Starting Solids Can Actually Be Fun
By Nicole Silber, RD, CSP, CLC at Summer Health
*Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be individual medical/nutrition advice but for education purposes only. Each child’s nutritional needs are different.
Ready to introduce solids? It’s an exciting time for baby and you alike, but it’s also filled with lots of questions (and some nerves)! That’s where we come in to break down some of the must-know information, and make the experience seamless, nutritious and fun for everyone.
Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “food before one is just for fun”? But, that is not true! The food babies eat in their first year actually does matter. Breastmilk and formula are nutritionally complete–and provide babies with most of what they need during the first year of life–but food also provides them with so much! First, eating food is an all-encompassing sensory exercise for baby: think of the taste, touch, sight, smell and sound of the food. Next, eating solids teaches baby oral motor and social skills, lays the foundation for future food preferences, becomes a bonding opportunity, and provides them with some key nutrients that are essential for development.
Whether you plan to make your own food, or buy ready-made baby food blends like Cerebelly’s purees or table foods (or choose a combination of all), here are some tips for maximizing your baby’s food:
Make it flavorful!
Get those little palettes excited. You can mix in different herbs and spices to their purees or table foods to see what gets them excited. Some of my favorite add-ins are cinnamon, basil, dill and cumin. Just avoid adding salt to baby’s food if you can!
Offer a variety:
Babies don’t need single-ingredient purees (that’s why we love Cerebelly’s blends). Offering a variety of new foods gives them a spectrum of nutrients needed for development, but also can help prevent picky eating in the long run. Pro tip: When introducing the 9 main allergens (soy, wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, eggs, fish and shellfish) introduce each on its own or mixed with a previously tolerated food. Try each allergen a few times before ruling out an allergy.
Let the veggies and proteins shine:
We love that Cerebelly’s blends are vegetable-first, resulting in lower sugar profile and more nutrition. The Black Bean and Sweet Potato is a personal favorite! It’s common to find blends that are diluted with water. Ingredients are listed in order of predominance, so if the first ingredient is water that means the blend has more water than any other ingredient!
Add or find options with healthy fats:
Olive oil, avocado oil, nut butters, avocado and fatty fish (salmon and cod have high levels of omega 3’s and low levels of mercury) provide the baby with a source of healthy fat key for brain development. Plus it adds more flavor!
Look for vibrant colors:
Offer foods and purees that are vibrant and varied in color. Let baby touch and explore her food – remember, it’s not just about eating it!
Skip the sugar:
You won’t find any added sugar in Cerebelly’s purees, but when shopping for foods like yogurts or baby snacks, be sure to look for the unsweetened options.
Not sure when to start solids?
Starting solids typically occur in the 4-6 month range. Check for your baby’s readiness more so than the date on the calendar! They need to be sitting up with support, demonstrating good head and neck control and showing signs of interest in food: reaching for your spoon, leaning in towards food, etc. Always check with a pediatrician before starting. You can text pediatric dietitians like me directly with Summer Health if you have questions, or need more guidance on how to introduce solids.
Nicole Silber, RD, CSP, CLC
Nicole is a specialist in pediatric nutrition, a certified lactation counselor, and a mom of 3 young girls! She is the founder of Tiny Tasters: Baby’s First Bites. She works with families on Summer Health and in private practice facing chronic medical conditions, growth problems, feeding struggles, food allergies, GI conditions, picky eating and more. Prior she worked as a clinical nutritionist at the Children’s Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and NYU Langone Medical Center.
About Summer Health
Parenting is always-on, but your pediatrician isn’t. Summer Health gives you instant relief and peace of mind with 24/7 access to your own team of dedicated pediatricians and specialists (like Nicole!) directly by text. Whether you need urgent guidance, a prescription, a quick gut-check or treatment for an on-going issue around nutrition, feeding, sleep, challenging behaviors. Summer Health has your back around the clock. Try two months for the price of one with code CEREBELLY and sign up here.
Want optimal nutrition to support your little one’s brain development?
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