Solid (Strained) Foods

When should I start feeding my child solid foods?

The best time to begin using a spoon to feed your child is when your baby can sit with some support and move his head to participate in the feeding process.  This time is usually between 4 and 6 months of age.  Breast milk and commercial formulas meet all of your baby's nutritional needs until 4 to 6 months of age.  Introducing strained foods earlier just makes feeding more complicated.  Research has shown that in most cases solid foods won't help your baby sleep through the night.  The only exceptions are those few breast-fed babies who are not getting enough calories or gaining enough weight. 

What types of foods should I feed my child?

•    Cereals

Cereals are usually the first solid food added to your baby's diet.  Generally these are introduced to infants between 4 and 6 months of age. 

Cereals should be fed with a small spoon and should not be given in the baby's bottle.  This is because an infant should be taught to differentiate between what he eats and what he drinks. 

Start with rice cereal, which is less likely to cause allergies than other cereals.  Barley and oatmeal may be tried 2 or 3 weeks later.  A mixed cereal should be added to your baby's diet only after each kind of cereal in the mixed cereal has been separately introduced. 

•    Vegetables and fruit

Strained or pureed vegetables and fruits are the next solid foods introduced to your baby.  The order in which you add vegetables and fruits to your baby's diet is not important.  However, you should introduce only one new food at a time and no more than 3 new foods per week. 

•    Meat and protein alternatives

By 7 to 8 months of age your baby should be ready for strained or pureed meats and protein alternatives (such as beans, peas, lentils, cottage cheese, and yogurt).  Babies who are only getting breast milk and no other solids can develop a zinc and iron deficiency.  This can be prevented by starting pureed red meats between 6 and 8 months.

Are there foods I should not feed my child?

Egg whites, wheat, peanut butter, fish, and orange juice may be more likely to cause allergies than other solid foods, but this is controversial.  Avoid adding these foods to your baby's diet until 1 year of age (2-3 years of age for peanut butter), especially if your infant has other allergies.  Also, avoid giving your child honey during the first year of life.

How do I spoon feed my child?

Place food on the middle of the tongue.  If you place it in front, your child will probably push it back at you.  Some infants get off to a better start if you place the spoon between their lips and let them suck off the food. 

Some children constantly bat at the spoon or try to hold it while you are trying to feed them.  These children need to be distracted with finger foods or given another spoon to hold. 

By the time they are 1 year old, most children want to try to feed themselves and can do so with finger foods.  By 15 to 18 months of age, most children can feed themselves with a spoon and no longer need a parent's help to eat. 

When can my child have finger foods?

Finger foods are small, bite-size pieces of soft foods.  They can be introduced between 9 and 10 months of age or whenever your child develops a pincer grip. 

Most babies love to feed themselves.  Since most babies will not be able to feed themselves with a spoon until 15 months of age, finger foods keep them actively involved in the feeding process. 

Good finger foods are dry cereals (Cheerios, Rice Krispies, etc.), slices of cheese, pieces of scrambled eggs, slices of canned fruit (peaches, pears, or pineapple), slices of soft fresh fruits (especially bananas), crackers, cookies, and breads. 

Should I give my child snacks?

Once your baby goes to 3 meals a day, or eats at 5-hour intervals, he may need small snacks to tide him over between meals.  Most babies begin this pattern between 6 and 9 months of age.  The midmorning and midafternoon snack should be a nutritious, nonmilk food.  Fruits and dry cereals are recommended.  If your child is not hungry at mealtime, cut back on the snacks or eliminate them. 

Can my child eat table food?

Your child should be eating the same meals you eat by approximately 1 year of age.  This assumes that your diet is well balanced and that you carefully dice any foods that would be difficult for your baby to chew.  Avoid foods that he could choke on such as raw carrots, candy, peanuts or other nuts, and popcorn. 

What foods contain iron?

Throughout our lives we need iron in our diet to prevent anemia.  Certain foods are especially good sources of iron.  Red meats, fish, and poultry are best.  Some young children will only eat lunch meats, and the low-fat ones are fine.  Adequate iron is also found in iron-enriched cereals, beans of all types, egg yolks, peanut butter, raisins, prune juice, sweet potatoes, and spinach. 

Does my child need vitamins?

If your child is between birth and 12 months old and you are breast-feeding, you will need to give your child a vitamin supplement called Tri-vi-sol which is over-the-counter.  Formula fed infants get all the vitamins they need from the formula.  In New Jersey, there is no fluoride in the water, so we prescribe a fluoride supplement starting at 6 months old. Once your child is 12 months old and is off of formula and drinking milk, we will prescribe a multivitamin with flouride.

Adapted from  B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.



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