Weaning a baby can be quite a difficult task, and a system must be observed when doing so. This way, your baby’s health will be ensured and feeding difficulties can be easily managed. You must first observe specific baby behaviors when you introduce solid food to your baby. She must be able to hold her head upright, sit up with support, and show interest in what you’re eating. Since your baby’s stomach is still underdeveloped and quite small, weaning is done slowly and carefully.
The first food to introduce to your baby would be rice. This is the best type of food to introduce first to your baby for this food poses lesser allergic risk. Start with a teaspoon of rice cereal mixed with a tablespoon of breastmilk, formula, or water. Do not worry about the consistency. Remember you are introducing something new to your baby, and you must be able to do everything that you can to lessen any reaction. Give this a several minutes after your baby has been fed of milk and not before. Remember that breastmilk is still the main staple food for your baby, and still the main source of nutrients for growth and development. Giving solid food before milk will lessen your baby’s capacity for milk and can impede with your baby’s development. Gradually increase the amount of cereal to produce a much thicker form of meal for your baby.
Wait for several days before introducing a new type of food. The next food to be introduced to your baby would be strained or pureed fruits and vegetables. If you are to feed your baby commercially prepared food, you must place portions on a bowl. If you feed straight from the container, you will be forced to put away any leftover portions for it would now be a good breeding ground for bacteria. Introduce one type of fruit or vegetable and wait for a week before introducing another one. It is important to feed your baby one type of food at a time so you will know what type of food has caused an allergic reaction if ever it occurs. Some babies find it hard to digest squash and exhibit this by bouts of diarrhea whenever the food is introduced. Keep a food diary and note for any reactions so you may know what type of food must be given with caution or be best off not given.
Next would be fish and meat. You may need to start with fresh water fish mixed with cereal to train your baby’s stomach to digest bigger molecules of protein. Eventually you will step up with ground meat such as chicken, pork, and beef introduced in that order.
And here is more about this topic Learn When Is the Right Time To Wean A Baby?
