When To Start Introducing Semi Solid Solid Food To An Infant

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In most cases feeding typically begins once four months older. It's once the infant’s gastrointestinal (digestive) system is mature enough to digest differing kinds of semi-solid or solid food. 
There are signs to indicates that kid is currently able to consume food (other than breast milk)


When to start introducing semi-solid & solid food (signs & indicators) to an infant?Can sit with little or with no support, and able to control his/her headShowing interest in the food parents are eatingGets hungry fast (e.g: soon after breast feeding or after frequent breastfeeding).Try to grab food from hand/ opening mouth when parents eatCan control his/her tongue betterLikes to put things into the mouth oftenBegins to develop teethStarts to make chewing motions or up-down munching movements
How to start introducing semi-solid & solid food? Introduce only 1 new food at a time (e.g: blended plain rice porridge). Once infant gets used to it then may introduce the second type of food from other food groups.Food taste and texture must be suitable and right for infant’s stage of developmentApply the 4 Day Rule – wait for 4 days after introducing the new food. This will help to determine either the infants likes the food or may also help to detect allergy.Feeds as soon as the infant gets hungry before loses his/her appetite.Depending on infant’s ability and age, small cube/size of food can be put in his/her handStarts with only a small amount of food and gradually increase as the infant gets older.Parents must not feed an infant with distraction such as noise, TV, toys, friends, etc for an infant to enjoy a meal and eat well.Infants must be introduced to different types of suitable food only once at a time by applying the 4 Day Rule.Once the infant has been introduced to the suitable and relevant food types, starts serving the combination in a single meal.
Do Not : Mix different food together in 1 meal when first introduce semi-solid food to an infant.Give small size dice-cut solid food, nuts, grains, or seeds to infant at all.Force fed or over fed infant with food. Stop feeding when the infant starts to turn his/her head away from food or shows disinterest in the food.
That's all for the tips!

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