By Alisa
Gaylord
Founder, Gaia Baby Food
As a
parent, I am always excited for my children to achieve the next developmental
milestone. When it comes to introducing puréed foods to your baby, it is
most important to allow him or her to show you their readiness. That time
will come sometime between 4-6 months. If purées are given too soon, it
may cause your baby to have allergies he or she may not necessarily have had
otherwise. Your baby will give you clues that it’s time to bring on the
purées!
Between 3-4
months of age, your baby discovers that you eat and drink. He or she will
begin watching you put a fork to your mouth. Little eyes will follow your
food as it goes from your plate to mouth. If sitting on your lap, a tiny
hand may reach up towards the glass or fork to pull it towards their
mouth. Finally, your baby will get a look of “pain” on his or her face
that you are eating something and not sharing with them! Noises may even come
out of their mouths!
Babies are
born with a tongue-thrust reflex. Besides sucking items, anything that is
put into their mouths, the tongue automatically pushes it out. This
reflex prevents your baby from choking. The sign to watch for is your
baby’s tongue will move back and forth.
Other signs
which are important include: holding up his or her head without support and
sitting in a high chair. If your baby exhibits all other signs but can’t
sit up comfortably in a high chair, a car seat works, too.
The final
straw for you as a parent is your baby’s insatiable eating. Is your baby
all of sudden hungry ALL THE
TIME? A few days ago or even a week, your baby could go 3-4 hours between
feedings and now, he or she wants to eat hourly or more? Their breastmilk or
formula isn’t satisfying them the way it once did. This does not mean
that it won’t in the future. They just need a bit more sustenance in
their tummies!
Enjoy this
new milestone, it is messy, entertaining, and fun all at the same time.
Introduce a variety of foods, even ones you may not like, on your
pediatrician’s advice. Most of all HAVE FUN!