A good time to start introducing solids for your baby is around 6 months of age. However, keep in mind that breast milk and/or formula is the main source of nutrition for your child until they turn 1 year old. So, this time is for exploration, experimentation, and learning for you and baby! They will make a mess, which is a great sensory experience for them so be ready for a clean up!
It is recommended that you introduce a new food every 3 days or so to be aware of any allergic reactions. More solid foods can be introduced once your baby is sitting or crawling independently. You can purchase jarred baby foods or make your own home-made baby food purees. At six months your baby should be use:
- Breast or Bottle: sucking pattern
- Open cup: use a mixture of sucking and suckling tongue pattern around 6-8 months. Swallows liquid from open cup with lips open and a bit of spillage.
- Soft spoon: recognizes a spoon by vision and/or touch, opens mouth, and quiets tongue to accept spoon. You may even see a munching pattern (up and down jaw movement).
- Suck, swallow, breathe: long sequences of sucking, swallowing, and breathing with breast or bottle. Continuously sucks when from an open cup.
If you have concerns about your child's development, please contact your pediatrician. An occupational therapy and/or speech therapy evaluations may be recommended.
For more nutritional information please visit: http://www.aap.org/parents.html
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