| Infant Feeding
For the first six months of life, mother's milk is the only food required by most infants for optimum health. The mother should be sure her nutritional needs are being met, and should continue to take good prenatal vitamins - this will benefit the health of both mother and child. Iron supplementation for babies older than six months of age is controversial; as long as the mother was not anemic during her pregnancy, the breast-fed baby should have adequate iron stores for the first year of life.
Until around the age of six months, babies’ digestive tracts are not able to adequately digest foods. While maturation of the digestive tract is different for each child, two signs the digestive tract is mature enough to digest foods other than breast milk include the emergence of teeth and a body weight of 17 Ibs. or more. Babies are usually ready for solid foods when they are able to sit up unaided and to push food away. Another important sign to watch for is that the child swallows food instead of pushing it out with his/her tongue. Once the above signs are present, food introduction can begin (if the child shows interest).
Foods given too early for a baby's system to handle may induce food allergies. New foods should be introduced one at a time, each for three consecutive days. It is important that you watch for allergic reactions. These include:
Initially - Redness of the face, rash around the mouth or anus, runny nose, diarrhea or mucousy stools, and/or hives.
After Long-Term Ingestion - Eczema, cradle cap, chronic congestion, dark circles under the eyes, hyperactivity or lethargy, dyslexia, and/or attention or behavior problems.
If allergic reactions occur, leave the offending food out of the child's diet for six months before attempting reintroduction.
Water should be introduced at around six months of age. The amount of water any infant should receive equals one third of the child's body weight in fluid ounces per day: For instance, a 15 Ib. infant would receive 5 oz. throughout the day.
Groups of Foods & Introductory Ages
Group I -6 Months and older
Mother's Milk
Bananas.
Prunes
Apple Sauce
Pears
Blueberries
Carrots
Yams/Sweet Potatoes
Beets
Avocados
Squash
Goat Milk
Peas
Group II - 9 Months and older
Tropical Fruits (except pineapple)
Nectarines
Mashed Potatoes
Grapes
String Beans
Oatmeal
Basmati Rice
Millet
Group III - 12 Months and older
Onions/Garlic
Oatios/Brown Rice Crispies
Tofu
Brown Rice/Barley
Artichokes
Asparagus
Group IV -18 Months and older
Greens
Eggplant
Buckwheat/Rye
Kelp/Nori
Tahini
Beans
Lamb
Chicken
Fish
Yogurt
Wheat
Pineapple
Cashew/Almond/Sunflower Seed Butter
Beef
Cheese
Group V - 2-3 Years and older
Cow's Milk
Peanut Butter
Eggs
Shell Fish
Oranges
Strawberries
Dipping Sauces (Bean, Guacamole, Tofu,
Tahini) with raw vegetables
Corn
Please note that this is merely a guideline--Kimberly Kelly, ND, RN, LM -14326 Greenwood Avenue, North, Seattle, Washington 98133 - 206/440-8702
Adapted by Kachina K’ang, CLD
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