Introducing Solid Foods
When your infant is able to sit independently and put things in their mouth, they are ready to start taking solid foods. It is recommended that you consult your child’s physician prior to making changes to your child’s diet. Initially you want to start with simple vitamin-fortified cereals such as rice, barley, or oat. You want to advance your child’s diet gradually. Most pediatricians recommend offering vegetables before fruit. Start new foods one at a time, at intervals of 2-3 days. This will help you identify any food sensitivities or allergies that may develop. Be alert for diarrhea, vomiting, or rash when introducing new foods and contact your provider if these occur. Presenting new foods slowly will also help your infant become familiar with the various textures and tastes of each food.
Serving sizes are small for infants, even just a few spoonfuls. Within a few months of starting solid foods, your child should be consuming a well-balanced diet which consists of, breast milk or formula, cereal, vegetables, fruits, and protein divided into 3 meals.
Here are some basic guidelines of solid food introduction:
4-6 Months
Cereals & Grains: Vitamin-fortified cereal – rice, barley, or oat
Fruits: Avocado, apples, bananas, pears
Vegetables: Acorn squash, butternut squash, peas, sweet potatoes
Protein: None
Dairy: None
6-8 Months
Cereals & Grains: Vitamin-fortified cereal – rice, barley, or oat
Fruits: Avocado, apples, bananas, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, pumpkin
Vegetables: Acorn squash, butternut squash, peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, green means, yellow squash, zucchini, parsnips
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Protein: Chicken, Tofu, Turkey
Dairy: Plain whole milk YOGURT
8-10 Months
Cereals & Grains: Vitamin-fortified cereal, flax, graham crackers, quinoa, millet, multigrain crackers, “O” shaped cereal, wheat germ, toast
Fruits: Avocado, apples, bananas, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, pumpkin, blueberries, cantaloupe, melon, cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, grapes (peeled and cut into quarters), kiwi, papaya
Vegetables: Acorn squash, butternut squash, peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, green means, yellow squash, zucchini, parsnips, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, white potatoes, onions, peppers, leeks, mushrooms
Protein: Chicken, Tofu, Turkey, egg YOLKS, beans, legumes, beef, pork, beans (pinto, black, white)
Dairy: Plain whole milk YOGURT, cream cheese, cottage cheese, Colby jack, cheddars (No soft cheeses)
10-12 Months
Cereals & Grains: Vitamin-fortified cereal, flax, graham crackers, quinoa, millet, multigrain crackers, “O” shaped cereal, wheat germ, toast, pasta, wheat cereals, bagels
Fruits: Avocado, apples, bananas, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, pumpkin, blueberries, cantaloupe, melon, cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, grapes (peeled and cut into quarters), kiwi, papaya, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, citrus, pineapple, coconut milk
Vegetables: Acorn squash, butternut squash, peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, green means, yellow squash, zucchini, parsnips, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, white potatoes, onions, peppers, leeks, mushrooms, artichokes, beets, corn, cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes
Protein: Chicken, Tofu, Turkey, egg YOLKS, beans, legumes, beef, pork, beans (pinto, black, white), fish (cod), whole eggs (12 months), lamb, liver, seeds
Dairy: Plain whole milk YOGURT, cream cheese, cottage cheese, Colby jack, cheddars (soft cheeses after 12 months), whole milk (12 months), gouda, muenster, provolone, swiss |
