Introducing Solids
Parenting. Who would have guessed what it would be like. Absolutely no amount of research or well-meaning advice could ever really prepare you for this adventure in life. A new baby is a big scary challenge for anyone. But by now perhaps you are semi organised, your baby is alert, the milk feeds are quicker, and you are getting at least 4 hours continuous sleep - maybe.
Then someone mentions weaning!.
Weaning causes all sorts of anxieties. And to fuel the fire, parenting titles seem to delight in turning the subject into rocket science and conflicting with each other in the process. Yes, there are some basic rules about when problem foods can be introduced safely, but that's about it. So relax and NEVER do anything you feel uncomfortable with - you know your baby best. All babies are different, so no one set of rules can apply to every baby. You should always discuss your particulars with a good child health professional and talk freely about your intuition and feelings. A competent professional will listen intently - you are with your baby constantly and will notice slight changes in their behaviour before anyone else.
0 - 6 months old
Breast or formula milk provides all the nutrition your baby needs until 6 months old. Except in very rare cases, there is no nutritional or developmental reason to start solids earlier. It will not make your baby a superstar, and may in fact cause problems if their digestive system is not ready.
First foods
This is an exciting time for you and your baby. More colours, shapes, flavours and textures.
Do not alter your breast milk or formula feeds, these still come first. After a milk feed try one teaspoon of organic rice cereal mixed with breast/formula milk and mix to a thin consistency. Once your baby has learnt to swallow the cereal instead of spitting it out, and is eating 1-2 tablespoons, you can introduce single flavours of plain pureed fruits and vegetables. Initially offering single flavours establishes your baby's likes and dislikes. Allowing a break in between each new food introduction also allows identification of any allergy related reactions to particular foods.
It is better to start with sweet tasting root vegetables such as carrot, pumpkin, or swede. Mix in some rice cereal for a familiar taste. Eventually you can work up to providing a meal of green, yellow and orange vegetables. Introduce stewed pureed fruits such as apple, pear, apricots and peaches as a treat after their vegetables.
Moving on as your baby develops
From here we recommend using the single vegetables your baby was not so keen on for example maybe spinach was one, mix it with potato to round the flavour off a bit, sometimes vegetables like spinach can be just to strong add pulses to help thicken the texture naturally not cornflour or arrowroot, babies don't need it.
Once your baby has tried a few vegetables medley and pulse combinations, cautiously introduce meat protein foods like cooked red meats, chicken, fish, lamb. Slowly build up to three servings of fruit & vegetables, and one serving of protein food for lunch, a day. Gradually use a coarser texture of food after the 9-10 month mark as you go to promote chewing.
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By around 9 months, your baby should be into a routine of breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Chewing and swallowing are important for speech development.
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Encourage drinking of plain cool water especially in hotter weather to imporve hydration levels.
Anaemia and iron deficiency has been identified as the most common nutrient deficiency in young children in Australia. Iron is esential for the devlopment of the immune system and brain, learning skills and langage development. Eating foods high in vitamin C with or after a meal of protein can assist in the absorbtion of iron.e.gtomato, carrot, citrus fruits.
Don't offer tea to young children as tea contains tannins and other compunds that reduce the absorbtion of iron and other minerals.
And don't forget
Always try a new food variety in the morning. If a reaction occurs at least then you can seek help during daylight hours. Wait 3 to 4 days between each new food to help you pinpoint any food intolerance.
Avoid feeding highly processed foods, or any foods that are fatty, sugary or salty, to your baby. There is a whole lifetime to try junk food, and the last thing you want to do is train your baby's taste buds to like this stuff from the very start.
Once you get going, don't forget to offer a variety of natural foods with lots of natural colour. How would you like the same meal 3 times a day. | 
