The Dos and Don'ts of Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant

During the first months, the baby enjoys the taste of the mother's milk. If there are no obstacles to breastfeeding, it is recommended to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old and continue breastfeeding while introducing solid meals. If breastfeeding is not possible, the parents should replace it with the baby formula, for example, the best organic hypoallergenic formula or another formula suitable for their little one.

During the first months, the baby enjoys the taste of the mother's milk. If there are no obstacles to breastfeeding, it is recommended to maintain exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old and continue breastfeeding while introducing solid meals. If breastfeeding is not possible, the parents should replace it with the baby formula, for example, the best organic hypoallergenic formula or another formula suitable for their little one.

What to Do

Serve vegetables first. If your baby accepts the delicate taste of veggies at the very beginning, it will positively affect their eating habits in the future. Typically, if vegetables are introduced to an infant’s diet first, the child will eat more vegetables later in life than children who start with fruit. 

Introduce simple flavors first. It is recommended to start supplementing the diet with simple, single-ingredient meals. Firstly, typical complementary foods, such as vegetables, porridge, gruel, and fruit, should be introduced. Gradual thickening of milk or baby formula by adding gruels and cereal porridges is a practical way to familiarize the baby with new consistencies.

Mix the flavors. An infant accustomed to variety early on will accept new flavors more easily in the following months. Once you’ve introduced two different products to your baby and ensured their body can digest them, try mixing them in one meal. A varied menu also promotes the nutritional value of the diet.

What Not to Do

Don’t underestimate delicate flavors. Do not add salt, sweeten, or season your meals. Providing unsweetened and unsalted meals is crucial because of the long-term impact on the child's health and the development of appropriate eating habits later in life.

Don’t overfeed your baby. Introduce new foods gradually, starting with around 1-2 teaspoons. In the first year of life, breastfeeding or formula feeding remains the most essential part of nutrition. Initially, it's just about trying and getting used to the new tastes and textures.

Don't get discouraged after the first few tries. The situation when an infant doesn’t accept a new taste does not mean you should give up. Sometimes, it takes many tries, even 10-15, to fully accept a new taste. It is also not worth giving up when the baby rejects the new consistency. Vomiting reactions and spitting out are signs of adaptation, not difficulties with swallowing. In this way, the baby copes with throwing pieces of food from the mouth that they cannot yet chew for swallowing.

Remember: the first thousand days of a baby’s life are a vital period of their development. It is the parent who decides WHAT the baby will eat, WHEN, and HOW the food will be served. The child decides IF they will eat and HOW MUCH they will eat.