Baby feeding tips and guides for the first year

Baby feeding can seem daunting at first because there are so many rules to follow. Feeding in the first year is very important to a growing baby’s health and it is imperative that you take baby feeding seriously. Feed your baby the right foods at the right stages of their development.

Most pediatricians worldwide concur that a baby’s first food should be breastmilk, especially colostrum, the first milk produced when the baby is born. It contains wonderful nutrients that are key to building your baby’s immune system that helps your baby fight disease and infections.

It is advisable to supplement breastmilk with formula, especially if you notice that your child’s hunger is not being abated by your milk alone. 

Although it’s not very common these days, in that moms mostly want to get babies eating really young, breastfeeding a baby and use of formula alone should last somewhere between 4-5 months. Do not introduce solids before 4 or 5 months as the baby is physically not ready for it yet.

A good sign to tell if your child is ready for solids is when they have developed a more stable structure, i.e. they can hold their head up constantly, have developed hand-to-eye coordination and can distinguish between black and white along with bold patterns. 

After 4 or 5 months, you may start introducing your baby to solids depending on the baby's readiness.

Start your baby on cereals because they are packed with iron and babies love them. Infant rice cereal is recommended and then build to softened veggies and fruits and later on, meats.

It is advisable to introduce your baby to one food type at a time. Introduce a new food and then give it some days to see their reaction and check for allergies then move on to something else

Begin small. From a teaspoon at a time and then build up to a tablespoon. Starting small ensures you’re growing your baby’s stomach the right way.

In the beginning, feed your baby pureed foods and as they get older make it chunkier so they can be used to the different textures of food.

Wash veggies and peel fruits before making them for baby to avoid botulism, which is essentially food poisoning. After you’ve cleaned them thoroughly, steam them to make them soft before feeding them to your child.

Do not feed your baby fruit juice, it is not healthy. Do softened fruits or pasteurized, pure fruit juice instead. At this point it is also important to have them take water in their sippy cups along with food.

Avoid feeding your child salt and sugar and stay away from canned foods as they contain copious amounts of these. Do not feed your baby honey as well as it may lead to botulism.

Do not force your child to eat if you notice there’s still food on their plate, store it away for later. Forcing your child to eat simply because it’s there will mess with their ability to gauge when they are full. Remember, keep the regular feeding routine steady.

Feed your baby using a spoon so they can start getting used to it early on. Only have water and baby milk in the bottle. These solids that you introduce your baby to should be taken in conjunction with breastmilk and formula.

Don’t restrict your baby to just foods you like. Stick to a wide range of foods. Stick to colors of the rainbow policy when feeding and also do not restrict fats and cholesterol on your young one as it helps improve brain activity and synapses growth.

The most preferred bottles nowadays are the glass bottles because most parents are still worried about a harmful chemical BPA found in plastic. When purchasing plastic bottles always ensure that they are BPA free. Below are 3 popular brands:

This brand is relatively new in the market but already so great. They come in both plastic and glass bottles and different teat sizes for your baby. It's recommended if you're switching baby between breastfeeding and bottle milk. The teat is constructed in such a way that it mimics the real deal.

They are cheaper than the comotomo brand but they have been around for longer so naturally moms seem to trust them more. It has a slightly narrower base and nipple but still good as the nipple is soft and the bottle has an ergonomic grip. 

Stainless steel is a good option too if you do not want to use plastic but you might not be able to properly calibrate your baby's drink. 

Kid Kanteen baby feeding bottles are made free of toxins, BPA and lead. They have a special ergonomic shape that makes them easy for the baby to hold with their tiny hands. It features a wide mouth that makes it easy to clean and fill and the nipple is top medical-grade silicone that is soft for baby.

Feed your newborn with ease - with the help of the trusty baby feeding pillow. Especially a life-saver for caesaren moms, these baby feeding pillows are also comfortable for baby to lay down on. Some of which can grow with the baby when they pick up tummy time. Below are 2 recommendations:

Moms recommend this nursing pillow for new mothers. It has a classic u-shape with straps for adjustment placing on your body. New designs have come up to cater to all sizes and needs and it’s a good investment that will last.

The Leacho has some great reviews on Amazon. It allows mommy to adjust and choose the feeding angle. Has two parts- a nursing pillow and a boost pillow- for whatever suits the occasion.

Once your big baby starts on solids, it’s time to consider getting a feeding chair for them. Find 2 recommendations below:

This is the kind of chair you should think about because it grows with your baby as turns from an infant highchair to a traditional highchair, an infant booster, a toddler booster, and finally a youth chair.

This is a great compact fold that you can take anywhere with you because it takes up such little space when folded, sets up in seconds and a 3-point harness to hold a baby up to 50lbs. It also has an easy-wipe seat that just makes the cleaning process that much easier for you.

Baby feeding is a very important and crucial part of your baby’s healthy development. The first year will make or break a cycle that will last a lifetime so keeping it nice and healthy is important. But all that aside, enjoy this time with your little cutie one, learn new things together, hug their little bodies as often as you can because they do grow up fast and soon they’ll be running away from those hugs. Have fun and always opt for the healthier food options with your baby.