WHEN TO START SOLID FOOD FOR TODDLERS

     

As a parent we are always worried about our babies to provide right nutrition’s at right time. We would like to give the best food to our growing baby. And if proper food given at right time will help babies to grow naturally and become healthy. Right from day 1 the baby is always preferred the mom’s milk, which is very healthy…Breast milk is the best for babies to grow healthy and is recommended to exclusively for babies for the first 6 months. And for mothers who cannot breast feed their babies due to less milk production or due to job or any reason can opt for outer milk but will some precautions. So breast feeding should be done at right time whenever baby is hungry. In starting babies will be hungry very fast, so you should provide them as and when necessary.

Before starting any solid food it’s very important to take some advice from any child specialist or any elder in your house.

The best time to start solid food is when babies is of 6 and half month. Though there are many foods that are suggested by many from 3 to 4 months, which is very early to start solid food for babies. It can lead in bad digestive system. As babies are still starting to develop their digestive system after 4 to 5 months. So it is always preferable wait at least till 6 months.

A baby is still starting to develop head control at age of 4 to 5 months and gains strong neck muscles by 6 month or 6 and half month. So after that time the baby is able to accept the solid food through his neck and can easily swallow .So in short till 6 to 6 n half month baby has developed his digestive system and good neck control which is very important before starting solid foods.

• Your baby should be able to control his head and neck and should be able to sit nicely before you start any solid food.
• He should be able to open his mouth to take the food.
• He should able to accept the spoon full of solid food.
• Does he/she feel hungry after breast feeding milk? Then it’s the sign that the baby needs solid food.
• Do they show eagerness seeing any solid food or they should show eagerness when you eat.

As long as your baby shows sign of readiness, or your doctors may say to start solids food, you should wait till then. Till then breast milk is the best thing to provide all vitamins, minerals, calories and nourishment to your babies needs which can develop them to grow.