Introducing Solids Naturally

When is the ideal time to introduce solids? The recommended age for introducing solids has varied over the centuries. Generations ago many babies were given solids as early as the first hours or weeks after birth! In those days the early introduction of solids was primarily due to the inappropriate marketing of commercial baby food. The negative impact of exposing a baby’s immature digestive system to foreign foods was not known back then. We now suspect that the high incidence of food-related allergies and obesity may be caused by inappropriate infant feeding or having too much, too soon.

When should solids be introduced?

The current Australian Dietary Guidelines published by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommend that babies should be fed only breastmilk for the first six months with a gradual introduction of solids after this time while breastfeeding continues until one year and beyond. The World Health Organisation also recommends that solids be gradually introduced after 6 months of age with breastfeeding continuing for two years and beyond.

Many mothers feel pressure from others to begin solids earlier than recommended. Despite what some people think, the early introduction of solids does not give your baby a better start. They cannot cope with the foreign fats and proteins, their kidneys cannot cope with the large amount of salt in some foods; and they have an increased risk of being allergic or intolerant to foods.

How do I know if my baby is ready for solids?

At around six months or even later, your baby will let you know when he is ready for food. Just remember that babies do not benefit from the introduction of solids or other fluids until they are developmentally ready. It will not help them to sleep through the night and they do not need the extra kilojoules from solid foods. In fact there seems to be a connection between being overweight in infancy and obesity later in life.

You will know if your baby is ready for solids if they can sit up; have lost the tongue-thrust reflex; is interested in what you are eating; is grabbing everything and putting things in his mouth (if this is the only indicator then wait for more); is unsatisfied after a few days of extra breastfeeds.

How do I start solids once my baby is ready?

Even though the recommended age has recently changed from 3-4 months to now 6 months the current advice on how to start solids is still geared for a 3 month old! One of the many advantages in waiting till 6 months or longer is that your baby does not need pureed food or baby rice. At 6 months most babies have strong necks and can sit up. They can also reach out and start to grab food and put it to their mouths. How you manage those first tastes is an individual matter. You could share a piece of fruit with your baby while he is sitting on your knee. Or try sharing some vegetables from your dinner plate whenever your baby wants it. Some babies are quite independent and want to feed themselves from the start so you might offer them finger foods. If your baby is happy to be spoon fed you might like to give some mashed foods. Babies who start with finger foods will usually graduate and start using utensils later.

Solids should be introduced after a breastfeed or formula feed as milk is the most important food for the first 12 months.

Baby-led Weaning

Baby-led weaning means forgetting purees and spoons and letting your baby feed himself. It really is a new term for something that many parents have been doing unconsciously for decades particularly with second or subsequent children who love to copy their older siblings and feed themselves.

Gill Rapley, Deputy Director of UNICEF UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative has a special interest in baby-led weaning and has produced a DVD under the same name. She believes that babies who are allowed to feed themselves with a selection of nutritious finger foods can easily join in with family meals from the start, and are less likely to refuse foods or become fussy eaters as they grow older. It seems likely that many childhood feeding problems stem from a baby’s unwillingness or inability to accept foods which require chewing, a problem that becomes apparent when babies move from purees to the next stage of mashed foods that contain lumps. Some of the pressure for parents to introduce pureed foods at an early age comes from the baby food industry.

You can start baby-led weaning by offering foods that are shaped like a chip or have a handle like cooked broccoli. Offer suitable nutritious foods at the family dinner table and let him join in. At first he might just play with the food or grab pieces and suck on them. As your baby eats more solids, the number of breastfeeds will start to decrease.

Is baby-led weaning suitable for both breastfed and formula fed babies?

Baby-led weaning is a natural extension of the breastfeeding process but there is no reason why a bottle-fed baby could not be introduced to solids in this way. If your baby is formula-fed, you should offer him several drinks of water in between milks feeds and at mealtimes.

Some safety hints

Parents often worry about the possibility of babies choking or gagging especially when allowing their babies to feed themselves. The risk of choking is minimal especially if the baby can sit upright and can handle their own food. However, it is always important that you stay with your baby while he is eating or chewing something. Another good excuse to include your baby during mealtimes at the family table. It is also a good idea for parents to learn what to do in case of choking as well as other first-aid treatments.

Avoiding allergies and food intolerances

It is generally recommended that you wait a few days after introducing a new food before giving another so you can watch for signs of a reaction or allergies. These include runny nose, cough, loose bowel motions, constipation, skin rashes etc.

If you have a family history of allergies it may be best to delay some foods until your baby is in his second year. Common culprits are egg (especially egg white), cows’ milk and milk products, wheat, gluten and nut products. If there is a family history of peanut allergy this should be delayed for three years.

What foods should you avoid?

• Foods high in sugar and salt
• Foods containing artificial flavours, food colours and preservatives
• Highly processed foods
• Fried foods and food high in saturated fat
• Tea which can bind iron and other minerals
• Honey should not be given to babies under 12 months due to botulism
• Be aware that some processed snacks available in supermarkets and promoted as suitable for babies and children are often high in fat and sugar
• Nuts can be easily choked on and should not be offered to children less than five years old although they can be made into a paste or crushed in casseroles or other dishes. Some children can manage to eat whole nuts at a younger age provided they sit still and are fully supervised.

What about drinks?

Solids is an ideal time to offer drinks from a sipper cup with meals. Cool boiled water or filtered water is the most suitable.

What about fruit juice? The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommends NO JUICE before six months. Children up to 6 years of age should be limited to about 150ml of juice per day. If you can, stick with the water as it is better for your child and makes life so much easier.

From 12 months, cows/goats milk/other milk can be introduced if there is no family history of allergy. These milks may gradually take the place of breastmilk or formula. Reduced fat dairy products are unsuitable for children under 2 years and skim milk is unsuitable for children under 5 years. If your baby doesn’t like cows milk you do not need to worry about his calcium intake. It is also found in almonds, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, capsicum, salmon with bones, seaweed, parsley and many other fresh foods. Most toddlers eat “hidden” milk in yoghurt and cheese.

Going out for dinner

Restaurants can be a real treat for children. Try one that is child-friendly as small children can become bored when sitting for a long time. You could take them for a walk while waiting for the meal or bring some toys or activities to keep them busy. Some restaurants might offer to bring the children’s meals out first but this often means that the children are restless while you are trying to eat your meal.

You might find that most of the ‘kids meals” on the menu are fried and served with chips and soft drinks. This may be okay if it is being offered as a “sometimes food” although some children are happy to try small portions from an adults plate or you can order an extra side dish of steamed vegetables with a dipping sauce. Entrée-size meals can be shared between small children or a main meal can be ordered in an entrée size. No need to bring a jar of baby food!

Homeopathy to the rescue

Some common health related issues for babies having solids include constipation and food intolerances. Both these issues can be successfully resolved with homeopathy which uses one medicine at a time to strengthen the immune system and can provide long term/permanent relief from symptoms. A prescription from a registered homeopath is recommended for effective results. To find a registered homeopath in your area visit the Australian Homoeopathic Association website at www.homeopathyoz.org.

In summary

Starting solids is like learning to walk and talk – it will happen when your baby is developmentally ready. It is your job to provide him with healthy foods. It is his job to decide how much and when.

Resources

Baby-led Weaning: The fuss free way to introduce solid foods www.rapleyweaning.com

Australian Breastfeeding Association Booklet Introducing Solids available from www.mothersdirect.com.au

DVD Baby Led Weaning by Gill Rapley available from www.mothersdirect.com.au

There are also good videos on baby-led weaning available on YouTube

Australian Homoeopathic Association www.homeopathyoz.org