Feeding your Infant
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most infants will show signs of developmental readiness to try solid foods by 6 months of age. At this age, the infant’s digestive system is maturing so that protein, carbohydrates, and fat from foods other than breast milk or formula may be properly absorbed. An infant’s immune system is also stronger, so the risk of allergic reaction to various foods is reduced. At this time, infants are beginning to take command of their neuromuscular systems, so that they can take food from a spoon, chew soft foods, and swallow. Most infants appreciate the variety, and get excited to try new tastes and textures!
Including pears in your infant’s diet not only adds fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, but it increases the likelihood that your child will continue to eat pears throughout life. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children eat whole fruit instead of drinking juice – to get more of the vital nutrients in the flesh of the fruit. So include pears daily to improve your child’s health and habits! For more information about feeding your infant, visit the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.aap.org/.
Kids eating habits start to form as early as infancy. In the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS), a study of 4 to 24 month old infants and toddlers, pears were the 3rd most popular fruit for 4 to 8 month old children, and the 4th most popular fruit from 9 to 11 months. Infants as young as 7 months of age showed food patterns that have been observed in older children and adults, namely 18% to 33% of infants and toddlers between 7 and 24 months consumed no vegetables, and 23% to 33% consumed no fruits! By including more fruits and vegetables as infants and toddlers, kids may develop more healthful habits that last a lifetime.
Fox MK, Pac S, Devaney B, Jankowski L. Feeding infants and toddlers study: What foods are infants and toddlers eating? Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2004;104:22-30.
Once baby is ready for fruit, start with pears! Usually one of the first fruits recommended, pears offer your infant fiber, vitamin C and other nutrients! And infants love the taste and texture of pears – pureed, softened and strained, or as finger foods when they’re older.