Introduce
your baby to weaning gradually and lovingly, making it a pleasurable experience
both for you and your precious one. Never force your baby to eat foods she does
not want to eat. It is not unusual for babies to react badly or be allergic to
some foods, so watch your baby's reactions closely when you introduce a new food
to your baby
The
best time to introduce supplementary foods is during the daytime, when your baby
is fresh and hungry. If she is not hungry, she will not accept any food and may
even become cranky. So, feeding during the day will save both you and your little
one an uncomfortable night as digestion is easier earlier during the day than
in the latter half of the day.
Start
by offering one food at a time and continue this for a couple of days before trying
something new. In this way, if your baby does have an adverse reaction, you will
know the likely culprit.
It
is recommended that you feed your baby yourself till she is one year old. This
will give you exclusive personal time with your little one and strengthen the
maternal bond of love. This is the most important time for nurturing your precious
one. You will soon be adept at feeding your baby and this time spent together
will be precious for both of you.
When
you initiate your baby to weaning, the question uppermost in your mind will be
- "What and how much to start with?" Well, the answer to this one is
simple.
Start
with anything that is healthy and easily digestible and let your baby guide you
about the quantity she is ready for. It is usual to start with half to one teaspoon
of a mashed cereal like rice or even fruit or vegetable juice initially. Both
liquid and semi-solid supplements can be introduced to your baby's diet at 5 months.
Start with one or two additional feeds each day, during the first month of weaning.
Gradually, as the number of supplementary feeds increase, the interval between
breast feeds will also increase.
Your
little one may really enjoy this treat and begin to show signs of savouring the
first taste of real food. However, it is also possible that she may take some
time getting used to newer foods. Some babies adapt to weaning quicker while others
maybe fussy for a while before they adjust. You will have to be patient during
this period.
