Introducing Solids-Complimentary Feeds

Introducing solid foods to your baby is an exciting time! There are so many fun ideas out there, you may be wondering how you can be sure your baby is getting a healthy diet. Thankfully, it’s not that complicated. The World Health Organization (WHO) has studied babies’ diets all over the world and has come up with simple, universal principles to ensure that babies are getting a healthy, nutrient rich diet. _{(You can find a more extensive version of this document written to be used as a resource in the community section.)}

When is my Baby Ready for Complimentary Feeds?

Complimentary Feeding (introducing solids) means giving other foods in addition to breastmilk or formula to meet the needs of the growing child.  

By six months of age your baby needs more nutrients than can be provided by breastmilk alone.

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By six months most babies also have the developmental skills that show he or she is ready to start on solids. Signs of readiness to be introduced to solid foods include:

• Shows interest in the food others are eating
• Likes to put things in his mouth
• Can control the tongue better to move food around the mouth
• Starts to make up and down munching movements with the jaw.

What Should I Feed my Baby?

Babies need foods that have energy (calories). Start with a cereal.

Foods that are thick enough to stay in the spoon give more energy to the child.

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Here are some ways you can add energy to a baby’s food:

• Use thick cereals. The baby’s stomach is small, so if he fills up on thin cereal or porridge he won’t get enough energy. The food needs to be thick enough to stay on the spoon.
• Mash up the main ingredients of soup or stew (You can feed your baby what the family is eating)
• Stir in paste of ground nuts or other seed
• Add a little margarine or oil (1/2 teaspoon). Too much will make the baby fill up and he won’t eat other nutritious food.
• A little sugar can add energy, but not too much. (not necessary for commercially prepared cereals)
• Breastmilk is rich in essential fatty acids that a baby needs for a healthy brain, eyes, and blood vessels. This comes at the end of a breastfeed, so be sure to leave your baby on the breast long enough to get this energy rich food.  

Animal Source foods are especially good for children to help them grow strong and lively.  

WHO principle

Babies need iron and zinc to make new blood to assist in growth and development and to help the body fight infections. The best source of iron and zinc can be found in animal source foods, such as fish, meat, and eggs. The body absorbs the iron from meat sources best.  Liver and other organ meat are rich sources of iron. Feed your child the cooked chicken liver, whenever you eat a chicken. 

Peas, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds are also good for children.  

WHO principle

There is also iron in cereals, seeds, and dark green leafy vegetables, but they are not as easily absorbed.   Some foods increase the absorption of iron and others decrease the absorption of iron. Eating the following foods that are rich in Vitamin C with iron rich foods can help the body absorb the iron: Tomato, guava, mango, pineapple, papaya, and any citrus fruit.   Eating the following, can decrease iron absorption: Drinking teas and coffees, foods high in fibre-bran, and foods rich in calcium.  Some commercially prepared cereals have iron added to them. If a child is not getting any animal source of iron, then give iron fortified cereals with a vitamin C rich food.  Eating a variety of vegetables and fruits each day helps meet many nutrient needs.

Dark green leaves and yellow colored fruits and vegetables help a child have healthy eyes and fewer infections.  

WHO principle

Vitamin A is needed for healthy eyes, skin and to help the body fight off infections. Here are some Vitamin A rich foods: Dark green vegetables, yellow colored vegetables, and fruit; Organ foods (liver) from animals; Egg yolks; Vitamin A fortified foods.  Try to give your child a dark-green vegetable or yellow fruit or yellow vegetable each day.

How Much Should I Feed my Baby?

WHO principle: A growing child needs 2-4 meals a day plus 1-2 snacks if hungry; give a variety of food. 

Age of child	Texture	Frequency	Amount of food with each meal
6-8 months	Start with thick porridge, well mashed foods. Continue with mashed family foods.	2-3 meals per day, plus frequent breastfeeds.Depending on the child’s appetite, 1-2 snacks may be offered.	Start with 2-3 Tablespoons per feed, slowly increasing to ½ a 250 ml cup.
9-11 months	Finely chopped or mashed foods and foods the baby can pick up.	3-4 meals plus breastfeedsDepending on the child’s appetite, 1-2 snacks may be offered.	½ a 250 ml cup/ bowl.
12-23 months	Family foods, chopped or mashed if necessary.	3-4 meals plus breastfeeds.Depending on the child’s appetite, 1-2 snacks may be offered.	¾ to one 250 ml cup/ bowl.

Try each day to give in addition to the staple food an animal-source food (fish, organ meat, eggs, or milk), AND a dark-green leafy vegetable or yellow colored fruit or vegetable (pumpkin, carrot, yellow sweet potato, papaya, mango, orange, etc…)

A growing child needs increasing amounts of food.

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A growing child needs to learn to eat: encourage and give help … with lots of patience. 

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Encourage children to drink and eat during illness and provide extra food after illness to help them recover quickly.

WHO principle

            Now that you have some clear universal principles, enjoy introducing your baby to solid foods that match your family’s cultural interests and food preferences!