As your baby graduates from breast milk or formula to solid foods, you will have some important decisions to make regarding his diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, most babies can begin to eat solid foods on a supplemental basis between 4 and 6 months of age. Children's taste preferences begin to develop at an early age, reports Kids Health, and you can play a key role in cultivating taste buds by offering your baby nutritious foods.
Step 1
Provide plenty of iron. Babies become particularly at risk for iron deficiency once they reach 1 year of age, Kids Health reports. Offer your baby plenty of foods high in iron, such as pureed meat, poultry, beans, fish, tofu and iron-rich snack foods. Baby cereal fortified with iron is also important; Kids Health recommends serving baby cereal until a child is 2 years of age.
Step 2
Limit cow's milk and other dietary no-no's. Cow's milk is actually not compatible with a baby's nutritional needs, reports the Mayo Clinic, and may lead to iron-deficiency anemia. You should refrain from giving your baby cow's milk prior to his first birthday, and then do so sparingly. Babies should also not eat citrus, which can cause diaper rash, or honey and corn syrup, which have been linked to infant botulism.
Step 3
Steer clear of choking hazards. Many otherwise healthy foods can be a threat to babies if they are difficult to chew or swallow, the Mayo Clinic reports. Foods such as whole grapes, raw carrots, nuts and large pieces of meat should be avoided or pureed for easier consumption. In general, foods that seem sticky, clumpy or difficult to chew should be avoided.
Step 4
Focus on quality, not quantity. Although Kids Health recommends feeding 1- to 2-year-olds three meals and two snacks per day, keep in mind that your baby or toddler may not comply with this schedule. Kids at this age should be encouraged to listen to their own hunger signals and stop eating when full. Offer your baby healthy foods, but don't force food on a child who is not hungry. Kids Health recommends sticking to regular mealtimes to promote your baby's internal schedule.
