What infant cereal or other food will be on the menu for your baby’s first solid meal? And, have you set a date?
At this point, you may have a plan or are confused because you have received too much advice from family and friends with different opinions.
Dr. Tanya Altmann advises starting your baby on solid foods at six months. The goal is for your child to eat at the table with the family at one year. You can try out different foods, but do not give your child honey in his first year. Infant botulism is a concern from feeding your baby honey too soon.
Dr. Altmann recommends avocado as the best first food. Add a little breast milk and blend it to a smooth consistency. It may take a few tries for baby to catch on to the eating process.
Other foods Dr. Altmann recommends:
- Eggs. You can scramble them the night before and feed them to your baby cold.
- Dairy. Greek yogurt is full of probiotics.
- Prunes. Getting your baby used to prunes will give you an easy constipation solution during toddler years.
- Fish. Your baby can use those omega-3s for brain development.
- Peanut butter. Mix 1 tbsp. with 1 ounce of oats and some breast milk. If you have another child with a nut allergy, be sure to talk to your pediatrician before trying nut butter.
- Chicken. Don't start your baby on nuggets. Mash up some home-cooked chicken so baby is used to the taste of what the family eats.
- Beans and lentils. These are great if you're a vegetarian family.
- Berries and citrus. Be cautious of seeds.
- Green vegetables. Cooking veggies will make them easier for your baby to chew with only a few teeth.
Listen in as Dr. Altmann discusses what you need to know about starting your baby on solid foods.
A leading medical authority for the popular press and entertainment industry, Sharecare Advisory Board member Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann is a best-selling author, parenting expert and media spokesperson. A working mother and UCLA-trained pediatrician who practices in Southern California, Dr. Tanya is a designated spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, communicating complicated medical issues into easily understood concepts. Dr. Tanya has served on the board of the National Association of Medical Communicators and the executive board of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Communications and Media. She completed her internship and residency at UCLA, received her medical degree from the Sackler School of Medicine, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Claremont McKenna College.