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Did you know babies don’t need food for the first year? Haven’t you heard of the widely acknowledged medical fact that breast is best when it comes to feeding your baby? Introducing solid food to your baby is a big milestone. While introducing foods apart from breast milk is required post 6 months of a baby’s life, it is equally important to remember that breastfeeding taken up till a baby is atleast a year old is essential for immune and developmental aspects. It is true that at nine months of age, a baby is not quite ready to eat everything that you can eat!One of the most important things to keep in mind is that your baby has so many years of food experiences ahead that there is no need to rush things!

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Remember every baby is different and you have to understand your baby’s cue when it comes to starting solid Do observe carefully if your baby keeps turning her head away or pushes the spoon away, it is a kind of an indication of not-being-ready or a dislike for the food. Since baby’s taste buds are known for being far more sensitive than that of adults, it is not surprising to see them experiment a food enough number of times before they ideally eat it happily!

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Medically, the overall signs of readiness for taking solids commences from six months onwards and the first thousand days in a baby’s life makes a noteworthy difference especially with right nutritional support.

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There are practical facets associated with initiating solids such as timing the frequency, innovating a recipe, introducing a variety of colours and tastes, interspersing solids and breast milk, familiarize the famous nutrient ‘water’ and so on. your baby is ready for solid foods, introduce one food at a time, and watch for Any signs of discomfort experienced by the baby such as constipation , abdominal bloating or gassiness, etc. suggestive of probably an intolerance to that particular food in the initial stages.

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Here are some healthy options you may like to try:

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• Peeled slices of fruits such as apple, pears, watermelon and Banana. It is also a healthy concept to entertain seasonally available fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Cooked vegetables Can include. An array of natural food colours in the baby’s platter can mean an attempt to incorporate different nutrients. carrot, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, and pumpkin.
• Foods to avoid for allergy until age 1, include honey, Nuts, Mayonnaise, raw eggs;

‍hard pieces of cooked meat, chunks of soybean, big pieces of fruit can be introduced once there is a surety of the baby’s chewing and swallowing abilities.

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While introducing foods made with Soya / Milk / Egg / Nuts, there needs to be a clearance of tolerance, digestion. The smallest sign of intolerance and it is better to “call the food off” from the baby’s “can-eat” list temporarily.

• It is imperative to keep salt and sugar intake to a minimum, at least till the baby is a year old. Continuing to breastfeed till the baby is two years old is a tried and tested strategy, conforming to international guidelines for the best of immunity, intelligence, cognitive quotients.

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Also, it will be advisable for you to consult your Nutritionist too for elaborate ideas on starting solids age-wise for babies post 6 months. It is crucial to start solids at the right age and in the right method.

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