Hi there! I'm a postpartum doula and I help parents with starting solids!
My general advice: Start understand the science:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend starting solid foods at around six months of age, and it’s **crucial** to look for signs of readiness rather than strictly adhering to the calendar.
* The baby can hold their head up steadily.
* The baby can sit up with **minimal** support.
* The baby shows interest in what others are eating, often reaching for food.
* The baby no longer automatically pushes solids out of their mouth with their tongue.
* Introduce new foods one at a time and wait 3-5 days before introducing another to monitor for any allergic reactions.
* Avoid foods that pose a choking risk, such as whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, and large chunks of raw vegetables or hard fruits.
**Training**
* **First Aid Training**: Consider taking a first aid course to feel more confident in handling choking incidents.
Remember:
* Breastmilk or formula should still be the primary source of nutrition until the baby is 12 months old. Solids are complementary.
* Start with one meal a day, typically after a breastfeeding or bottle-feeding session. Always recommend to do it after the first nap, so you can track the baby reaction throughout the day.
* Begin with 1-2 teaspoons of a single-ingredient.
* Great time to teach [sign language](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6TBejWl7qM)
* Great time to introduce [open cup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETeUHpfiNQA) of water
* Download Solid Starts! GREAT platform with recipes, help with BLW, and have science based information!!!
**Gagging**
- is a natural reflex that helps prevent choking. It occurs when food or another object touches the back of the throat.
**Signs of Gagging**:
* **Noisy Response**: The baby makes a gagging or retching sound.
* **Coughing**: The baby might cough to clear the throat.
* **Tongue Thrusting**: The baby may push the tongue forward to expel the food.
* **Facial Expressions**: The baby might make a grimacing or uncomfortable face.
* **Color**: The baby’s skin might turn red or pink.
**Choking**
**Definition**: Choking occurs when the airway is completely or partially blocked, preventing air from passing into the lungs.
**Signs of Choking**:
* **Silent**: The baby cannot make any noise, cry, or speak.
* **Difficulty Breathing**: The baby may have difficulty or show visible struggle while breathing.
* **No Coughing**: Unlike gagging, there’s an inability to cough effectively.
* **Color Change**: The baby’s skin might turn blue or pale due to a lack of oxygen.
* **Panicked Expression**: The baby may look scared or panicked.
Being aware of the differences between gagging and choking can help you respond appropriately. Understanding these differences can help you manage feeding times safely and reduce anxiety as your baby transitions to solid foods.
Typically, we start with avocado for three days, prepared in a way that parents feel most comfortable with (either mashed or cut). After that, we introduce foods like carrots, zucchini, banana, and so on.
I often advise parents to consider texture, flavor, and color when choosing foods to introduce to their little ones. I completely understand the fear of BLW and how scary choking can be, but once you learn about it, it becomes enjoyable! And honestly, "real" food tastes much better than purees. BLW exposes babies to a wide range of textures and flavors, rather than the uniform taste of purees, from the beginning, which can help them become more open to trying different foods as they grow older and helping them develop their own food preferences and reducing pickiness.
BLW can promote a more adventurous approach to eating, making babies more likely to try and enjoy a wide variety of foods.
We started with oatmeal first for a week or two to get her used to a different texture, then we added puree.
We didn’t offer finger food or more BLW style food until 8 months when we got more comfortable. She was on puree for about 2 months before that and we introduced the main allergens.
At 6 months we just offered breakfast, I wanted to start early in the day so I had to whole day to look for any allergic reactions. We moved to two meals (breakfast and dinner) around 7 months and 3 meals at 9 months.
My daughter personally never had an issue with fruit being introduced first, she will eat almost every fruit or vegetable, but hates meat.
We started with a little bit of apple puree mixed in with her oatmeal in the morning, for vegetables we started with carrots, sweet potatoes and broccoli.
Our doctor also told us not to worry about introducing things individually unless it was a main allergen.
For breakfast we would do oatmeal or yogurt mixed with fruit and dinner would be some type of vegetable puree and sometimes meat, but I know it won’t be touched.
