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Because rice cereal is least likely to cause an allergic
reaction, it should be the first food introduced. After
a few weeks, your baby can try barley or oatmeal cereal.
Do not add a mixed cereal to your baby's diet until
she has tried each of the cereals individually. Otherwise,
if she has an allergic reaction to the mixed cereal
you will not know which individual cereal caused the
reaction.
Next, your baby can try strained or pureed vegetables
and fruit. Again, introduce only one new food at a time.
It does not matter which food your baby tries first.
However, do not introduce more than three new foods
a week.
Strained or pureed meats and other foods high in protein
such as beans, peas, lentils, cottage cheese, and yogurt
can be incorporated into your baby's diet at seven or
eight months.
Around nine to ten months of age, most babies have
developed a pincer grip, which they can use to feed
themselves small, bite-size pieces of soft foods. Appropriate
finger foods may include:
- Dry cereals, such as Cheerios, Kix, Rice Krispies,
etc.
- Slices of can or jar fruit, such as peaches, pears,
apples, pineapples
- Slices of soft fresh fruits, such as bananas
- Crackers and cookies
Several foods, such as egg whites, wheat, peanut butter,
fish and orange juice are more likely to cause allergies
than other foods. Wait to add these foods to your baby's
diet until after his first birthday, especially if he
has other allergies.
Be sure to include iron-rich foods in your young child's
diet to prevent anemia. Excellent sources of iron include
red meats, fish, poultry, and low-fat lunchmeat. However,
for those children who resist meat, such foods as iron-enriched
cereals, beans, egg yolks, peanut butter, sweet potatoes,
and spinach can provide adequate amounts of iron.
At one year, you can serve your baby the same well-balanced
meals as the rest of the family. Dice all foods she
may have trouble chewing and avoid foods she could choke
on, such as raw carrots, candy, nuts, and popcorn.
By the time your child reaches 15 months, chances are
he won't need your help feeding and will be able to
use a spoon to eat on his own.
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