Starting your baby on solid food is an important milestone that can be both exciting and a little daunting. Know the truths from the myths and give your child a nutritious start. More and more studies are pointing out what and what not to do. One moment, peanuts are bad, the next time, they're not.
So to help you in figuring out what's a myth and what's not, we debunked most myths that will help you decide what to do in this important transition in your baby's life. Taken from Plum Organics and Parenting, know the truths behind the common myths.
Myth: A baby should start at a specific month or age to start eating solid food.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waiting at least the baby is four months before introducing solid food. Since baby's developments are not all the same, parents should observe the baby's development and not the calendar. It all depends on your baby on when to take the transition to solids.
Here are some clues that the baby may be ready: (1) The baby can sit upright on his own; (2) The baby opens his mouth when offered food (3) The baby takes interest when you're eating; (3) The baby knows if he's full, will either lean back or turn away from milk; and (4) The baby reaches out for things and puts them to his mouth.
Myth: It's best to avoid highly allergenic food to keep the baby safe.
The AAP updated its guidelines in February 2013, saying that highly allergenic foods like peanuts, milk, egg, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish, can be safely offered to most healthy babies between four to six months. This is with the exception of whole milk as babies are not able to break down the protein found in them. The AAP did not find enough evidence to prove that delaying highly allergenic food will prevent allergy development.
Myth: Don't offer fruits first to avoid sweet tooth.
Contrary to the myth, both fruits and vegetables are good food options. It is more important to offer different food that will give your baby the vitamins and nutrients he needs. It also highly advised to offer iron-rich food as the baby's iron supply may decrease at this time.
You may offer iron-fortified cereal, oatmeal or quinoa. Avoid processed cereals and go for the organic ones. There's also no evidence that supports that the order of food introduced during early years will influence food preferences later in life. Again, it is important to let your baby eat rich in vitamins and nutrients he needs.
You don't need baby cereal to start your child on solid food. https://t.co/DmLTH3rUxV pic.twitter.com/mPrJPtknZ5
— Lifehacker (@lifehacker) April 21, 2016
Aside from these three common myths, there is also one that talks about introducing food one at a time. While this may be logical if you want to watch out for food allergies, it is highly recommended to offer your babies a mixture of new foods so they can develop a sophisticated palate. For more tips on how to start your baby on solids, check out the video below:
