First Food for Babies: A Guide to Transition to Supplemental Food

First Food is very important for babies. Breast milk is the main source of nutrition for babies for the first 6 months. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Turkish Nutrition Guide also recommend that babies should be fed exclusively with breast milk for the first 6 months. After the 6th month, the transition to supplementary food (complementary feeding) begins.

Signs of Transition to Supplementary Food:

Here are some signs that your baby is ready for complementary foods:

Your baby has completed 6 months.
Your baby’s head stands upright.
Your baby’s neck and spine are strong enough (standing upright and sitting shows this)
Your baby shows interest in the food and opens its mouth.

BLW – Baby Leading Weaning – What is baby-led weaning?

Self-feeding of the baby. Not every baby may be suitable for BLW from the 6th month onwards. There are some symptoms that need to be monitored.

Signs of a baby ready for BLW:

The baby is over 6 months old.
Can sit without support.
He/she can use his/her hands voluntarily.
He/she can hold objects with his/her fingers and consciously bring them to his/her mouth.
Reaches for food at the table when you sit together.

What are the advantages?

Your baby understands hunger and satiety and consumes as much as he/she wants.
Good eating habits are developed and obesity is less likely in the future.
Food rejection or picky eating is less common. There is less sweet tooth at a later age.
Easy to prepare.
The mother feeds more responsibly as she is less insistent.

What are the disadvantages?

It requires a lot of time and patience. It will take much longer to eat less food.
The feeding area will be quite messy and dirty, cleaning the baby takes time each time.
There may be gagging in the first attempts, it decreases as they get used to solid food.

How to Make the Transition to Supplementary Food?

3-day rule: Give your baby one new food at a time and watch for an allergic reaction for 3 days. In these 3 days, you can give increasing amounts. For example, teaspoon on the first day, dessert spoon on the second day and tablespoon on the third day.
Consistency: The first food should be steamed and mashed with a fork or crushed with a glass grater. We can say in the form of a slightly lumpy puree. Over time, you can gradually thicken the consistency of the food.
Small portions: Start by giving your baby small portions and gradually increase the portions over time.
No forcing: Do not force your baby to eat. Forcing your baby to eat when he or she is not ready can lead to eating problems. If your baby does not want to eat, you can try again at a different time of the day.
Watch out for allergies: If you see signs of food allergy in your baby, stop supplementary food and consult your doctor.

What can be given as the first food?

You can give your baby the following as the first food:

Vegetables: Vegetables such as carrots, zucchini, potatoes, broccoli are suitable for the first supplementary foods.
Fruits: Fruits such as apples, pears and bananas can be crushed with a glass grater.
Meat broths: Red meat and chicken meat can be boiled and given broth.

Water should be given from the moment additional food is started.

Things to Consider in the Transition to Supplementary Food:

Do not give your baby honey or cow’s milk.
Do not add salt and sugar to your baby’s food.
Always feed your baby under supervision.
Monitor your baby’s food intake.
Consult your doctor about transition to supplementary food.

You can contact us for consultation and detailed information.