At what age should breastfed infants be offered complementary foods group of answer choices 1 month 3 months 6 months 9 months 1 year?
Show Solid foods are a big step for a baby. Find out when and how to make the transition from breast milk or formula to solid foods. By Mayo Clinic StaffGiving your baby his or her first taste of solid food is a major milestone. Here's what you need to know before your baby takes that first bite. Is your baby ready for solid foods?Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth. But by ages 4 months to 6 months, most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods as a complement to breast-feeding or formula-feeding. During this time babies typically stop using their tongues to push food out of their mouths and begin to develop the coordination to move solid food from the front of the mouth to the back for swallowing. In addition to age, look for other signs that your baby is ready for solid foods. For example:
If you answer yes to these questions and your baby's health care provider agrees, you can begin supplementing your baby's liquid diet. What to serve whenContinue feeding your baby breast milk or formula — up to 32 ounces a day. Then:
What if my baby refuses his or her first feeding?Babies often reject their first servings of pureed foods because the taste and texture is new. If your baby refuses the feeding, don't force it. Try again in a week. If the problem continues, talk to your baby's health care provider to make sure the resistance isn't a sign of a problem. What about food allergies?It's recommended that you give your baby potentially allergenic foods when you introduce other complementary foods. Potentially allergenic foods include:
There is no evidence that delaying the introduction of these foods can help prevent food allergies. In fact, early introduction of foods containing peanuts might decrease the risk that your baby will develop a food allergy to peanuts. Still, especially if any close relatives have a food allergy, give your child his or her first taste of a highly allergenic food at home — rather than at a restaurant — with an oral antihistamine available. If there's no reaction, the food can be introduced in gradually increasing amounts. Is juice OK?Don't give juice to your baby until after age 1. Juice isn't a necessary part of a baby's diet, and it's not as valuable as whole fruit. Too much juice might contribute to weight problems and diarrhea. Sipping juice throughout the day can lead to tooth decay. If you offer juice to your baby, make sure it's 100% fruit juice and limit it to 4 ounces a day. Know what's off-limitsCertain foods aren't appropriate for babies. Consider these guidelines:
Preparing baby food at homeAnother reason to avoid giving your baby solid food before age 4 months is the risk associated with certain home-prepared foods. A baby younger than age 4 months shouldn't be given home-prepared spinach, beets, carrots, green beans or squash. These foods might contain enough nitrates to cause the blood disorder methemoglobinemia. Make meals manageableDuring feedings, talk to your baby and help him or her through the process. To make mealtime enjoyable:
Enjoy your baby's sloppy tray, gooey hands and sticky face. You're building the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating. Sign-up to get Mayo
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