At approximately four to six months of age, pediatricians begin recommending that your baby start eating solids. Solids are not exactly solid food as such but rather solid vegetables and fruit that are pureed with water so that babies can begin learning to swallow, as well as get more calories into their diets. The very first step to take when starting solids with your baby is to introduce cereal for infants.

Introducing Cereal For Infants Is The First Step To Take When Starting Your Baby On Solids

Cereal for infants now come in a few different forms. Firstly is rice cereal which tends to be the least likely to be an allergen and so is often the first recommended. The second type of cereal for infants is oatmeal, which also provides a low likelihood of being an allergen. Some others provide mixes of oatmeal and rice, as well as mixes of oatmeal OR rice with things like bananas. As stated before, pediatricians usually recommend starting solids with strictly oatmeal or rice cereal for a few weeks and then introducing foods one at a time.

Keep The Cereal Mixture Runny until Your Child Gets Used To Swallowing

To introduce cereal for infants to your child you will need to mix powder or flakes with water, expressed breast milk or formula. It is usually recommended to start with mixing formula or breast milk so that the first taste is somewhat familiar and there will be less likelihood of refusal by your child. In general, you may want to start by mixing one quarter cup of cereal with a few tablespoons of water or until it is almost a liquid consistency. Always keep in mind that this is the first time your baby will be swallowing something other than pure liquid so it will need to be very runny until he or she gets used to the idea. Gradually, you can begin mixing more cereal for infants with less water so that the consistency is lumpier.

Keep An Eye Out For Any Signs Of Allergy When Introducing New Foods Into Your Child’s Diet

After your child has been introduced to cereal for infants and shows no signs of allergy such as rash or any fussiness, you can then move onto first step foods. First step foods are simply one fruit or vegetable mixed with water and pureed. You can either purchase these from your grocery store prepackaged or alternatively you can make your own at home. Again, the consistency is pretty thin, but you can mix in some cereal for infants to make it thicker. The general rule of thumb is to start with one type of food for a few days, check for any signs of allergies and if there appear to be none, then move onto another type of food. Once this is completed and your child cuts some teeth, you can scrap the baby food and begin on actual solid food.

Lastly, if you have any queries or concerns regarding introducing solids into your infant’s diet, always consult your doctor or pediatrician for advice and reassurance.