From the Boob to the Food—Feeding Babies 4-6 months

Most pediatric doctors agree six months is a good age to start feeding a baby solid foods in addition to breast milk*. Food given at this point is NOT intended to replace milk or provide any substantial nutrition for the baby. It's simply to get the baby interested in food so they can learn how to chew and process solids. Remember, breast milk contains essential nutrients and you don't want the foods to interfere with the baby getting these.

One last caveat—starting solid foods too early can be harmful to babies, so don't rush them into it. This is not a competition. Early eating doesn't equal any increase in development.

How do you know when your baby is ready for table food? One of the best clues is when they're really interested in what you're eating. You have to be careful with this one though, because as we all know, babies like to put everything in their mouths. This doesn't mean the baby wants to put food in his mouth, but instead, is actually really interested in watching you eat. When your baby starts to drool while you're chowing down, that's usually a sign he wants to start trying foods. But it doesn't mean he's quite ready for a pizza. Other signs of readiness are drooling, making chewing motions, teeth start to come in, can hold his head up unassisted, wants more to eat after feeding and the tongue thrust reflex is diminishing, allowing baby to keep foods and liquids in his mouth.

Once you think your baby is ready for some chow time, let's start with some healthy guru tips on what you can start feeding him. Try one food at a time, every couple of days to make sure baby doesn't have any adverse reactions. Keep a food journal. Space out the foods and watch for any allergic reactions from certain foods. Feed food solids after the baby has finished nursing or his bottle so he receives all his essential nutrients first.

Start by pureeing foods and blending with breast milk. I use breast milk as the liquid because it helps make the transition from breast milk to food. The baby can still taste the milk and it's a taste he's accustomed to. You don't want to give the baby too much water at this point because it can dilute electrolytes and other nutrients in his body.

• Try some organic bananas, mashed up and blended with some breast milk. Be careful with too much banana because it can constipate them. Also, too much fruit when they first start eating might cause them to develop a sweet tooth and it might be harder to get them to eat veggies later on.  

• Egg yolk is one of the healthiest foods you can give your baby. The egg yolk contains so many valuable nutrients for the baby's development, especially for their nervous system. Be sure NOT to give them any of the egg whites, as they are unable to digest it and it can cause allergies. Simply soft boil the egg, making sure that the egg is a little runny on the inside.

• Pureed organic avocados with breast milk. I did this for Enzo was about 6 months old and he loved it.

• Steamed and pureed butternut squash or sweet potatoes mixed with breast milk.

• Explore this technique with different types of veggies and fruits. Babies will like all the different tastes and colors.  

And for all you career Guru Girls who are worried about finding the time to make homemade baby food, you can fill ice cube trays with a batch of pureed veggies and pull them out as needed. Take a cube out in the morning, let it thaw on its own or place it in a small bowl sitting in a slightly bigger bowl of warm water. Avoid the microwave if possible. Make enough cubes for a 4 day trial period of that particular food. I purchased special freezer food trays with these awesome little containers that kept each portion individually contained with a snap top. I also bought some small glass bowls with lids that I used once Enzo was 8 months old and I had to start making  more complex food recipes and bigger portions.

Buon Appetito Guru-Babies!!

- Dr. Kimberly





*Not all moms are able to breast feed for any number of personal reasons. If this is you, don't beat yourself up over it. There are good formulas out there and certain things you can do to supplement—see our previous baby blog for more info. So instead of blending breast milk with pureed foods, you can do it with your formula.