A Simple Guide to Food Introductions for Infants
INFANT FOOD INTRODUCTION TIMELINE
BIRTH - 4 MONTHS
exclusive breastfeeding
Breastmilk delivers the optimal nutrients, immune factors, and prebiotics for a growing infant. If possible, breastfeed throughout the food introduction timeline to train the developing immune system.
4 MONTHS - 12 MONTHS
begin introducing complementary foods
PEANUTS: early introduction (4-12 mo) decreases allergy rates in childhood
FRUIT: banana, strawberries, pear, orange, melon, avocado
VEGETABLES: cooked spinach, carrots, beans, lentils, peas, yams, beets
GRAINS: whole grain bread, crackers, pasta
PROTEIN: soft, small pieces of beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, fish (low-mercury), eggs (well-cooked)
DAIRY: pasteurized cheese & yogurt
INTRODUCE AFTER 1 YEAR
cow & soy milk
honey
juice
INTRODUCE AS LATE AS POSSIBLE
artificial flavors & colors
INFANT FOOD INTRODUCTION METHODS
TRADITIONAL SPOON-FED
+ less messy & wasteful
+ parents have more control
- may rely on parent to eat
- may become picky about textures
- special baby food can be expensive
BABY-LED WEANING
+ child self-feeds finger food
+ teaches independence, motor skills, appetite control
- more mess & gagging
- more time to learn eating skills
FOOD INTRODUCTION TIPS
CLEAN & SIMPLE
introduce new foods without additives, pesticides, sugar, or oils (for example, introduce organic, freshly mashed peanuts instead of processed peanut butter)
SPACE NEW FOODS
introduce a new food every 3-5 days to watch for reactions
MAYBE THE MILK
an infant may become colicky if sensitive to proteins in the mother diet (most commonly milk, soy, eggs, wheat, corn, beef, and nuts) - she can modify her diet or take a probiotic
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References
Breast Milk Sensitivity. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Breast-Milk-Sensitivity.aspx
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