5 Rules For Introducing New Foods – Parenthood

You must therefore introduce new foods gradually.

“One of the causes of childhood obesity is the too early interruption of breastfeeding and the introduction of solid foods before 6 months”

When introducing new foods, you will need to be very patient, try it out several times, and pay close attention to your baby’s cues.

Remember that it is fundamental to introduce the foods one by one,  so that you can detect possible allergies and give the child enough time to get used to the taste of each food. Discover some rules to follow depending on the age of your child.

Guidelines for introducing novel foods

From birth to 4 months

Since birth, babies have an instinctive reflex to turn their head to find the nipple when something touches their cheek. It is essential that during this stage,  he does not ingest any food other than breast milk or powdered milk. 

The baby’s digestive system is developing, so you should not feed him solid foods until his body is ready.

Foods he can eat:

• Only  breast milk  or powder.

From 4 to 6 months

At this point you can start to introduce cereals. You should start with those that do not contain gluten to avoid intolerances. These cereals can be dissolved in milk or in porridge.

You can also introduce fruits and vegetables,  the most recommended is to start with apples, pears, bananas, squash, zucchini or sweet potatoes, among others.

It is essential to introduce these foods little by little and without adding salt or sugar. Here is a list of clues to know if your child is ready to eat  solid foods:

Clues to know if he can eat solid:

• He is able to keep his head upright on his own.
• He can sit properly in his chair to eat.
• He is able to chew.
• He exhibits significant weight gain.
• He has an interest in food.
• He manages to bring the food from front to back in his mouth.
• He can move his tongue from side to side.
• He no longer has the reflex to take food out of his mouth with his tongue.

Foods you can introduce:

• Mashed or porridge vegetables.
• Mashed fruit.
• Semi-liquid cereals enriched with iron.

6 to 8 months

At this age, babies are still tasting fruits and vegetables. You can then introduce meat, which is a food rich in nutrients. Start with white meats, such as chicken or turkey. Remember that this must be done gradually.

Foods you can introduce:

• Porridge meat.
• Cottage cheese or soy yogurt.
• Natural yogurt in small portions.
• Mashed pulses.
• Cereals fortified with iron.

8 to 10 months

This step is similar to the previous one. If all is well and your baby is accepting all foods correctly, you can start to introduce cereals with gluten, as well as fish. Like meat, fish is a food with a high nutrient content. Instead, start with white fish such as hake.

Signs that he is ready to eat food with his fingers:

• He takes things with his thumb and forefinger.
• He can transfer things from one hand to the other.
• He puts everything in his  mouth.

Novel foods:

• Foods with protein (meat, chicken, fish, tofu, beans, lentils, chickpeas, among others).

10 to 12 months

As your baby’s first birthday approaches, he will send you signals that let you know he is ready to introduce new solid foods. It is important that you introduce food two or three days apart.

The clues that he may eat other solid foods:

• He is better at swallowing food.
• He has more  teeth.
• He stops taking food out of his mouth with his tongue.
• He tries to use a spoon.

Foods you can give him:

• Fruit cut into cubes or strips.
• Pieces of cooked vegetables.

It is essential to be properly informed about the feeding of the baby so that he can go through each of these stages gradually.

Also keep in mind that you should not overfeed him,  he will let you know when he is full because it is his stomach that will determine the amount of food he should ingest. 

If you have any doubts about how to introduce new foods into your child’s diet, you can consult a pediatrician who will guide you through this process.