Weaning is the gradual process of introducing additional sources of nutrition, while continuing to breastfeed your baby. So if your baby is anywhere between 4 and 12 months of age, it is the right time to begin feeding them solid food. By introducing your baby to a whole new range of food products, you are boosting their intake of wholesome nutrients that are needed for growth and development.
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Trying to ensure you’re feeding your baby the best foods while weaning them can be a challenge! We’ve listed out the best foods to give your little one, as suggested by UK National Institutes of Health (NIH). Take a look!
Boiled vegetables
From mashed potatoes to boiled carrots; veggies are an absolute must when it comes to weaning your baby. You can introduce your child to vegetables like carrots, spinach, pea leaves, beans, bottle gourd and pumpkin. They are packed with iron and other mineral salts that your baby needs to keep their body functioning at the optimum level. But make sure all these vegetables are properly boiled and mashed so that your child can enjoy them thoroughly.
Mashed fruits
Fruits are a great way to get your baby started on solid foods; they are packed with important nutrients that your child needs. Apples being one of the best foods to start off with. Peel an apple, mash it and feed a few tablespoons to your baby. After that you can slowly start introducing other fruits such as pears, mangoes and bananas. Fruits are sweet and packed with natural sugars so your baby will definitely love them.
Soups
Clear vegetable soup is a great meal for the baby. But remember, babies still need breast milk as their main nutrition source, so keep other liquids besides the baby's milk to not more than 1-2 ounces a day for babies around 6 months, and 3-4 ounces a day for babies around 9 months old.
Oats porridge
If you start giving your baby solid foods, you can’t go wrong with oatmeal or porridge. It is full of nutrients and is gentle on your baby’s digestive system. You can even mix fruits and vegetables into it to add flavour and that will help develop your baby's taste buds further.
Although it’s important to expose babies to a wide range of foods, there are certain foods you should never give your child. These include honey, undercooked eggs and whole nuts. The best way to check what’s good and what’s not for your baby is to visit your pediatrician regularly and get their professional advice.
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