How to Introduce Foods to Your Baby

Now that Abigail is loving food, I figured I would share some tips and tricks on how to introduce foods to your baby. Every baby will learn and grow at their own stage, so listen to your child to know when and how to start.

Photo byProvidence DoucetonUnsplash

Alarming "Research"

Now, before I begin, I would like to address some "research" that has scared a lot of moms I have interacted with. It has been studied that most people only read the title and make assumptions based on the title.

Make sure to actually read the "research" or whatever is being shown on the internet. Most often, the headlines are not accurate.

If you read the entire article as well as the research it is based off, the same metals that are in baby foods are in the actual foods we eat.

If you are still worried about baby food, Beechnut is a healthy option, that some WIC programs even allow you to get.

Now that that is out of the way, let me tell you our feeding story along with how to introduce foods to your baby!

Four Months

We were told that we could start feeding Abigail at four months. She has always been more advanced and could sit up and swallow very easily, so we went for it.

We started with rice cereal. She automatically spit it up haha! After a couple of days, she got used to it and devoured it right up. From then on, she was an avid eater.

After she got used to the rice cereal, we slowly started adding more foods. Now, she eats more and more regular foods that we eat daily. There is not a food she doesn't like!

How to Introduce Foods to Your Baby

Typically, when your child can sit up and lift their head on their own, you can begin foods. However, it is up to you, you are the parent. If you are comfortable and the doctor gives you the okay, delve in!

First, introduce rice cereal. Start it off extremely runny. When they understand swallowing and get used to it, then you can slowly thicken it.

Since it is runny and more than likely they will spit it out right away, try getting some silicone bibs. They are super easy to clean, especially in a dishwasher! They were my favorite at this stage.

Veggies First

After the rice cereal, usually around six months, you can begin eating regular baby foods. One really important tip: start with your veggies first.

Breastmilk and formula are not sweet, so they do not know sweet versus bitter or anything like that. So, if you start them off with veggies, they will enjoy them more.

If you start them off with fruits, since they are sweeter, they might have a harder time with their veggies later on.

Baby Led-Weaning

Some parents prefer baby-led weaning. This is another great choice. It does not matter if you make your own food, or buy it from the store. It does not matter if you use baby food or regular food. The important thing is that you are listening to your child and feeding them on how they need and want it.

We personally started with store-bought baby foods. Now that she is older, I like feeding her foods that we eat as well. As an added bonus, it helps us to stay healthy as well.

Listen to Your Child

The most important thing to remember is to listen to your child. If you see them interested in a particular food, let them try it out. Now, of course not sugary foods and whatnot, but if you are eating an apple, let them have some too!

If you see they do not like a particular food, circle back around to it. After a couple of tries, if they still are not interested, try again another time. It doesn't mean they will hate peas for the rest of their life, they just need time.

Abigail didn't particularly like green beans the first couple of tries. But now, they are one of her absolute favorites!

Here are just some of the tips and tricks that I've picked up on how to introduce foods to your baby. What are some of your favorite ways to feed your child? Any special hacks to share?