| Once your baby has completed his fourth month | | | | flake off some of the meat and mash it up |
| you can start weaning him onto solids. When a | | | | with the spoon before giving it to him. Do |
| baby is ready to start solids he will show | | | | not add salt as too much salt can lead to |
| signs which are: | | | | kidney problems. Some people add sesame oil |
| | | | but this can make the porridge 'heaty' if |
| 1. He starts drinking less milk. | | | | used too often. |
| | | | |
| 2. He smacks his lips when he sees you | | | | Vegetables |
| eating. | | | | |
| | | | Root vegetables are used to add bulk and |
| You also do not want to leave it later than 6 | | | | fibre to the porridge. Must be grated finely |
| months when it will be more difficult for the | | | | |
| baby to learn how to coordinate taking food | | | | Potato - use only half the potato |
| into the mouth and swallowing because he is | | | | |
| too used to sucking. | | | | Sweet potato is very useful if your baby |
| | | | suffers from constipation |
| Do not give your baby solids before he has | | | | |
| completed four months because the digestive | | | | Carrot should not be used more than 2 times a |
| system is not ready and you may create | | | | week as it can make your baby's skin yellow |
| unnecessary problems. I have heard older | | | | |
| ladies telling the new mothers to add rice | | | | Green leafy vegetables |
| powder to the last feed at night so that baby | | | | |
| will sleep through the night before the | | | | Use only the leaves which must be very finely |
| babies are 4 months old. Please do not do | | | | cut. I prefer to buy the 'baby' variety as |
| this! | | | | they are finer and easier for babies to |
| | | | digest |
| Preparing the food | | | | |
| | | | Boxthorn leaves or gow gei are high in |
| - Place one teaspoon baby rice powder in a | | | | carotene. |
| bowl | | | | |
| | | | Spinach or choy sum is rich in iron he |
| - Add a little boiled hot water | | | | berries can be used to improve eyesight |
| | | | |
| - Stir the mixture until it is smooth | | | | Broccoli/Cauliflower - use only the florets |
| | | | and chop finely |
| - Change to a plastic spoon (I find the | | | | |
| spoons from KFC are ideal and it saves cost) | | | | Water cress is cooling so you can neutralize |
| | | | it by using chicken or adding red dates |
| Get the baby ready. | | | | |
| | | | Tomato must be finely chopped. You can remove |
| - Try to feed baby before bathing as it can | | | | the skin by putting it over a flame |
| be quite messy. | | | | |
| | | | Long beans/French beans must be chopped |
| - Put him in a carry chair so that he is | | | | finely |
| properly supported. | | | | |
| | | | Try to use a wide variety of food so that |
| - Give only once a day until he is ready for | | | | your child gets used to them quickly and |
| more. | | | | easily. I always combine fish or meat with |
| | | | one root vegetable and one leafy vegetable in |
| - There is no need to sterilise the bowls | | | | the porridge. It also provides a variety of |
| and spoon. Just normal washing is sufficient | | | | taste and your child will not become picky |
| | | | with food. |
| - Let's put on the bib before we start. | | | | |
| | | | Food not suitable for use before your baby is |
| - Take a tiny bit of the mixture on the tip | | | | 1 year old. |
| of the spoon | | | | |
| | | | If one or both parents have a family history |
| - Put it into the baby's mouth | | | | of allergies, asthma or eczema then it would |
| | | | be best to delay these food until the child |
| - Baby will make a funny face which is the | | | | is 2-3 years old. |
| most typical reaction to the first spoonful | | | | |
| | | | - Eggs have too many allergens especially in |
| - Baby will not take the food like adults | | | | the egg white. Start with the yolk and watch |
| but try to suck as if drinking from a bottle | | | | out for allergic reactions, when you |
| | | | introduce eggs to your child. |
| - Being a new experience baby will not know | | | | |
| how to swallow yet so the food will dribble | | | | - Honey can harbor spores of Clostridium |
| out. Don't worry if the food continues to | | | | botulinum, which causes botulism |
| dribble out, just continue to scoop it back | | | | |
| into the mouth | | | | - Citrus fruits or juices may provoke an |
| | | | allergic reaction, especially if allergies |
| - If baby is very active, you can hold him | | | | run in your family. Do not give sweet juices |
| down by placing one hand over his hands and | | | | from a feeding bottle as this leads to early |
| body | | | | tooth decay. |
| | | | |
| - Be patient and do this slowly | | | | - Peanut butter - Peanuts are highly |
| | | | allergenic. The thick sticky consistency may |
