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Ideally, babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, as breast milk provides all the calories and nutrients your baby needs. If breastfeeding isn’t possible, formula is a suitable alternative.
Around 6 months, begin introducing solids. Some babies may be ready between 4-6 months, while others might need until 6-8 months. Every baby is different, so follow their cues rather than sticking strictly to the calendar.
Continue breastfeeding for at least the first year, or as long as it works for you and your baby. Formula-fed babies can transition off formula around 12 months.
Timing matters when introducing solids. Starting too early (before 4 months) can increase the risk of choking and reduce essential breast milk or formula intake. Waiting too long (after 7 months) may increase the risk of food allergies.
Around 6 months is a key time because your baby’s iron stores, built up during pregnancy, are depleted. Introducing iron-rich foods like meat or animal proteins is crucial for their development.
For babies with eczema, introducing solid foods can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Keep these 3 goals in mind:
Ensure proper nutrition for growth and development.
Introduce allergenic foods unless your baby has a diagnosed IgE allergy. Delaying these can increase the risk of developing allergies, especially when rashes are present due to a compromised skin barrier.
Expose your baby to a variety of flavors and textures. Encourage exploration, and don’t worry about messes—let them play with their food!
Key first foods:
Focus on iron and zinc, which are often limited in breastfed babies. Meat, poultry, and fish are great options. Beans, whole grains, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and avocados provide smaller amounts of iron and zinc. These nutrients are critical for healthy skin.
Include healthy fats like avocado, nut butters, grass-fed butter, ghee, and oils (olive, avocado, coconut). Fatty fish like salmon are great sources of omega-3s, which support skin, gut, and brain health.
Incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables to help your baby explore new tastes and textures while supplying antioxidants to reduce inflammation, a key factor in eczema.
More tips for introducing solids:
If your baby has known IgE allergies, consult your healthcare provider first.
Start with small meals (5-6 baby spoonfuls) and keep them brief (about 10 minutes), following your baby’s interest.
It may take several tries (sometimes 10, 20, or even 30 attempts) before your baby accepts a new food. Be patient and persistent.
Make mealtimes pleasant—limit distractions, serve appropriate portions, and enjoy meals together.
Allergen introduction: Research shows that introducing common allergens like peanuts during the first year may help prevent allergies. Studies also suggest that early introduction of eggs might reduce the risk of egg allergies. Discuss this with your pediatrician.
Always monitor for signs of allergic reactions with new foods, such as hives, rashes, vomiting, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.
References:
Parenting Stack Exchange. (n.d.). How to get a toddler to start chewing and eating solids? Parenting Stack Exchange. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://parenting.stackexchange.com/questions/7235/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-start-chewing-and-eating-solids
Brown, J. (2011). Nutrition through the life cycle (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
BabyGooroo. (n.d.). Risks associated with introducing solids too early or too late. BabyGooroo. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://babygooroo.com/articles/risks-associated-with-introducing-solids-too-early-or-too-late
McNulty, J. (n.d.). Later infancy & toddlerhood. In Nutrition science. Open Oregon Educational Resources. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/nutritionscience/chapter/11c-later-infancy-toddlerhood/
McNulty, J. (n.d.). Later infancy & toddlerhood. In Nutrition science. Open Oregon Educational Resources. Retrieved from https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/nutritionscience/chapter/11c-later-infancy-toddlerhood/