nutrition mcq

Most Common Questions > Nutrition

Q. I want to commence solids but have heard many stories about what I should and should not do. What do I need to be aware of?

A. It is best to commence solids at around 6 months of age, with plain foods such as rice cereal, fruit and vegetables. Introduce one new food at a time. Begin with pureed food and slowly introduce lumpier foods. Be aware of any strong family history of allergies and avoid these foods, at least until twelve months of age. If there is a family history of allergies to peanuts and peanut foods these should be excluded from a child's diet until at least 3 years of age because of the risk of a severe reaction. Discuss the risks with your Child and Family Health Nurse or family doctor before introducing them. Do not give a child under twelve months honey, as it contains bacteria that may cause infant botulism. You can also download our information brochure on starting solids on the Karitane Website for more information.

Q. At what age do I give my baby solid food?

A. It is ideal to wait to around six months to start solids. Some babies may show signs of being ready for solids before this time. Babies are not physically or developmentally ready for solids before 4 months at the earliest. For more information on the signs of readiness for solid foods, please go to our information brochure on starting solids on the Karitane Website.

Q. I have tried to feed my baby solids but she has pushed them back out with her tongue. How will I know when she is ready? I think she is hungry?

A. Some of the signs of being ready for solids to look for in your baby are:

She is able to control her tongue to take food from a spoon and swallow it.
She can hold her head up well
She is interested in watching you eat (e.g. reaches out, opens her mouth when you are eating and puts hands/toys in her mouth).
She seems hungry after the breast or bottle feed

From around six months baby should be started on solids to make sure she gets necessary vitamins and minerals, especially iron for growth, brain development and learning.

Q. I am given mixed advice as to when I give solids. Is it before or after the milk? How do I start?

Choose a time when baby is happy and relaxed and you have time to enjoy feeding and talking to her. Usually in the morning when babies are less tired is a good time and you will have an opportunity to watch and seek help if an allergy develops.
When first starting solids, give baby a breast or formula feed first as this is still the most important part of her diet at the moment. Offer the solids 1⁄2 hr to 1hr after milk feed.
Offer 1 teaspoon of smooth, slightly warm solids once a day at first. Rice cereal, which is iron enriched, is recommended as a first food to offer. Let the baby taste the food and suck it off the spoon. If she continues to spit out the food wait for a few days and try again. She may not be ready for solids yet.
A Baby's ability to take the food off the spoon usually improves during the first week.
Your baby may prefer some tastes more than others.
If the baby appears to be unsettled by certain foods, stop giving it and try again in a few weeks.
If your baby develops a body rash, swelling or difficulty breathing, seek medical advice urgently.
As your baby becomes older (e.g. around 9 months), if she is not taking appropriate amounts of solids you may decide to try giving the solids before the milk feed.

Q. How often should I give solid food to my baby?

A. Start with a small amount once a day. Increase gradually to about half a cup before increasing the number of feeds. Let baby's appetite guide how much is eaten. Progress gradually so your baby is having 3 meals a day by about 7-8 months of 1⁄2 - 1 cup at each meal. In addition to this some babies will also desire a small snack for morning or afternoon tea if awake.

Q. My baby is now twelve months old. What can he eat?

A. Your baby at 12 months should be able to eat the family diet. He will have progressed though puree to fork mashed to cut up food. Different foods would have been introduced one at time and now he should be able to eat family meals. He should now be introduced to full cream cows milk for his milk drinks (from a cup) and cheese and yoghurts should be part of his usual diet. When preparing the family meals, set aside your baby's meal first before adding seasonings or spices. Talk with your Child and Family Health Nurse or call the Karitane Careline 1300 CARING (1300 227 464) if you would like more information.

Q. My baby is fifteen months and has decided he is doesn't want to eat. He is still having 3-4 bottles of milk but refuses anything else. I have tried so many different foods.

A. At 15mths he doesn't need as much milk in his diet, and having this amount of milk will actually stop him becoming hungry. Your son does need calcium in his diet and this can be obtained in cheese, yoghurt, and other dairy foods. You may be giving your son the milk because he refuses every thing else, however, if the bottles continue he will continue to refuse other food. Children can become iron deficiency anaemic from too much milk and not enough intake of other foods. Once you cut down his milk to some on his cereal, a cup of milk with lunch and a cup after dinner, it is more likely that you will see an improvement in his interest in other foods. The other issue is to encourage a variety of foods and to put a limit on biscuits, chips or lollies and fruit juice. Children mostly learn from their parents when it comes to eating, so modeling a healthy diet by eating good food choices throughout the day will be a great example for your child. He may also enjoy sitting at the table and eating at the same time as the rest of the family. Water is the drink of choice for when he is thirsty.

Q. I have just started my 51⁄2 month old son on rice cereal. I give it to him in the morning after one side of the breast. He started 4 days ago and today I noticed he really chewed and seemed to "like" it. When do I introduce a second solid meal? When can I give him some potato or pumpkin? I am a bit nervous about the whole thing

A. Well done. Give him a few more days on rice cereal before you try the other foods, increasing the amount of rice cereal every day one or two teaspoons at a time. Only try one food at a time waiting 5-10 days before introducing another new food so that if he has a reaction you know which food it is to. Be guided by him as to when to introduce the next solid - it's a balancing act between continuing the breastfeeding and taking solids. If he has too much solid food he may not take as much breast milk or formula milk. For more tips and details on starting solids, you can download our information brochure on the Karitane Website.

References: NHMRC Food for Health; Dietary Guidelines for Adolescents in Australia. 2003.