| - If baby starts crying and refuses to feed, | | | | make it difficult for baby to swallow. |
| stop and try again a few days later | | | | |
| | | | - Crustaceans are considered toxic and if |
| - If he likes it let him finish the feed | | | | given too early can lead to allergies. There |
| | | | is no hurry to introduce this food. |
| - Continue feeding and scooping back until | | | | |
| it is all gone | | | | - Kai lan/cabbage - the leaves are too |
| | | | fibrous which makes it difficult to breakdown |
| - Give him some water from a bottle after he | | | | and digest |
| has finished feeding | | | | |
| | | | - Nuts or anything that is hard and cannot |
| If baby likes his solids, continue with one | | | | dissolve easily. A small child does not know |
| teaspoon a day for one week then increase to | | | | how to chew the nut and I have seen too many |
| two teaspoons the next week and slowly | | | | cases of the nut going into the lungs which |
| increase according to his appetite. Please | | | | resulted in the child having to have part of |
| take note that this small amount does not | | | | the lung removed or dying from choking. |
| replace a milk feed. After he has finished | | | | |
| eating and has had his bath give him his | | | | Signs of an allergic or bad reaction to food |
| normal milk feed but if he cannot finish it, | | | | include vomiting, diarrhea, rash, swelling, |
| don't force him. As the amount of solid he is | | | | abdominal pain, cough, crankiness, excessive |
| taking increases you can decrease the amount | | | | gas, stomach bloating, hives, itching and |
| of milk accordingly but only for the feed | | | | runny nose. Check with the paediatrician in |
| that the solid will eventually replace. | | | | case your baby needs medication to treat the |
| | | | reaction. Shortness of breath and wheezing |
| After one month of plain rice powder you then | | | | are more severe reactions so you should take |
| add vegetable powder, and if there are no | | | | your baby to his paediatrician immediately. |
| signs of allergies you can use the other | | | | Symptoms often show up within a few hours of |
| flavours of ready to eat food. You can also | | | | eating. |
| try increasing to 2 feeds per day. I find | | | | |
| that before 6 months it is more convenient to | | | | From 10 months onwards, you can start |
| use packet food as the amount they eat is too | | | | offering other types of food such as noodles |
| small to warrant the time and energy to cook | | | | but it must be cut up finely so that baby |
| food. | | | | will not choke. If the noodles are salty, |
| | | | rinse it out with boiled water before cutting |
| From six months onwards you can start making | | | | it. You can also offer bread and sliced |
| home cooked food for him. What you cook will | | | | cheese but make sure that they are cut into |
| depend on whether you want to offer western | | | | smaller pieces so they do not become a |
| or eastern style cuisine. Personally, I find | | | | choking hazard. Initially, you have to feed |
| it easiest to offer Chinese or local cuisine | | | | the baby yourself but you can start teaching |
| as I can put in the meat, rice and vegetables | | | | him to feed himself so that he can do this by |
| all in one pot until the child is older and | | | | the time he is 1 year old. Some children will |
| has teeth to chew other types of food. So I | | | | take to this like a duck to water but some |
| will concentrate on teaching you how to cook | | | | are lazy and will not even try. Do not worry |
| baby porridge. Also it looks more appetizing | | | | as the objective of this exercise is to |
| at least for the adult. Please do not blend | | | | provide your baby with the opportunity to |
| the porridge. Giving blended food for too | | | | develop his skills, not to force them to do |
| long will make it difficult for baby to learn | | | | things against their will. |
| how to eat adult food which can be introduced | | | | |
| from 10 months onward. If you think that the | | | | High chairs |
| porridge is too lumpy you can mush it up | | | | |
| using the back of a spoon. Do not give baby | | | | Once your child can sit quite well you can |
| overnight porridge as it can cause a lot of | | | | start putting him in a high chair for his |
| wind. | | | | meals. This helps to discipline him to |
| | | | sitting in a chair during meal times. |
| I find it easier to cook the porridge in a | | | | |
| slow cooker and it only takes about 4-5 hours | | | | I personally find it best to use a high chair |
| for it to be ready. The time you start | | | | that do not have foot rest because there will |
| cooking will depend on what time your child | | | | not be a place for the baby to step on and |
