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Helpful Tips and Reminders

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The first year of a baby's life can be overwhelming for a parent with so many new stages that seem to come very quickly. But by keeping a few things in mind the introduction of solids into your baby's diet can not only be an easy transition but a fun one as well. Below are some helpful tips and reminders when starting your little one on solid foods:

• Don't Overfeed: It is common to worry that your baby isn't getting enough to eat but babies that are old enough to start solid foods are also old enough to give you indications that they are full. Some common clues a baby may give that they are full include: leaning back in their high chair, turning their head away from the spoon, not opening their mouth for a bite, and playing with the spoon rather than eating.
• Equipment: Sitting your baby in a high chair or feeding seat is best when introducing solids. Be sure to properly restrain your child with the lap belts to avoid a fall out of the chair. Bibs are also a good idea to avoid stains on clothes. Soft spoons generally ones with rubber tips are great for a baby's tender gums.
• Foods to Avoid: There are several foods that should never be fed to a baby less than 1 year of age due to high allergy or bacteria potentials. Some of these foods include: honey, cow's milk, peanut butter, egg whites, and shellfish.
• Try to Establish Good Eating Habits Early: There are several ways a parent can go about this such as feeding their baby in a highchair or feeding chair that is at the dinner table or area where the other members of the family eat their meals. Avoiding fast food for as long as possible is also another way to establish good eating habits early on. Giving a baby a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates, fruits, and veggies but is low on fatty foods, sweets, as well as salty foods is another excellent way to form healthy eating habits.
• Avoiding Bacteria: For those parents who choose to feed their babies jar baby food it is important to not feed the baby straight out of the jar because doing so and then saving the jar in the refrigerator for a later feeding can spread bacteria from the spoon entering the baby's mouth and then being exposed to the food remaining in the jar. Instead food should be spooned from the jar into a separate bowl and then saved for later that way to avoid bacteria.

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