Introducing Solids To Baby

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This week our beautiful boy turned 6 months. Up until now he has been exclusively breastfed, but this week we will begin introducing solids to our baby.

Each time that we reach this stage of our children’s lives, I always refer back to a great list that I received from my Maternal and Child Health Nurse. The list is over 10 years old and as such has solids being introduced as young as 4 months, contrasting to new advice which recommends waiting until baby is 6 months old before introducing solids.

I have modified the list with new information and incorporated it in the table below. All of the children are incredibly excited about the prospect of the baby eating food. I have tried to explain that for some time there will be lots of mess and not much eating, but it is very sweet that they are so interested. Babaganouski is already talking about letting me mash up some of his banana, so he can “feed baby all by myself”. It will be fun to see how this goes.

This is a guide only as all babies have individual needs. New foods are introduced one at a tim, at 3 – 5 day intervals. Start with 1 teaspoon and gradually increase to 2 – 3 tablespoons.

6 – 7 Months Pureed / Fine Mashed 1 – 2 Meals	7 – 9 Months Mashed / Minced 2 – 3 Meals	9 – 12 Months Chopped / Finger Food 3 Meals
Rice Cereal	Oats Cereal	SUPERVISE
Pumpkin	Wheat Cereal	Fresh fruit pieces
Potato	Mixed Cereal	Rusks, Crusts
Zucchini	Chicken Fish	Bread, Toast
Carrot	Beef, Lamb	Butter, Cheese
Apple	Yoghurt ,Custard	Margarine, Vegemite
Pear	Peas, Beans	Pork, Tofu
Banana	Rice, Lentils	Salmon, Tuna
Kiwi Fruit	Soup (foods tolerated)	Celery, Cabbage
Broccoli	White/Cheese Sauce	Cucumber, Green Pepper
Cauliflower	All stewed fruit	Liver, Brains
Avocado	Grated apple & pear	Herbs and spices
Parsnip	Egg Pasta (see below)	Smooth peanut butter
Broth	Introduce Cup	Cows milk ONLY on cereal

EGG: Can be introduced from 7 -8 months, later if other allergies. Small quantity of well cooked yolk on first occasion. Introduce slowly if no reaction (rash, vomiting, swelling). Introduce egg white the same way after whole yolk. THEN: pasta, noodles, egg custard and all types of egg dishes.

Naturally this table is just a guide. I have never given any of my kids liver or brains!!! There are also many more veggies that you can introduce at these stages too. I find just having the list on the fridge helpful in remembering to continually increase the range of food bubs eats.

EDIT: Thanks to my cousin Bree who let me know that Kiwi fruit is also one of those foods that infants can have a strong reaction too, so caution is needed introducing this if there is a history of food allergies.

What has been your experience with introducing solids to baby?

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