, small and round, smooth or |
| early eating experiences will lay the groundwork for | | | | sticky such as candies, cough drops, raisins, gum and |
| positive eating habits throughout life. | | | | whole grapes, popcorn, nuts and seeds, fish with |
| For the majority of babies, the first solid food | | | | bones, snacks using toothpicks or skewers. |
| introduced is rice cereal mixed with either formula or | | | | These foods are safer for infants and young children |
| breast milk, followed by either oatmeal or barley. Start | | | | when they are prepared as described: |
| with a half a spoon-full or less. To ease the transition, | | | | Hard vegetables or fruit (grate carrots, remove pits in |
| give your baby a little milk first, then switch to very | | | | fruit, cut grapes in half with seeds removed, soften |
| small spoonfuls of food, followed by more milk. | | | | raw vegetables by cooking so they are easier to |
| Once your baby is comfortable eating cereal, slowly | | | | chew). |
| start introducing other foods including strained | | | | Peanut butter and other spreads given alone are hard |
| vegetables, fruit, and meat. Give your baby just one | | | | to swallow. To make safe, spread thinly on a cracker |
| food at a time and wait at least three days before | | | | or bread. Consult your health care provider regarding |
| starting another food. After each new food, watch for | | | | allergy concerns. |
| signs of allergic reactions such as diarrhea, vomiting, or | | | | |