Eating solids is a brand new experience for your baby, so be patient - you can expect messy mishaps in the beginning. Don't worry about going gourmet at this stage - your baby has four to five times the taste buds that you do, so even bland food will have a distinct taste for them. You don’t need to add salt, sugar or other condiments to their food.
Here are some suggestions on how to get started:
Get comfortable - choose a time when you and your baby are both feeling relaxed, maybe after a mid-morning or mid-afternoon feed. Try sitting baby in your lap, tucking one of their arms behind you and holding onto the other one gently or try a high chair if they have good head control.
Consistency – stick to smooth runny foods at this stage, lumpier foods come later. Try mixing a teaspoon of Wattie’s Stage 1 Baby Food (blue label) or Farex Rice Cereal with a little milk (breast or formula) or cool boiled water so it's smooth and runny. It shouldn't be too liquid, just enough to run easily off the spoon.
Start small - only feed a tiny bit at first. Use a small teaspoon or baby spoon with a little food on it, just half to one teaspoon can be enough on the first day. Gradually increase the amount offered - let baby guide you. Some babies really love food from the start so let them take what they want.
Go at your baby's pace - let your baby taste the food and take it off the spoon. They might make a few odd faces and spit food out while they're getting used to the taste.
The gag reflex - don't panic if your baby gags and coughs a fair bit to start off with. These inherent reflexes are there to protect them - it stops them from choking or getting food stuck in the back of their mouth. This can happen quite a bit until they get used to chewing their food. Always stay with your baby when they are eating to prevent choking.