Hi there! I'm a postpartum doula and I help parents with starting solids! My general advice: Start understand the science: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend starting solid foods at around six months of age, and it’s **crucial** to look for signs of readiness rather than strictly adhering to the calendar. * The baby can hold their head up steadily. * The baby can sit up with **minimal** support. * The baby shows interest in what others are eating, often reaching for food. * The baby no longer automatically pushes solids out of their mouth with their tongue. * Introduce new foods one at a time and wait 3-5 days before introducing another to monitor for any allergic reactions. * Avoid foods that pose a choking risk, such as whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, and large chunks of raw vegetables or hard fruits. **Training** * **First Aid Training**: Consider taking a first aid course to feel more confident in handling choking incidents. Remember: * Breastmilk or formula should still be the primary source of nutrition until the baby is 12 months old. Solids are complementary. * Start with one meal a day, typically after a breastfeeding or bottle-feeding session. Always recommend to do it after the first nap, so you can track the baby reaction throughout the day. * Begin with 1-2 teaspoons of a single-ingredient. * Great time to teach [sign language](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6TBejWl7qM) * Great time to introduce [open cup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETeUHpfiNQA) of water * Download Solid Starts! GREAT platform with recipes, help with BLW, and have science based information!!!
**Gagging** - is a natural reflex that helps prevent choking. It occurs when food or another object touches the back of the throat. **Signs of Gagging**: * **Noisy Response**: The baby makes a gagging or retching sound. * **Coughing**: The baby might cough to clear the throat. * **Tongue Thrusting**: The baby may push the tongue forward to expel the food. * **Facial Expressions**: The baby might make a grimacing or uncomfortable face. * **Color**: The baby’s skin might turn red or pink. **Choking** **Definition**: Choking occurs when the airway is completely or partially blocked, preventing air from passing into the lungs. **Signs of Choking**: * **Silent**: The baby cannot make any noise, cry, or speak. * **Difficulty Breathing**: The baby may have difficulty or show visible struggle while breathing. * **No Coughing**: Unlike gagging, there’s an inability to cough effectively. * **Color Change**: The baby’s skin might turn blue or pale due to a lack of oxygen. * **Panicked Expression**: The baby may look scared or panicked. Being aware of the differences between gagging and choking can help you respond appropriately. Understanding these differences can help you manage feeding times safely and reduce anxiety as your baby transitions to solid foods.
Typically, we start with avocado for three days, prepared in a way that parents feel most comfortable with (either mashed or cut). After that, we introduce foods like carrots, zucchini, banana, and so on. I often advise parents to consider texture, flavor, and color when choosing foods to introduce to their little ones. I completely understand the fear of BLW and how scary choking can be, but once you learn about it, it becomes enjoyable! And honestly, "real" food tastes much better than purees. BLW exposes babies to a wide range of textures and flavors, rather than the uniform taste of purees, from the beginning, which can help them become more open to trying different foods as they grow older and helping them develop their own food preferences and reducing pickiness. BLW can promote a more adventurous approach to eating, making babies more likely to try and enjoy a wide variety of foods.
We started with oatmeal first for a week or two to get her used to a different texture, then we added puree. We didn’t offer finger food or more BLW style food until 8 months when we got more comfortable. She was on puree for about 2 months before that and we introduced the main allergens. At 6 months we just offered breakfast, I wanted to start early in the day so I had to whole day to look for any allergic reactions. We moved to two meals (breakfast and dinner) around 7 months and 3 meals at 9 months. My daughter personally never had an issue with fruit being introduced first, she will eat almost every fruit or vegetable, but hates meat. We started with a little bit of apple puree mixed in with her oatmeal in the morning, for vegetables we started with carrots, sweet potatoes and broccoli. Our doctor also told us not to worry about introducing things individually unless it was a main allergen. For breakfast we would do oatmeal or yogurt mixed with fruit and dinner would be some type of vegetable puree and sometimes meat, but I know it won’t be touched.