When is the right time to add solids to my baby's diet?

The World Health Organisation recommends that a breastfed baby be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Thereafter, it is important to add solid food for two reasons. Firstly, because your baby's appetite is increasing and he may no longer be satisfied with milk alone from around six months of age, he may require the extra calories available from solid foods. Secondly, your baby began storing iron in his body from about 5 months in pregnancy. These iron stores are depleted around 6 months of age.

Solids should NEVER be introduced before 4 months of age as your baby's digestive system is not mature enough until that age to digest solid foods.

Good first foods include:
* Cooked and pureed apple
* Cooked and pureed pear
* Pureed avocado
* Pureed banana
* Cooked and pureed sweet potato
* Cooked and pureed butternut
* Cooked and pureed green beans
* Cooked and pureed pumpkin

Introduce all foods over a period of about 3 days before introducing a new food so any potential allergies can be identified. You can also try a baby rice cereal. Be aware that banana, apple and rice cereal may contribute to constipation. Rather start with the vegetables and build up to the fruit and rice cereal.

Kerry