SUPPLE ME NTAR

Y F EE DI NG
FOR
INFANTS
 Child
Nutrition
 Child
• When you pick solid foods for your baby
to include foods from all groups of the
food pyramid, including veggies, fruits,
meats, dairy, and healthy grains.

• Babies also need the right amount of

nutrition to grow and develop into bright
and healthy toddlers.
Child’s Food Pyramid
 When do you
start a baby on
solid foods?
Preferably, 6 months old.

When baby is young, her

body is designed to have
breast milk, or a similar
substitute, because breast
milk is the best source of
nutrients for the baby.

If you start a baby on solid

 REASONS WHY
YOU SHOULD
START A BABY
ON SOLID FOODS
WHEN THEY ARE
6 MONTHS OLD
……………
A baby’s digestive system isn’t able
to cope with solid foods until she
reaches 6 months.

She lacks some important enzymes

that help digest carbohydrates and
fats.

A baby’s throat muscles aren’t

developed to swallow properly.
Until the age of 6 months, a baby’s
natural reaction is to push her
tongue forward, instead of moving
food towards the throat to swallow.

A baby needs to have a way of telling

you that she is full – when a baby is
breastfeeding she usually falls
asleep, when feeding on solids she
will turn her head, and this only
develops around the 6th month mark.
 SIGNS
OF
READINESS
FOR
SOLID FOODS
☺ She is about 6 months old and weighs
twice her birth weight.

☺ She can sit with support and can lean

forward

☺ She has control over her head and neck

muscles and can turn her head to
refuse food.

☺ She has stopped the extrusion reflex,

(sticking her tongue out), when you put
a spoon in her mouth.
☺She is drinking at least 32 to 40
ounces of formula, and still wants
more, or the mother is breastfeeding
her 8-10 times a day.

☺Shows interest in others eating

around her.

☺She wakes up in the middle of the

night when she used to sleep
through.
 HOW MUCH
FOOD
DOES A BABY
NEED?
 ☼Start with a once-daily
feeding when introducing
solids to a baby.

☼Have feedings when it’s

convenient for both you and
the baby – make sure you are
not pressed for time or that
 SIGNS
THAT THE BABY IS
FULL
She leans back.

She turns her head away –

if the baby turns away
from food, don’t push.

Baby doesn’t open her

mouth.
TAKE NOTE:

By the time the

baby is 8 months
old, she should be
eating three solid
meals a day.
MOMMY
WHAT
SHOULD I
EAT?
• At 4 to 6 months, the best solid
food to introduce to an infant’s
feeding schedule is plain infant
cereal fortified with iron.

• Rice cereal is a food starter food

for an infant, as it is free of
gluten and also has a low allergy
risk.
• Mix cereal with milk in order to
make a semi-liquid that is easy to
digest.

• If the baby doesn’t seem

interested in the cereal, let her
smell and taste it first using her
hands.
• Never add solids to a bottle of
milk because it can pose a
choking hazard and also confuses
the two processes of eating
liquids and solids.
• From 5 to 7 months, introduce
vegetables, which are an
excellent source of fiber, such as
peas, squash, green and yellow
beans, as well as carrots and
potatoes
• Once the baby reaches 7 to 12
months, it’s a good time to start
introducing sources of protein like
mashed up chicken or other meat,
as well as milk products like
yogurt and cheese.

• Finger foods like unsalted

crackers and bread crusts are
other foods your baby is now able
to digest.
• Remember that even after
introducing solids to your infant,
you should continue with breast
milk up until your baby is about
one year old, in order to provide a
supplementary source of
vitamins, iron and protein.
• Make sure to limit fatty foods
during the first year of the
baby’s life, in order to make sure
their diet is healthy and full of
nutrition they need to grow.
• Foods that can pose choking
hazards should also be avoided.

• Foods that can cause an allergic

reaction should be avoided for at
least the first year of life.
 SIGNS
OF
A
FOOD
ALLERGY
 ╬ Rashes

╬ Vomiting

╬ Diarrhea

╬ Stomach Pain

╬ Breathing Problems
 HOW TO YOU
INTRODUCE
OTHER SOLID FOOD
Introduce other solids gradually,
one at a time, waiting at least three
days after each new food.

Even though it’s a good idea

to get a baby accustomed to
eating a wide variety of
foods, it’ll take time for her
to get used to each new
texture and taste.
 Each baby will have a
unique food
preferences, but the
transition should go
something like this:
Semi-liquid Cereals
Strained or Mashed
Fruits and
Vegetables
Finely Chopped Table
When the baby has mastered
cereal, offer a few
tablespoons of vegetables or
fruit in the same meal as a
cereal feeding.

All food should be strained or

mushy – at this stage the
baby will press the food
against the top of his mouth
If you’re feeding the baby
from ready-to-eat jars of
baby food, scoops some into
a little dish and feed her
from that.

Some experts recommend

introducing yellow fruits and
vegetables first because
they’re the easiest to digest,
but others advise going
Don’t be surprised if the
baby’s stool change color
and odor when you add
solids to her diet.

If the stools seem to firm,

switch to other fruits and
vegetables and oatmeal or
barley cereal.
HOW CAN YOU HELP A
BABY DEVELOP
• Don’t overfeed the baby – watch for
cues that he’s full.

• Don’t try to make the baby eat food

he doesn’t like – respect his
preferences and avoid power
struggles over food.

• Try to provide a balance of protein,

carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables
– use sweets, salts, and fats in
moderation.
• Avoid fast food for as long as
possible.

• Don’t bribe or reward your child with

food – instead, offer plenty of hugs,
kisses, and attention.

• Feed your baby in his highchair

whenever possible rather than in
front of the television or on the go.
 ORGANIC VS.
CONVENTIONAL
FOOD
HOW TO MAKE your own
Do I still need to give
my baby breast milk
or formula?
 YES
the baby will need breast milk or
formula until he’s a year old.

Both provides important vitamins,

iron, and protein in an easy-to-
digest form.

Solid food can’t replace all the

nutrients that breast milk or formula
provides during the first year.
 EQUIP MENTS
NEEDED
TO FEED THE
BA BY
HIGH CHAIR
RUBBER
BIB
WHERE SHOULD
YOU
FEED THE BABY?
☺To establish good eating habits –
like eating at the table instead in
front of the television – it’s a
good idea to feed your baby in
his highchair whenever you can.
☺Handing him finger foods on the
run can also cause him to choke
(not to mention trail mashed
banana across the carpet).

☺If your baby isn’t ready for a

highchair, seat him in your lap –
just make sure he’s upright
THE END