Feeding during the first year of an infant's life is filled with struggles and changes. Breast milk or formula often gives way to solid foods at some point during this time, but the graduation to solid foods is often dependent on the growth of baby teeth. Many mothers may also question whether their child is getting too much or too little food during the day. Feeding advice is a common subject of discussion between pediatricians and mothers, and it's no surprise given the importance of proper nutrition for an infant.
Transition to Solid Foods Slowly
According to LPCH.org, no children should begin eating solid foods or eating from a spoon prior to four months of age. But when it is time to integrate solid foods into your child's diet, this should be done with caution. Introduce your child to one new food at a time and make sure the food is a pure substance, not a mixture. Stick to one food alone for five to seven days while continuing to feed the baby breast milk or formula--this helps the baby adjust to solid food while also helping you evaluate their reaction to individual types of food.
Use of Fruit Juice and Cow's Milk
Starting around six months of age--or as early as your child learns how to drink from a cup--an infant can begin drinking fruit juices that aren't mixed with unnatural sugars. However, cow's milk should still be held off until the infant reaches 12 months of age. Before then, the cow's milk does not provide the nutrients your child needs to develop properly.
Integrate Water with Solid Foods
Young infants rarely need any extra water beyond what they consume through breast milk or formula--the only exception may be in extreme heat. But solid foods don't have the same water content as breast milk or formula, meaning that when the solid food becomes a part of your child's diet, water needs to be integrated to provide adequate hydration.
Don't Force Feed
Infants instinctively know how much food they need, and they stop consuming when they have sated their appetite. Although some parents may want to teach their children to eat everything off their plate, this isn't a healthy habit for infants--forcing your child to clean his plate even when he isn't full will instill poor eating habits and make it more likely that your child will develop excess fat. Additionally, many children's appetites diminish as their growth rate slows close to their first birthday, so pickier eating habits are expected and normal.
