Introducing your baby to solids
Brought to you by Kate Di Prima, Accredited Practicing Dietitian...
We all remember our parents feeding us with a spoon hanging in the air - "Here comes the aeroplane!"
But it's tough to know what to do when it comes to feeding our own little ones when they're ready to start eating solid food.
From six months onwards, babies need more than just breast milk and may start to show signs they're ready for their next nutritional step, such as putting objects in their mouth, needing more frequent feeds or reaching for your food as you eat.
Taste
Your baby's first introduction to solid food needs to be mild and gentle. Kate Di Prima recommends trialling foods like puréed fruits and vegetables, baby rice cereal and yogurt - all of which have a smooth, easy to swallow consistency. Baby Yoplait yogurt is thicker than most normal yogurts to make it easier for babies, and comes in six delicious flavours - Rhubarb Apple, Apricot, Vanilla, Banana, Peach and Pear.
Health
We all want to eat healthily, but for babies, eating well is giving them essential nutrients so they can grow. Foods free of processed sugar and preservatives and full of protein and calcium will all contribute to your baby's health and wellbeing. The mix of protein in Baby Yoplait is especially formulated to be closer to that of breast milk, and contains 24% of the recommended dietary intake of calcium for infants*. Baby Yoplait also contains no added sugar - just the natural taste of fruit and milk.
Development
At around 8-9 months, babies will start to pick things up - letting your bub dip their own piece of cooked apple into Baby Yoplait allows them to practice using their hand and eye co-ordination. Plus, with Baby Yoplait's thick formula, as they learn to use a spoon, it may mean less of a mess for you!
Ideas
If you're stuck for ideas on how to feed your baby, here are some serving suggestions from Kate Di Prima.
- As a dip
- cut banana or peeled cooked pear into sticks and let baby dip into Baby Yoplait yogurt
- Serve Baby Yoplait
- with grated apple and carrot (blend for young babies)
- with chopped sultanas and chopped dried apricots (hint: to soften dried fruit, soak in warm water for a few minutes)
- Use Baby Yoplait as a sauce or spread
- over pikelets or mini muffins
- over fruit toast instead of margarine
- As a mix in
- stewed apple, apricot, pear and prunes, add 1 tablespoon of Baby Yoplait yogurt to 1 tablespoon mixture
- mash avocado and banana together and add Baby Yoplait yogurt
- Frozen yogurt or thickened yogurt
- blend fresh fruit through vanilla Baby Yoplait and freeze for warm days
- add gelatine to Baby Yoplait and place in mould to give it shape and firmness
* Infants = aged 12 months and under
The following information has been carefully put together to be used as a guide. For specific advice on the feeding of your child, please consult your doctor or an accredited practicing dietitian.
