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Expert Q&A
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| By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant | ||
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Can you tell me what foods are good for a baby just starting solids?
How about with a fresh banana? A slice of a real fresh banana mashed with a fork and offered to your baby is a sweet, fresh first food. Some moms will cook a sweet potato or yam and offer a spoonful of that as the first food. Your baby's diet can even be careful portions of the family's diet. If your baby has met the list of developmental cues, he is probably going to be pleasantly surprised to be getting something a little different.
By the way, breastfed babies are much more accepting of different flavors than their artificially-fed buddies, because breast milk changes flavors constantly, preparing Baby for a whole range of different foods.
La Leche League, who has been teaching parents how to start solid foods for more than 48 years, suggests this progression when starting solid foods:
- Ripe banana, avocado, yam or sweet potat (sweet and mild)
- Meat (Remember the need for iron?)
- Whole-grain breads and cereal (not sweetened, mixed with a little breast milk)
- Fresh fruits: grated apple, apple sauce, pear or peach (fresh or cooked)
- Vegetables: grated raw carrot, cooked potato, chopped green beans or squash
- Cottage cheese, unsweetened yogurt and soft cheeses (after 9 to 10 months of age)
Related Expert Q&A
- How do I actually feed my baby solid foods? Do I breastfeed after he finishes eating? How much do I give him?
- Can you tell me what foods are good for a baby just starting solids?
- When should I start my baby on solid foods?
- Breastfeeding is the perfect food, so why do I have to feed my child solids before the age of 1?
- Now that my baby has started solid foods, what will happy to my milk supply?
More Answers by this Expert
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- Is it necessary to give multi-vitamin supplements to a breastfed baby? Doesn't Mother's milk provide all the nutrients a baby needs?
- Are there any laws in effect that hinder women from breastfeeding in public?
- What are an employer's legal responsibilities and duties for breastfeeding and/or pumping at work?
- I am pregnant, and my nipples are like a faucet, particularly when I'm sleeping. Is this normal?
