Baby foods -What to give and when to start
The process of gradually introducing baby foods starting with semisolid foods followed by solid foods to a baby's diet is known as weaning. Many mothers are in a hurry to give semisolid foods to babies and this tendency should be resisted. They are often misled by the ads they see in the media. Breast-milk takes care of all the nutritional requirements up to six months of age. The intestine of a small baby is delicate and may not be able to digest other foods. Often a over enthusiastic mother gives some food which is supposed to be "very rich" in nutrients to her baby causing diarrhea and then comes running to a hospital. There is no need to follow any rigid schedule while weaning your baby. The general principles are to start with easily digestible foods and to introduce one food at a time. Weaning foods may be prepared at home using cereals and pulses with a low fat content. Bread mixed with milk and rice gruel are some examples. Commercial weaning foods are available and are convenient though more expensive. Those who have the time and patience can prepare malted foods at home and give them to babies. Malted foods are easily digested and highly nutritive.
Start with just one teaspoonful of any of the baby foods and gradually increase the amount. In the beginning give it just once. Later you can give it more frequently. After about two weeks when you are sure that the baby is tolerating it introduce another food. You can give fruit juices, mashed banana and cooked vegetables. By the age of one year your child should be eating the family diet. Whole egg can cause allergy in babies under one year of age. Hence it is better not to be in a hurry to introduce egg. But babies generally tolerate egg yolk at around nine months of age. Do not worry if your child does not accept any particular food. Use your imagination and try different dishes.
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