Quantity of solid foods
Question:
My seven months old girl has been eating solids well. Off late she is not much interested in the food she has been eating. I tried adding sugar or salt, but no improvement. I am worried that she may not gain adequate weight.
Answer:
How much quantity of food must be given? This, again, varies from baby to baby. On the first day of introducing cereals, I tell parents to start with one or two spoons. The quantity must be gradually increased. Never force feed your baby. You decide the quality and let the baby decide the quantity. Force feeding makes it difficult for the baby to accept new foods easily. Some mothers have called me on the first day saying “Doctor, you asked me to give one spoon of ragi porridge on the first day and my baby is asking for more. She is jumping off the seat for more food!!!” This is one type of story. The other type is “ Doctor, I have been trying solids for a week now. My baby just licks the food and spits. I am tired!!!” Both these types of babies are going to have similar growth and development. It is just that the second type of baby is not yet ready for solids. So just wait... and start solids after a week or so. Mothers of the second type of baby often get tempted to start packed and processed foods because babies accept them better. But wait...are you also trying to do the same thing? Such hasty decisions regarding baby's diet can make the baby get used to eating white foods. Eating from family pot comes late. If you wait for few more days patiently and introduce solids gradually, step by step without force feeding, these babies will eventually start eating solid foods. Feeding a baby must be a diligent and patient process. Don't try to shove in food quickly. The baby has to learn to move the solid food from the front of the tongue towards the back and swallow it. This is unlike sucking reflex which is a natural one.