When should you start feeding your baby solid foods and what should you feed her?
- Start feeding solids to babies between 4 and 6 months.
- Introduce new foods 3-4 days apart.
- Try foods several times.
- Try several textures and flavors.
- Avoid foods that can cause choking.
“The first year is a great time to introduce a variety of foods with different textures and tastes before the “picky eating” ages of 2 and 3 begin.” Christanne Harrison
Introducing Solids: Time for Tofu (and Other New Foods)
When my son started kindergarten, I asked him what he wanted in his lunch on his first day of school. He quickly responded, “Tofu squares!” He came home and proudly told me his teacher said that she had never seen a kindergartner with tofu in his lunch before. I started feeding my son tofu before he was a year old, and he has loved it ever since. Obviously, not all children are going to like tofu when they are introduced to it, but the first year is a great time to introduce a variety of foods with different textures and tastes before the “picky eating” ages of 2 and 3 begin.
- Start feeding solids to babies between 4 and 6 months. When your baby seems interested in taking food from a spoon, add a small amount of fortified baby cereal (like rice cereal) to her feeding routine a few times a day. At first your baby will only take a small amount of solids (like 1 tablespoon), but work toward the goal of three solid meals by the time she is a year old.
- Introduce new foods 3-4 days apart. At about 6 month, you can start adding additional foods to your baby’s diet. Add a new food (usually starting with strained vegetables and fruit) every 3-4 days to easily detect if your child has a food allergy.
- Make your own baby food. The bottled stuff is convenient, so it is OK to have some on hand, but it is less expensive, more varied, and has fewer fillers when you use what the rest of your family is eating. At first, mash fruits and vegetables by themselves and then by the time your baby is 7-9 months, she can probably eat most mixed food from your table as long as it is the appropriate texture.
- Try foods several times. Don’t get discouraged if your baby doesn’t seem to like the food you are feeding her. It may take 10 times or more before a baby learns to like a new food. Also remember that your baby is learning to eat and at the beginning it will look like she is spitting the food out as she is trying to coordinate her movements. Don’t add extra sweeteners (especially honey as it could contain botulism spores that would be very dangerous for babies) or salt to your baby’s food if possible, so that she can learn to enjoy the taste of the food.
- Try several textures and flavors. As your baby grows she will be able to handle more challenging textures. Start with pureed foods and then mashed, building up to small pieces. When your baby can sit up and bring her thumb and pointer finger together (called a pincer grip), you can let her try finger foods to feed herself. You can start with small, soft pieces of food like fruit or bread. Offer your baby a variety of different foods (even if you don’t like them) to expose her to a wide range of flavors; try avocado or navy beans.
- Continue breast milk or formula for the first year. Even though you are adding solid food to your baby’s diet, continue to feed her breast milk or formula until she is a year old.
- Avoid foods that can cause choking. Make sure that food is cut into small pieces, especially foods like grapes and cherry tomatoes. Avoid small hard foods like popcorn, hard candy, and nuts. Soft sticky foods like marshmallows or peanut butter can get stuck in a baby’s throat. Always stay with your baby when she is eating so that you will know if she starts to choke.
- Follow your baby’s cues. If your baby does not seem satisfied after her normal food routine, she may be telling you she is ready for more. You can add more food to each meal or add more meals during the day.
- Use feeding time to bond with your baby. Teaching a baby to eat can be time-consuming and messy. It may seem that more food gets on the floor and in the baby’s hair than in her mouth. Be patient and remember that this can be a special bonding time with your infant: you can talk, sing, or just enjoy each other’s company.
Crispy Tofu Squares
When infants are trying tofu for the first time, just cut it into small squares and serve. As they get older, you can try this version with some additional flavors (it is also great in stir-fry for the whole family).
- 1-14 oz package of firm or extra firm tofu
- 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame seed oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Drain tofu and cut into 1-inch squares. Let tofu drain on paper towels for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, mix together the remaining ingredients. Place the tofu in a bowl and pour the liquid mixture over it. Gently stir until all the tofu is coated. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Using a slotted spot, place tofu onto the baking sheet and spread them evenly so the pieces are not touching. Turn on the oven broiler. Place the tofu under the broiler until brown and crisp on the top, approximately 8 minutes (oven broiler temperatures and times may vary). Gently turn pieces of tofu to another side and broil for 3 more minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Serve.
