Introducing solid food for 6 to 24 month old babies
Starting baby on solid food is something more than eating
Transcript
Title: Starting baby on solid food is something more than eating
In simple terms, solid foods are foods that are modified into a soft texture which the baby can swallow easily.
Weaning refers to the transitional period between 6 to 24 months of age when babies change from a complete milk diet to a solid food diet that contains a variety of typical family foods in a softer texture. Also, babies learn to feed themselves with a spoon. This is a very important stage for babies as milk alone can no longer provide them with sufficient nutrients for all of their bodies' functions, activity and growth. Therefore, babies need to take non-milk food to get all nutrients they need.
In addition, eating solid food helps babies to develop their abilities to chew. Helping babies to become familiar with different kinds of food and tastes can help them adapt to a diet with a variety of foods and develop good eating habits early. This reduces their chances of becoming picky eaters later.
You and your baby relate to each other during feeding. You talk to him and smile at him, get familiar with what he wants to tell you and respond to him. This fosters the parent-child relationship and allows your baby to build trust in you. It also helps your baby's social and language skills.