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FOR ALL MOMMIES STARTING SOLIDS FOR THEIR LOS There are 4 criteria that HAVE to be met most importantly before starting solids. 1. Baby must have completed 180 days/6 Months 2. Baby must be able to sit unsupported for a few seconds 3. Baby must have lost tongue thrust. 4. Shows interest in food Once baby meets ALL the criteria, only then you may start solids. Please remember that for the baby’s first year, bm/fm is the main source of nutrition. Solids are not to be used to make the child “fatter/gain weight/fuller/sleep better” This is because their digestive tracks are still not mature enough to process food completely so they may not be able to extract nutrition fully from solids. However, having said that, it doesn’t mean you should not feed them healthy options. This is the practice period which will set the pattern for their eating habits in the long run... so avoid force feeding, distraction feeding, giving junk food or masking tastes of things No animal milk, salt, no sugar/jaggery/honey till the baby completes 1 year. Even post that if you can avoid, please do. Before every solids meal, give bm/ff (about 20-30 mins before) Continue to breastfeed as normal and don’t replace a feed session with solids. When you introduce solids introduce everything individually first, be it fruit or vegetable or cereal. 6th month - 1 meals 7th Month-2 meals 8th Month- 3 meals 9th month- 3 meals and a snack if needed 10th Months- same; as above and give snacks as per demand. If you are doing traditional weaning, then steam instead of boiling before pureeing Start with breakfast and observe any reactions. Offer variety. Don’t give the baby the same thing for several days Don’t be alarmed if baby doesn’t eat more than a few grains or a bite in the initial days, it’s normal. Follow the baby’s cues when it comes to quantity. If baby persistently refuses then don’t force. Will add to this if I remember any more points Some suggestions for starting weaning :- PURÉES Beets Cauliflower Carrot Sweet potato Pumpkin Lauki Zucchini Peas Rajma Chick peas Apples Pears Papaya Strawberry Plum Any other fruit or vegetable MASHED Dal Rice Brinjal Upma You can also give upma or Ragi porridge Post introducing everything on its own you can start doing combinations Like peas and cauliflower Apples and banana etc Introduce without spice first so baby can taste everything in its natural form. by our momstar Rebecca