Knowing when your baby starts eating baby food is an important and tricky question. Baby food fed too early may suffer from choking, bellyaches, and obesity in babies. But if the baby starts eating late, it can hinder their growth and cause aversions to solid foods, among other things.
In the first six months of a baby’s life, the baby should be fed only breast milk or properly prepared infant formula. Additionally, water, juice, and any other liquid should not be given to the baby. You should not introduce foods before the child is 4 months old.
How do you know if your child is ready to eat something other than breast milk or infant formula?
If you see these signs of your child’s development then they are ready to eat something other than breast milk.
- Your baby can sit comfortably in high chairs on its own. This is a big sign that it is time to start baby food according to pediatrician Lauren Kupersmith, MD, in New York City.
- When your baby can control his or her head and neck.
- At mealtime, the baby appears interested. If your baby sits up like a big kid and watches you eat, let them try eating too.
- When offered food, your baby opens his mouth.
- Eats food rather than pushing it out onto the chin.
As your baby grows, it is very important that he or she receives all the important vitamins, minerals, proteins, calcium, and fiber that it needs.
You can buy ready-to-eat purees and ready-to-make porridges or you can also make these purees at home. The question many parents ask is which brand of baby food they should prefer.
We will suggest that you should buy purees from a brand like HAPPA, which offers 100% natural vegetable and fruit purees without the use of any additives, preservatives, colors, or flavors which is completely safe for your baby.
Read: Why Do Babies Jump In Their Sleep?
Also Read: Different Smell and What They Might Mean
When Can a Baby Start Eating Solid Food?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solid foods for babies when they reach the age of four to six months and when babies start to show tongue thrust reflexes or extrusion reflexes, which are vital for sucking.
At this age, babies support their heads independently without any help and hold their necks high. So starting your baby on its first baby food at the right time is important. But, if your baby is mainly breastfed, you should wait to introduce solids until they are 6 months old.
When Should A Baby Start Eating Cereal?
When your baby is six months old, it is advisable to start feeding him baby cereals. However, you should ask your doctor first before choosing any cereals. Because each baby has a different body, it shouldn’t be too heavy for them to digest.
It is best for babies to have breast milk or formula exclusively for the first 7 to 8 months of their lives. When they can sit comfortably without any help, you can start introducing soft foods like bananas and cooked, peeled potatoes and carrots that they can pick up and eat on their own. You can also offer Cheerios (or similar cereals).
Please avoid cereals that are heavily sugared and cartoonishly packaged at all costs. This leads down a path you do not want to take. If this is your 1st baby, consult with the pediatrician to find out when and what type of food you should feed your baby.
When Can Babies Eat Jar Food?
Even though you can use jar food for your baby, it’s best if you make your own. Make your own baby food because it’s healthier, cheaper, and tastes better than buying it.
Around the 7th or 8th month of life, most babies can eat an entire jar of food, but many will only eat two or three spoonfuls during their “first” meal.
It is important to keep in mind that every baby is different and usually tells you that they’re done eating by shutting their mouth or turning away from the spoon.
Whenever you plan to feed your baby jar food, read the instructions carefully to make sure you are following the guidelines for a well-balanced diet. When you give your baby prepared baby food in jars, spoon a little of the food into a bowl first.
Feeding your baby directly from the jar is not a good idea because bacteria from his mouth could contaminate the food. You should throw away any baby food not eaten within a day or two after it has been refrigerated.
