Myths About Solids Readiness

(1) MYTH: Baby's weight has reached a "magic" number
Just because your baby achieves "x" number of pounds, or has doubled birth weight, (or however much your baby weighs) does not mean that she is automatically ready for solids - particularly if she is under 6 months. It's the maturity of the digestive tract and baby's developmental readiness that makes the difference, not baby's weight.

(2) MYTH: "Your baby is big so you need to start solids."
Moms might be told to start solids for differing reasons when they have a large baby. Some are told that since baby is big, they won't be able to produce enough milk to satisfy baby. This is quite untrue - almost all mothers have the ability to produce enough milk to exclusively breastfeed twins and even triplets. If you allow your baby to nurse on cue, your body will make enough milk for your baby. Other moms are told that baby is eating too much, so mom should reduce baby's intake by limiting nursing and/or starting solids. There is absolutely NO evidence that a large breastfed baby will become a large child or adult, and limiting nursing can be quite dangerous for a baby.

(3) MYTH: "Your baby is small so you need to start solids."
Another reason often given for starting solids is because baby is small. I really don't see the sense in this. Ounce for ounce, breastmilk has more calories than most baby-safe solid foods and significantly more nutrients than any type of solid food that you can feed your baby. In addition, starting solids will quite possibly reduce the amount of milk that your baby is getting overall, rather than increase overall intake. One of the first recommendations for a baby who genuinely has slow weight gain is to decrease or eliminate solid foods and nurse more often.


(4) MYTH: Baby needs to start solids because there is not enough iron in breastmilk.
An additional reason given for starting solids is the "lack of iron in breastmilk." Breastmilk does have lower iron levels than formula, but the iron in breastmilk is more readily absorbed by the baby's gut than the iron in formula. Also, formula-fed babies tend to lose iron through fissures that develop in their intestines as a result of damage from cow's milk. Breastfed babies do not lose this iron. Sometime after the first 6 months (much later for a lot of babies), most babies will require an additional source of iron other than mother's milk. This can most often be obtained through small amounts of solid food.

(5) MYTH: Baby needs solids so he will sleep longer at night.
The popular belief that feeding solids at night will help baby sleep through the night has no basis in fact.

What are the signs that indicate baby is developmentally ready for solids?

(1) Baby can sit up well without support.
(2) Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
(3) Baby is ready and willing to chew.
(4) Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
(5) Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.

First Taste Of Water

Cooking and Feeding Equipments

Then, what else will you need? You will need to invest on some equipment to start cooking for your little one.

What are the things I have?
(1) Slow cooker (optional)
(2) Handheld or Blender or Grinder (either one)
(3) Plactic Bowl
(4) Stainless steel small pot
(5) Soft tip spoons (so that when baby decided to bite the spoon, it will not hurt their gums)
(6) Training cup (love the Pigeon brand Mag Mag) - optional
(7) Bibs (get the ones that is plastic layer at the back)
(8) Oven (you may need it to dry your rice) - optional
(9) Chopping board especially for your little one (don't mix if yours)
(10) Food flask (to keep your baby food warm when you are out and about) - optional

Hmm, I think that is what I used when I was introducing solids to my first one and of course will use the same for my little boy.

Books, books, books...

First of all, read alot of books on how to wean your baby to solids. I got lots of them. It is not that I read all and memorize everything. These books are my reference for my first kid. I just bought First Foods to add to my collection. Anyway, I would highly recommend Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. Very informative and very good reference book. However, it can get rather boring because mostly are words and words and the pictures are black and white. The rest of the books are my reference for recipes when I am out of idea. Some of the books are photocopied (shhhh shhh). Soon I am going to need all the information from these books for my little boy. I am quite excited and scared at the same time when I think of introducing solid to him.

Introduction to the creation of this blog

Why I start another blog? Some will ask. Oh well, I would like to share my experiences on weaning solid to my breastfeed baby. As I go along, I hope all of you can also share your experiences in my blog.

It is a journey in which all mummies have to go through once baby turn 6 months old. Some even started earlier than 6 months.

So I hope you enjoy your stay here as much as I enjoy sharing with you.