
FEEDING GUIDE FOR YOUR CHILD
It is advisable not to give solid foods till your baby is 6 months old unless your physician advices you to do so. Solids should not be started before 6 months for the following reasons:
- Breast milk or formula provides your baby all the nutrients that are needed to grow
- By introducing water, tea, glucose water and other liquids, you increase the risk of exposing your baby to infection
- Neither water not other fluid is needed even for babies living in hot climates, as breast mild gives all the water your baby needs
- Your baby is not physically developed to eat solid foods from a spoon
- Starting your baby on solid foods too early increase the chance that he/she may develop a food allergy
- Feeding your baby solid food too early may lead to overfeeding and being over weight
- As a general rule, solid foods do not help babies sleep through the night.
WHAT ARE CUES THAT TELL YOU THAT BABIES ARE DEVELOPENTALLY READY FOR SOLID FOODS?
- They are able to sit upright with support
- They open their mouths when they see a spoon coming towards them
- They can move the food from the spoon and swallow without pushing back out of the mouth
- They make chewing motions
- Drooling decreases as they become efficient in swallowing
- They have doubled their birth weight (usually around 6 months)
- They have the ability to reject food
Dr. Chitra Sankar Developmental Pediatrician