The first year of eating solid foods is an exciting time full of new textures, tastes, smells, and quite a lot of mess. Children rapidly gain new skills as they transition from soft, pureed food to finger foods to more complex textures. What begins as one small meal a day will quickly become three full meals (plus snacks!). Here are 10 tips to keep the adventure of eating safe, enjoyable, and successful:

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1. No honey before the age of 1: Honey can carry the bacteria that causes infant botulism and should be avoided in any form until after your child turns one. This includes honey containing products such as honey graham crackers and honey nut cereal. Honey remains safe for breastfeeding mothers to consume as the bacteria cannot pass through breastmilk.
2. Introduce small amounts of water: Around 6 months of age, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends offering a small cup of water once a day in an open or straw cup to practice drinking skills and build familiarity with water.
3. Have mealtime together: Eating together is a wonderful way to expose your child to a variety of foods while modeling eating skills, building social skills, and practicing language. 
4. Wait until the age of 1 to introduce cow’s milk: Babies should be primarily drinking formula and/or breastmilk for the first year. Once cow’s milk is introduced, choose whole milk as it provides the healthy fats needed for development. 
5. Limit salt: Children do not need as much salt as adults. When cooking for your family, consider using less salt if you’re all eating the same meal or making a smaller, salt-free portion for your child.
6. Eat flavors your family loves: Herbs and spices like oregano, turmeric, basil, ginger, and cumin are a wonderful way to enrich your child’s palate. Keep in mind that spices with heat like cayenne pepper or chili powder should be used sparingly until you better understand your child’s tolerance.
7. Include iron-rich foods: Lentils, fortified infant cereal, goat, hemp seeds, sardines, and tofu are all excellent sources of iron that can promote neurodevelopment and prevent anemia.
8. Follow your baby’s cues: Building a healthy relationship with food begins in infancy. Do not force your child to eat more when they begin to show signs of fullness. This may include turning their head, pushing the food or spoon away, and closing their lips.
9. Consider allergens: Common allergens include dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children with severe eczema or a significant family history of food allergies speak with their pediatrician before introducing allergenic foods. However, for most families, allergenic foods should be introduced once your child begins eating solid foods. 
10.  Avoid common choking hazards: These include slippery, round foods like grapes and hot dogs, sticky foods like peanut butter, and hard, crunchy foods like raw carrots, nuts, and popcorn.

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Ready to begin your child’s journey with solid foods? Read more here to learn about when and how to serve their first meal. If you still have questions, you can click here to book a free 15 minute consultation with one of our providers. 

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