Starting your child on Solids.

There are a rich variety of sources of information on feeding children. Every source has a different idea about what method and substance. Here are a few points to consider when you want to start your baby on solids.

1) Children can remain on breast or formula until they are 2 years old.
2) The World Health Organisation recommends starting solids at about 6 months.
3) Big Babies do not need to start earlier on solid diet.


Your child is ready for solids when;-
1) He or she can sit up unsupported.
2) He/She can reach out and grab things accurately.
3) He/She takes things into his /her mouth and chews them rather than automatically pushing them out.

Babies are more likely to develop allergies and intolerances when there is a history of hay fever, eczema or asthma in the family.
In the drive for a healthy diet organic foods are an attractive option for feeding children, however beware;-

Organic foods still need to be processed to make them suitable for baby. In the course of this processing many important nutrients are lost. As these are to be sold as “organic” the missing nutrients destroyed in the processing cannot be re introduced because the foodstuff would no longer be eligible for labelling as “organic”.

If you want to feed your child “organic” foods then prepare them yourself. Cook them without adding salt or sugar and push them through a sieve, mash with a fork or offer as “finger foods”. Your child will benefit from the experience and you will not be denying your baby important vitamins and minerals which they need for healthy growth.

Organic foods and babies.

Do you know how much sugar has been added to your child’s convenience food?

Check the food labels carefully.

5grams = an ordinary heaped teaspoon of sugar.

A “food” containing 35 gms sugar contains 7 heaped teaspoons of sugar.
Not something you should be feeding your child!