Before the gastronomic world can be a baby’s oyster (or filet or lasagna), the land of bland must be conquered. Which means baby must take baby steps at the table—steps that are listed below in the order they’re generally suggested (though the times for introduction might be later in a baby with a history or a family history of allergy). The foods, which can be prepared at home or purchased ready to use, should at first be very smooth in texture—strained, pureed, or finely mashed, and thinned with liquid if necessary to the consistency of thick cream. The texture should continue to be smooth until the sixth or seventh month, becoming progressively thicker as baby becomes a more experienced eater. Babies usually take less than half a
teaspoon at first, but many work up to two to three tablespoons, sometimes more, in a
surprisingly short time. Food can be served cold or at room temperature (which most babies
prefer) or slightly warmed, though heating is usually done more for the adult’s taste than the baby’s—and is largely an unnecessary hassle.
In the first few months of solid feedings (which should begin when baby’s ready, somewhere between the ages of four and six months), the actual quantity of food consumed is not of great
significance as long as breast or bottle feeding is continued. Eating at first is less a matter of gaining sustenance than of gaining experience—with eating techniques, with different flavors and varying textures, with the social aspects of dining.
OPENING NIGHT—AND BEYOND
Bringing out the video equipment isn’t the only preparatory step you’ll have to take to ensure a memorable first eating experience. You’ll also want to pay attention to the timing, setting, and props to make the most of this feeding—and future ones.
Time it right. If you’re breastfeeding, the show should go on when your milk supply is at its lowest (in most women this is late in the afternoon or early in the evening). If, on the other hand, your baby seems hungriest in the morning, you might offer solids then. Don’t worry if the menu is cereal and the serving time is 6 P.M.; baby will hardly be expecting steak. Start with one meal per day, then move up to a morning and evening meal for the next month or so.
Humor your headliner. You’ve slotted a 5 P.M. performance only to find that the star is cranky and overtired. Postpone the show. You can’t introduce your baby to anything new, food included, when he or she is out of sorts. Schedule meals for times when your baby is alert and happy.
Don’t open to a full tummy. Whet baby’s appetite before offering the solids, but don’t drown it.
Start off with an appetizer of a small amount of formula or breast milk. That way, your baby won’t be too ravenous to put up with the new experience, and won’t be so satiated that the next course will have no appeal. Of course, babies with small appetites may do better starting solids hungry; you’ll have to see which works best for yours.
Be ready for a long production. Don’t try to schedule baby’s meals in five-minute segments between other chores. Baby feeding is a time-consuming process, so be sure to leave plenty of time for it.
Set the stage. Holding a squirming baby on your lap while trying to deposit an unfamiliar substance into an unreceptive mouth is a perfect script for disaster. Set up a sturdy high chair or feeding seat (see page 332) several days before the first feeding experience and allow your baby to become comfortable in it. If your baby slides around or slumps, pad it with a small blanket, quilt, or some towels, or if the seat allows, put it in a semireclining position. Fasten the restraining straps for baby’s safety and your peace of mind. If your baby can’t sit up at all in such a chair or seat, it’s probably a good idea to postpone solids for a bit longer.
Also be sure you have the right kind of spoon. It doesn’t have to be a family heirloom, but it should have a small bowl (perhaps a demitasse or iced-tea spoon) and, possibly, a plastic coating, which is easier on baby’s gums. Giving baby a spoon of his or her own to hold and attempt to
maneuver discourages a tug-of-war over each spoonful, and also gives your budding individualist a sense of independence. A long handle is good for your feeding baby, but choose a short one with a curved handle for baby’s use to avoid unintended pokes in the eye. If your young gourmand insists on
“helping” you with your feeding spoon, let a little hand hold on to the spoon as you firmly guide it to the target—most of the time you’ll get there.
Finally, use a big, easy-to-clean, easy-to-remove, comfortable bib. Depending on your
preference, it can be made from firm or soft plastic that can be wiped or rinsed off, cloth or plastic that can be tossed into the wash, or a paper disposable. You may not be concerned about your baby getting cereal stains on almost-outgrown sleepers now, but if the bib habit isn’t instilled early, it is often difficult (if not impossible) to instill later. And don’t forget to roll up long sleeves. An at-home alternative to the bib (room temperature permitting) is to let baby eat topless, in a diaper only. You’ll still have to do some wiping off (of baby’s face, neck, tummy, arms, legs), but stains won’t be a
problem.
Play a supporting role. If you give your baby a chance to run the show, your chances of succeeding at feeding are much improved. Before even attempting to bring spoon to mouth, put a dab of the food on the table or high chair tray and give baby a chance to examine it, squish it, mash it, rub it, maybe even taste it. That way, when you do approach with the spoon, what you’re offering won’t be totally
foreign. Though offering new food in a bottle (with a large-holed nipple) might seem like a good way to give baby a chance to self-feed, it’s not recommended. First, it reinforces the bottle habit and doesn’t teach a baby how to eat grownup-style, which after all is what early feedings are all about.
And, second, because babies tend to eat too much this way, it can lead to excessive weight gain.
Start with coming attractions. The first several meals won’t be real meals at all, but simply the prelude for those to come. Start with a quarter to a full teaspoon of the selected food. Slip just the tiniest bit of it between baby’s lips and allow some time for baby to react. If the flavor finds favor, the mouth will probably open wider for the next bite, which you can place farther back (but not so far back that baby gags) for easier swallowing. Even if baby seems receptive, the first few tries may come sliding right back out of his or her mouth; in fact, the first few meals may seem like total flops.
But a baby who is ready for solids will quickly start taking in more than he or she is spitting out. If the food continues to slide out, baby is probably not developmentally prepared for the big time yet. You can continue wasting time, effort, food, and laundry at this fruitless pursuit—or wait a week or two, then try again.
Know when to end the show. Never continue a meal when your baby has lost interest. The signals
will be clear, though they may vary from baby to baby and meal to meal: fussiness, a head turned away, a mouth clamped shut, food spit out, or food thrown around.
If your baby rejects a previously enjoyed food, taste it to be sure it hasn’t gone bad. Of course, there may be another reason for the rejection. Maybe your baby’s tastes have changed (babies and young children are very fickle about food); maybe he or she is out of sorts or just not hungry.
Whatever the reason, don’t force the issue or the food. Try another selection, and if that doesn’t go over, bring down the curtain.
FOODS TO PREMIERE WITH
Everyone agrees that the perfect first liquid for baby is mother’s milk. But is there a perfect first solid? Though there’s little substantial scientific evidence that points to any single, best first solid food, and many babies seem to do as well on one as on another (assuming it’s appropriate fare for an infant), there is one clear first-food front-runner, and a couple of runners-up, listed below. Ask your baby’s pediatrician for a recommendation. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to accurately assess baby’s reaction to first-time foods by his or her expression—most babies will initially screw up their mouths with shock no matter how pleased they are with the offering, particularly if the taste is tart.
Instead go by whether baby opens up for an encore.