First Foods

By Brenna Leah Cashman, BHSc., RNCP

Time for Real Food!

    The transition to solid foods marks an important milestone for parent and child.  It is the first stage of independent eating and as such can elicit many emotions in parents. For example, many parents may feel eager to introduce that first solid food as soon as possible.  They may have been told that this will help their babies sleep through the night or go longer without nursing.  Mothers may feel that it will give them more freedom to be away from the baby for extended periods of time.  In addition, there may be pressure from friends or relatives to start foods already.
     In other situations, there is a hesitation to introduce solids.  Because it is a start on the road to independence, parents may feel nostalgic about leaving early babyhood behind.  There can also be uncertainties and even fears about how to go about introducing solids. They wonder how to best provide their babies with optimal nutrition. They also don’t want to introduce any health hazards such as foods that might cause allergies or digestive troubles.

Let Baby Take the Lead
   
    What is the ideal time to introduce solid foods into the diet? Research shows that babies younger than six months aren’t generally ready to begin solids.  Young babies have a tongue-thrust reflex.  This means that when something is put on the tongue, the tongue will automatically protrude outward – causing the item to be spit out. Thus, feeding an infant with a strong tongue-thrust reflex is going to be an exercise in frustration as the baby simply spits out everything the parent tries to put in her mouth!  Furthermore, the intestines of infants are not fully matured. Researchers believe that feeding solids to immature intestines results in an increased risk of developing allergies.
    Babies older than six months may be ready to try foods but the question is – how much older? In fact, each child is different and therefore there is no magic age for beginning solid foods.  The optimal time is when the baby is ready.  What are the signs that babies are ready to join you at the dinner table? First of all, babies should be able to participate in the process of eating.  Ideally, a child should be able to sit independently and direct his hands to his mouth.  The ability to demonstrate desire or lack of interest in food by opening and closing her mouth is also important: the baby must be able to communicate, even if only non-verbally.  Babies can show interest in food in lots of ways. For instance, parents may notice that the baby begins to reach out for food, imitates eating habits, and shows curiosity about food.  These skills usually develop around the same time that babies become physically ready to digest food.

What are Good First Foods?

    Good first foods are those that are least allergenic and most like breast milk or formula in taste and consistency.  Rice cereal, bananas, applesauce, sweet potatoes, and avocados are all great choices.  Generally it is best to introduce one new food at a time, especially if there is a family history of allergies.  If the baby spits the food out or seems confused about what to do with it, it is possible that he or she is not quite ready for solids.  For the baby who seems to enjoy the food, parents can gradually progress to different foods and larger amounts.  The goal at this stage is to introduce new tastes and textures.  It will be a while before solids comprise the bulk of a baby’s diet.  At this point, babies have very small stomachs and may eat only a teaspoon or two at a feeding.  The parent’s job is to offer the food to the baby and stop when the baby seems to dislike it or be full.  Babies, like adults, often become bored if they are offered the same food over and over.  Try to introduce a variety of foods and notice which become favorites.
    By nine to twelve months of age, babies are often ready for more variety.  A new developmental stage is the ability to master the pincer grasp.  This skill allows babies to feed themselves.  The baby’s swallowing mechanism is also more mature at this point, which means that foods can become coarser and lumpier.  Cereal that easily dissolves in the mouth can be introduced at this point.  Fruit and vegetables such as carrots, squash, peaches, pears, and prunes continue to be good options.  Additionally proteins such as yogurt, cheese, poultry, beans, and tofu can be offered.  Independent eaters may particularly enjoy the experience of feeding themselves bite-sized pieces of cooked vegetables or small cubes of cheese.

Babies Who Don’t Want to Eat

    Of course, not every child is going to nicely follow this course.  Some babies seem disinterested in food for a long time.  It can be very frustrating for a parent to see the baby repeatedly refusing food.  A mother who has spent time and energy making baby food from scratch can feel personally rejected by the baby’s lack of interest.  It is important though to respect the child’s signals.  The parent/child relationship and the child’s long term relationship with food will benefit most from calm, patient, and positive interactions.  It is important not to force feed a baby or ignore a child’s cues as this can lead to poor eating habits in the long run.  Indeed, mealtime should be relaxed and upbeat.  If a baby doesn’t seem ready, give her some time and then try again.  As frustrating as it is for you the cook and cleaner-upper, be prepared to put the food aside if necessary. It is better to throw out food than to develop struggles with food that can take years to undo!
    Remember: very baby is an individual.  Some babies are textbook eaters and follow every developmental step right on cue.  Other babies take a more individual approach, skipping the early eating stages and jumping right to table foods.  Still others, show little interest in food until they’ve developed the skills to feed themselves.  Some kids are social eaters, eating much better when they are in group settings.  Others need quiet and patient one-on-one attention at first. Ultimately, most babies will express a healthy interest in food sometime during their first or second year of life. The baby’s role is to eat according to his needs, preferences, capabilities, and desire.  A baby who is allowed this freedom will over time, usually develop a healthy and balanced approach to eating.
Your pediatrician can advise you as to if and when you should be concerned about your baby’s eating habits. Until that point, your job is to prepare nutritious foods and offer them in a calm, no-pressure manner.  Model and demonstrate good eating habits for your child to mimic.  And most important, enjoy your baby and this new stage in his life!