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Introducing your baby to Solid food

Introducing your baby to Solid food. Why introduce solid foods ?. An overview of the first year. When is my baby ready for solid food ?. Your baby is ready if they can:. Stay in a sitting position for long enough without being reclined and hold their head steady.

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Introducing your baby to Solid food

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  1. Introducing your baby to Solid food

  2. Why introduce solid foods ?

  3. An overview of the first year

  4. When is my baby ready for solid food ? Your baby is ready if they can: Stay in a sitting position for long enough without being reclined and hold their head steady Co-ordinate their eyes, hand and mouth so that they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth all by themselves Swallow food. Babies who are not ready will push their food back out, so they get more round their face than they do in their mouths! Tongue –thrust reflex disappears around 4 -6 months It’s rare for these signs to appear together before 6 months.

  5. The Tongue thrust reflex

  6. Mistaken signs Weight gain slows down Baby seems hungry Baby wakes at night Baby watches parents eat Other babies have started to eat solid food NONE OF THESE ARE RELIABLE SIGNS THAT A BABY IS READY TO START SOLID FOOD

  7. Every baby is different Wait until they are ready If a give solids before 6 months will my baby have fewer allergies ? Will my baby sleep better at night ? My baby watches me eat all the time I have a big baby shall I start solids early ?

  8. Introducing solids video

  9. Responsive feeding and cues associated with the introduction of solids Paying attention to feeding cues can help create enjoyable mealtimes and help lay the foundation for healthy eating as baby’s develop

  10. Introducing first foods Suitable foods • Vegetables • Cereal foods ( rice, oats,polenta,pearl barley) • Pulses (peas , beans ,lentils) • Meat and fish • Eggs • Tofu Remember it may take up to 10 times of Offering Food before a baby accepts

  11. Finger foods from 6 months Grabbable bits of food to encourage the process of chewing Helpful tips Offer soft or cooked vegetables that are easy to bite and chew Avoid foods that may cause choking such as grapes, chunks of meat cheese, apple , nuts. Make finger foods larger than baby’s hand so they are easy to grip .

  12. video clip demonstrating gag reflex

  13. Childhood obesity – why is this increasing • Portion sizes are becoming bigger. • Ready made meals. • Sugar content in foods has increased.

  14. 7-9 months • Your baby is eating a range of mashed foods and some finger foods alongside breastmilk /formula • Offer 3 meals a day Golden rules Offer simple unprocessed foods Let baby get involved in the eating experience Avoid ultra processed foods

  15. 10 -12 months Babies start to have a bigger range of finger foods. Raw fruit and vegetables . Crunchy and chewy Babies of this age should be able to manage a range of minced and chopped foods There will be mess. Some days they will eat lots and others not. DO NOT WORRY. On 3 meals now

  16. Vitamins For mothers All breastfeeding mothers should take a vitamin D supplement when breastfeeding .Healthy Start vitamins are suitable for most women including vegetarians & halal but not vegans For formula fed babies Babies who have less than 500ml of formula a day will require vitamin drops. Healthy Start vitamins contain vitamin A,C and D It is recommended that all children from 6 months to 5 years receive vitamin supplementation unless they are receiving at least 500ml of formula Breastfed babies. The Department of Health recommends 8.5 -10.00 micrograms of vitamin D from birth.

  17. Commercially produced foods points to consider • Foods are marketed for babies under 6 months , despite public health guidelines . • Processed baby foods are predominantly sweet. • High heat processing may destroy important Vitamins & minerals • Baby foods have different taste /texture profile & may slow developmental progression in this area. • Expensive ( average 77p - £1.40 )

  18. Commercially prepared foods ‘V’ home made Home made Commercial brand Pears 79% broccoli 7% ,peas 14% dash of lemon juice COST 40g = 37p Broccoli 50% Pears 30% peas 20% COST 40g = 15 p Taken from First Steps Nutrition

  19. Food hygiene • Always wash your hands • Keep surfaces clean wash all utensils used for feeding in hot soapy water • Keep pets away from food • Cover raw meat and keep away from other foods (store at the bottom of the fridge) • Cook all food thoroughly especially shell fish • Avoid raw egg ( mayonnaise , home made ice cream ) • Continue to sterilise bottles until 1 year

  20. Dental care in the early days • As soon as teeth appear they should be cleaned twice daily using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste • Only offer milk or water as a drink • Avoid foods / drinks high in sugar • Do not dip dummy’s into sweet foods

  21. INTRODUCING SOLIDS TO PRE TERM BABIES • The process of introducing solid food to your premature baby may take a little longer. • Most premature babies are ready to take solid food between five and eight months. • It is important that babies show signs of developmental readiness for the introduction of solid foods.

  22. PRE-TERM BABIES, GETTING STARTED • Start with one meal a day and choose a time that’s best for you. • Keep feeding mums milk or infant formula as well. • Slowly introduce a wider range of foods with lumps usually one – two months after starting. • Encourage your baby to touch their food and participate in feeding. • If your baby coughs or gags gently encourage your baby and reassure them • Start to introduce finger foods and encourage your baby to finger feed.

  23. Allergies • Introduce cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, gluten, nuts, peanuts, peanut products, seeds, fish, and shellfish one at a time and not before 6 months. • introduce peanuts and peanut products if your baby does not have a known allergy or if there is a family history . Things to look out for: • skin reaction: blotchy, raised red rashes, itchy patches and swelling around the mouth or sore, red and itchy eyes. • Breathing difficulties • Runny nose • Stomach upset If your child shows any of these symptoms, talk to your GP for advice or contact NHS 111 for non- urgent medical enquiries.If you think your is baby is suffering a severe allergic reaction, always call 999 and ask for a paramedic.

  24. Some final tips • This is an opportunity to develop good eating habits that will last your baby a life time. • Never force feed your baby or put pressure on them to complete the meal . • Make meal times fun. • For safety reasons, always watch your baby when they are eating. Never let them eat alone. • Let your baby get involved in the eating experience • Offer simple and unprocessed foods • Remember vitamin supplementation.

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