After getting used to baby cereal, it is a good idea to introduce fruits and vegetables to baby's diet. Buy strained fruits and vegetables first; they are easy to swallow and digest. Offer baby only one new strained fruit or vegetable each week. You will be able to assess any problems such as allergic reactions or digestive problems to any particular foods. If your baby doesn't like the food you offer, wait a few days before trying again. At this stage baby will take about 2-3 tablespoons at each meal.




Juice choices:


When selecting juice for baby, buy vitamin C-fortified apple, pear or grape juice. Avoid orange juice for now. They are too acidic for baby at this point. Dilute any juice with water that you give baby. Add an equal proportion of water to the juice quantity. For instance if you want to give baby 2 ounces of fluid, mix 1 oz of water with 1 oz of juice. Preferably, offer baby juice in a cup.




Vegetables over fruits:


Vegetables are more nutritious than fruits. However to get your baby started you should start with fruits to entice your baby as they taste better. An important point to remember is that right now your baby's main nutritional needs still comes from formula or breast milk. The goal right now is to teach baby to swallow foods from the spoon, to introduce baby to different textures and tastes, you will probably have success at this by feeding her fruits first. When you introduce vegetables, try the sweeter varieties first such as sweet potato or carrots. With some persistence, baby will learn to like vegetables.




Nourishment:


Babies this age need about 800 calories a day - from a combination of breast or formula milk and solid foods. Baby is probably getting enough nourishment and calories. The best indicators are his growth and well-being. If he is growing well, putting on weight, and is energetic, then he is getting the required nourishment.




Developing Taste Buds:


Your baby has 100s more taste buds for sweets than you do, and that is why his preference for sweet things. He is more inclined towards sweet-tasting foods such as applesauce, mashed bananas. Do not offer foods sweetened with sugar. He does not need them. The fruits and vegetable taste sweet naturally and that will satisfy him for a long time.




Giving Baby Sweets:


Sweets contain calories with little nutritional value. It may not be possible to exclude all sweets from baby' diet but it is important to set limitations. A little sweet food may be acceptable as an occasional treat. All baby really needs is to taste it. Offering sweets is not a problem, if it is given infrequently and in small amounts. Note: Don't offer baby ice cream or chocolate until after baby turns one year old. She can't digest the milk protein it contains.