How to start baby on first foods
Extract from Feeding Little Tummies
The very first foods a baby eats should be simple with a smooth consistency. Until this time the only thing to pass his lips has been milk, and because milk is quite sweet he is familiar with the taste and associates the sweetness with nourishment. As a result, puréed sweet vegetables such as pumpkin, squash and kumara, and temperate fruits such as apples and pears, are all good first foods. Note that while sweet foods appeal to babies, you should never add sugar to food to entice them to eat as this will only encourage a sweet tooth and numb their taste buds to other flavours.
Time the first feed so that it takes place when you and your baby are most relaxed – usually midday or early afternoon. Mix the chosen food with breast milk, formula or cooled boiled water to obtain a thin consistency that is slightly thicker than milk. Breast-feed or bottle-feed as normal first, to quench hunger and thirst, and then offer a small amount of food before finishing with more milk. Holding him upright on your lap using your arm to support his back is a good solid-food feeding position to start with. He is not only familiar with this position for milk-feeding (although more upright), it will also assist to help hold his head up as he may not have the muscle strength and coordination to sit upright yet. Using a small spoon with a little puree on it let him suck the food off, or you may prefer to use the tip of your (clean) little finger (do not use your finger if you have long nails which could scratch babies delicate palette).
If your baby is not interested or there is a natural gagging reaction with his tongue protruding, then he is not ready for solids quite yet – simply continue breast-feeding or bottle-feeding as normal and try again in a few days or a later date when you feel he is ready to try food again.
Stage One is about introducing the concept of food and eating, with breast milk or formula still constituting the main source of nourishment. It is more a learning experience than a significant source of nutrition, so don’t be concerned if your baby doesn’t take to food straight away or only tries several mouthfuls at a time.