Eating is a peculiar experience for a six month old baby. Being used to milk and born with tongue movements designed to suckle the breast, your baby’s tongue will naturally push out any food you try to get into her mouth. Learning to take food from the spoon and swallowing solids is a skill your baby needs to slowly learn. Eating solids is an important skill to master because at six months old, breast milk is no longer enough to fulfil her increasing nutritional needs.
This article provides a step-by-step guide to introducing your baby to her first taste of solid food. The first food is in fact semi-solids such as puree, and becomes gradually more solid over the next few months. Start giving her solids during her regular breakfast or lunch milk feeds and gradually increase the frequency. Remember not to rush your baby. Let her learn at her own pace:
- Place your baby’s food, a small towel and her baby cup within reach. Preparing everything before you begin helps you focus on the job at hand: getting your baby to eat.
- Talk to your baby about what she is about to experience. In fact, once she gets used to the routine, she will look forward to mealtimes when she hears you repeating familiar words about food and eating.
- Start off the meal by giving your baby a few spoonfuls of solid food first. Being new to eating, very little food will actually wind up in her tummy. You can top up later by breastfeeding her. However, do not give her any breast milk before feeding her solids as this will make her full and less willing to try the new experience of eating.
- Scoop a little food and put it on your baby’s lips so that she can suck it off. Her first reaction to solid food may be a combination of surprise and repulsion. Avoid pushing the spoon into her mouth, as she will instinctively gag to get the food out. After a few attempts, your baby will begin to enjoy the eating process and cooperate by opening her mouth wide during feeds.
- Your baby is still getting used to the idea of solids and will not be able to eat very much. After giving her a spoonful or two of food, resume breastfeeding. You can increase the amount as baby gets used to solids.
FEEDING THE FUSSY EATER
Every baby is different and some parents may find the task of introducing solids challenging while others breeze right through. If your baby seems to be resisting the food you are introducing to her, this is what you can do:
- Your baby is exploring new tastes, so be patient and give her time to get used to it. After all, she has only ever known breast milk until now, so do not worry if she seems to be taking to solids more slowly than you had hoped. Do not give up and keep on trying.
- Always introduce one new food at a time, with at least four days in between. This gives time for your baby to adapt and for you to identify allergic responses.
- Do not be tempted to mix the food she dislikes with something else. She might end up disliking both!
- Offer your baby a variety of foods. The more variety she gets, the better she can meet her nutrient needs. If she dislikes certain foods, try cooking them differently. That way, she will not be deprived of the nutrients from that particular food. For instance, try preparing a dish as a soup rather than pureed.
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