Before the holidays: how do you establish the baby's first meals?

We are between the long holiday period and the happy holiday season, what do you do when there is a baby in the family who is approaching the age when he can start eating solid food?

How to start incorporating additional food for babies on vacation?

We have answers, and the most important thing is to enjoy the journey

Yulia Prilik-Niv, in collaboration with Gerber

09/19/2022

Monday, September 19, 2022, 3:39 p.m

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Gerber (Photo: Public Relations)

Roit Dagan, clinical dietitian, scientific content manager of the baby and children's food division at Nestlé Barn, helps us organize everything related to the transition to eating solids among babies and toddlers.

Start with a routine or a break?

"The holiday season is characterized by a departure from the routine, a time when the whole family is together, the parents are more at home, and there is more leisure and patience to begin the shared experience towards the intriguing solid food. The shared time allows the parents to be involved in the eating and feeding process, but at the same time, I recommend planning the timing carefully When to introduce new foods and when should you stick to the familiar and known (breastfeeding or breast feeding) and not start tasting first on Friday night or the holiday or in the late evening.

This is because if a reaction to the new food or an allergy develops - there will be a medical response available, it also allows peace and security for the parents in the process," says Dagan.

It should be understood and remembered, she adds, that "there are children for whom going out of the routine will do them good, and there are those who do the opposite.

It's important to adjust the process to the baby's character as well as our own."

"To flow with the child, to understand that eating is an experience of curiosity and learning that can last a different amount of time from baby to baby, to be inclusive and attentive feeding led by the baby. The how and not the what is more important," emphasizes Dagan, "to create experiences around food together, to explain aloud to the baby what it is Food, babies understand. It's important not to despair and not to stress. Any new field can be challenging. Repeated exposure is the key."

"The general guidelines of the Ministry of Health state that until the age of six months, the diet is based on breastfeeding (breast milk is the best food for the baby), and if the baby is not breastfed - Tamal (baby food compound) or the combination Including.

Only from the age of six months, or more, it is recommended to expose the baby to complementary foods of solid food", says Dagan, "even when there is readiness before, the recommendation is not to start before the age of six months".

"At the same time as age occurs, motor development occurs: holding the head steady, muscle tone that allows swallowing of solids and the ability to sit stable even if with the help of support", - as mentioned, around the age of six months - signs of readiness for food appear.

The most prominent sign is an interest in food, the baby is curious, leans forward and opens his mouth, eye-hand-mouth contact begins to form, the baby reaches out to grasp objects, is interested and curious about the environment and also about food in his environment.

Dagan explains, "It's okay to start even a little after six months of age if there are no signs of readiness."

"In most cases, they start giving small tastings of vegetable or fruit food, preferably only one type at a time (not mandatory), without seasoning, and with a mashed texture. In the first stage, the tastings do not replace a meal of breast milk or formula, but are only a first experience.

It is recommended to start between meals, when the baby is not very hungry and impatient, nor immediately after a meal when he is full and not interested," explains Dagan, "start with very small amounts because it is a process of learning and experience.

The child does not necessarily know what to do with the mouth yet, as there is a difference between sucking liquids and swallowing solids.

This is a learned ability.

Start with a teaspoon or two of crushed food on a clean finger of one of the parents.

You can offer a little on the baby's lips and give him a chance to scoop up the food himself."

During vacations, holidays and trips it is especially important to plan and prepare in advance with soft silicone spoons, a bottle of water for washing your hands and of course Gerber's snacks that come in the well-known and beloved jars and also in the new and convenient squeeze format that can provide a convenient solution during a time when there are multiple departures from home and routine.

For older babies who already eat a coarse texture, this is generally an excellent solution: you can, for example, take pureed mixed vegetables alongside pre-cooked rice, cooked legumes, pasta, baby porridge enriched with iron or use fruit puree and mix with avocado near feeding, without effort and get A complete and varied meal even away from home.

On hot days you can freeze the animals together with yogurt for popsicles and get a fresh and nutritious dish with a different texture.

You can start each time with a single food and persist for two to three days with the same food.

You can start with vegetables such as zucchini, carrot or sweet potato, you can start with a banana, pear or apple," says Dagan, "It is recommended not to season the food excessively if at all - not to add salt, spices, pepper, silane, sugar, etc.

You should get the baby used to food with its natural taste.

Gerber's foods also do not contain added sodium or sugar except for the fruit or vegetable itself."

Dagan recommends eating together with the baby and giving him an experience of shared enjoyment and interest. Many of the habits that will be established during the first months will continue with the toddler and the child in the future as well, and therefore it is advisable for those around them as well. It will be eaten healthy and varied, it is important to remember that this is a learning process and as such every baby and every family has its own rhythm. The holidays and family meals are an excellent time to adopt healthy habits.

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