| wants to eat. | | | | start climbing out. They are not going to sit |
| | | | for very long so it is alright for their feet |
| - Put hot water into the slow cooker and add | | | | to dangle for a while. In fact the babies |
| the vegetables. Cook enough for 2 meals | | | | actually love to swing their feet whilst |
| | | | sitting in the chair. |
| - After one hour add the washed rice (about | | | | |
| 1 handful) | | | | If you feel that your baby needs a tray, then |
| | | | it is best if the tray is detachable which |
| - When the rice grains have opened up | | | | will not knock their heads as with the ones |
| (usually about 1 hour) add the meat | | | | that you have to put over the baby's head. In |
| | | | fact you do not need to have a tray as the |
| - If you use fish add this 1 hour before | | | | chair can be pushed right up to the dining |
| meal time as fish cooks very fast. | | | | table so the child can eat from the table. |
| | | | The chairs must have seat straps so that you |
| What do you put in the porridge? | | | | can strap the baby otherwise they will start |
| | | | trying to climb out when you get up. |
| Meat and fish | | | | |
| | | | If your dining area is not very big a booster |
| Always boil the meat for a couple of minutes | | | | chair will be ideal because you strap it onto |
| to remove the scum before adding to the | | | | one of your dining chairs. I like this chair |
| porridge. The bones will give extra taste and | | | | because it is portable and is ideal for |
| sweetness. Leave a tiny bit of fat on so that | | | | dining out since you do not know what type of |
| it can extract fat soluble vitamins into the | | | | chairs the restaurants provide. It is very |
| porridge. | | | | light and washable. |
| | | | |
| Pork is 'neutral' therefore it can be used | | | | You should let your child sit with you at the |
| frequently. Use the ribs or bony part as this | | | | table during meal times so that he learns how |
| will add sweetness to the porridge. | | | | to eat at the table. It is easier for him to |
| | | | learn by watching you eat and it gets him |
| Chicken is 'heaty' so once or twice a week is | | | | used to eating at the table instead of |
| alright. If your child has a cough do not use | | | | running around with you chasing behind him. |
| as it makes the cough worse. | | | | Letting him sit at the table also helps to |
| | | | encourage family bonding. |
| Beef is 'heaty' and the smell can be very | | | | |
| strong if you use too much. | | | | A little tip: never make funny faces at food |
| | | | in front of your child, no matter how awful |
| Lamb is very 'heaty' and the smell is quite | | | | it may look or smell to you. If you do this |
| strong so I don't use it in the porridge but | | | | too often she will imitate you and can become |
| you can let your child eat it when he is | | | | a picky eater. |
| older | | | | |
| | | | Try not to give your child too much sweet |
| Fish is 'neutral'. Add a slice of ginger to | | | | food before 2 years of age. |
| the porridge to remove the fishy smell. Check | | | | |
| carefully that any bones are removed. Do not | | | | A little tip: when you decide to give sweets |
| use if your baby has a cold as it produces | | | | to your child, never let him see the original |
| more phlegm. Salmon and cod are too rich in | | | | packaging. I always transfer the sweets into |
| omega oil therefore not suitable below 1 | | | | a container and Marie did not recognize the |
| year. | | | | sweets when we go shopping so no demands for |
| | | | sweets at the checkout counters. Instead she |
| Dried scallop, ikan bilis (anchovies) and | | | | will ask for her sweeties at the plastic |
| oysters are very salty so they should only be | | | | container section and when I show her the |
| used once or twice a month. To remove the | | | | empty containers she is quite happy to forget |
| excess salt, soak in milk for about 20 | | | | about the sweeties. |
| minutes before use. | | | | |
| | | | Do not let your child eat unsupervised in the |
| It is best not to use minced meat because you | | | | car. Better still don't let your child eat in |
| do not want baby to eat too much meat at this | | | | the car at all as the crumbs will attract |
| age. Minced meat is quite rough in texture | | | | ants and cockroaches if you do not remove |
| which may make it difficult for baby to | | | | them immediately. If your child is hungry |
| swallow. Eating too much meat may also lead | | | | stop at a designated rest area. Happy eating |
| to intestinal worms. The reason for using | | | | as you will most likely be eating your baby's |
| meat is to extract the protein and add taste | | | | leftovers. |
| to the porridge. When baby is older you can | | | | |