Top 10 Weaning Foods For Babies

Weaning foods for the baby

The completion of the first six months of a baby is an important milestone for the mother and her child. Now is the time for the baby to start eating semi-solids/solid foods. The next challenge for mothers will be gradually introducing solid food to their baby after six months of breastfeeding exclusively. What kind of weaning foods could you offer to the baby? The process of introducing a baby to foods other than breast milk is known as weaning. Continue reading for more details on weaning foods.

Infants are gradually introduced to new foods over a period of time when they are weaned. Until the age of six months, breast milk and infant formula milk were the only sources of nourishment for the baby. A baby’s nutritional needs change with age, so weaning becomes necessary. To know if their baby is ready for solids, moms need to look for certain signs and symptoms. These include:

• When the baby is able to sit on the chair with both its head and neck stable.
• The baby is interested in food when he looks at it, grabs it, and tries to eat it.
• Even after breastfeeding or formula milk feeding, the baby seems to be hungry.
• Food can be swallowed by the baby and does not come out of his mouth.

Keeping in mind that eating solids is a gradual process, your baby will need to continue to be breastfed or receive formula milk until he is at least one year old is important before you begin. Weaning foods should be introduced gradually to your baby as he learns to accept them.

Top weaning foods for babies

Following are the top weaning foods for babies:

1. Fruits

The minerals and nutrients contained in fruits make them a great weaning food. Baby’s prefer them because they are naturally sweet and have a delicious taste. Apples are a good place to start. All you have to do is peel and boil an apple. Your baby will love it once he gets used to it. Mangoes, papaya, bananas, pears, papaya, and chickoos are also choices. Introducing one fruit at a time is best.

2. Juices

Juice is a great option for starting your baby on weaning. You can start feeding your child fresh fruit juice as soon as they are old enough. If your child prefers water or diluted fruit juice, that is fine too. Juice packaged in plastic containers should be avoided. They may contain artificial flavoring agents, chemical additives, and preservatives that are harmful to babies.

3. Veggies

When it comes to weaning, vegetables are a necessity. Mothers can begin with mashed potatoes and can expand to carrots, beans, bottle gourds and pumpkin as time goes on. Make sure to thoroughly clean and wash all items before using them. Make sure your baby gets boiled and mashed vegetables whenever he or she is hungry. Furthermore, you should opt for organic veggies, which are free of pesticides and chemicals.

4. Soups

The baby gets all the nutrition he or she needs from soups. The blend of water and vegetables provides all the nutritional content the baby requires. Its high moisture content allows the baby to remain hydrated throughout the day. There are many types of soups that can be made from vegetables like carrots, beets, bottle gourds, and tomatoes. Weaning foods are the stepping stones to introduce solid food for babies.

5. Legumes

Your little one will love beans since they contain so many proteins. In addition to being rich in protein, fibre, vitamins (A, C, folate) and minerals, they contain a variety of antioxidants. To introduce your kid to legumes, offer your child a small amount of boiled and mashed legumes. It is also possible to season the boiled legume with a few mashed potatoes.

6. Water

When you’re weaning your baby off breast milk slowly, introduce water to your baby at this stage. It is important that they remain properly hydrated throughout the day. A baby’s body will be detoxified when given water, and the digestive system will be kept healthy. In adulthood, water is something that comes naturally, but for babies, water is one of the most essential foods to wean them on.

7. Greens

Iron and other minerals found in green leafy vegetables are important for body function and provide the body with energy. Boiling green leafy vegetables like spinach, pea leaves, and others, blending them into a paste, and feeding it to the baby in a mildly seasoned state is a tasty option for babies. It is recommended to introduce this when the baby is eight to nine months old.

8. Cooked Foods

To introduce cooked foods to the baby when weaning, you can also use some raw ones. Weaning foods should be introduced gradually to your baby as he learns to accept them. Once he does well with the weaning foods, you can introduce him to cooked foods like daal, rice, and khichdi. Ensure you consult your pediatrician before giving your baby this.

9. Eggs

A baby’s bones develop properly when they are nourished with eggs, which are filled with essential proteins and vitamins. You should introduce solids to your baby only after he/she is at least eight months old in order to rule out allergies. You should offer egg yolk at the beginning to avoid potential allergies.

10. Cereals

If you are unfamiliar with the use of rice water, it is the starchy water that is left over when boiling rice or mashed rice. Rice water is very effective in treating diarrhea, and it also has energy-giving properties. Single grain cereals such as oatmeal, barley, etc can also be given to babies mixed with milk. Include nutrient-rich weaning foods in your baby’s diet.

Take time with Weaning foods

Please give your baby some time for his or her body to adjust to the new foods. If you start out with a baby who does not seem to eat much, patiently wait until they do. Your child must learn how to eat at his or her own pace. Unless he or she can eat right away, it may take some time for him to learn how to do so. You can add a little less liquid to the food as the baby slowly develops a side-to-side, grinding motion, resulting in a slightly thicker consistency.

You should remember that weaning has to be a child-led experience and that every baby is different. Rather than following your friends’ and other mothers’ advice, it would be better to try to follow your baby’s signs as much as possible. When you feel your baby is not taking in enough food or liquids during the weaning period, or if their reactions to newly introduced foods seem to be allergic, you should speak with your doctor. Whenever introducing new food groups, it is always best to speak with your doctor. Wish you the best!