Brand New Dad » Month By Month » 10 Months Old » Time To Eat

Protein is now an important part of your baby's diet. Foods like poultry, fish, beef, pork and beans are all good sources of the protein and iron your baby needs. Make sure the meat is well cooked. Chop or shred it into small pieces. Meats should be lean. Cut off all visible fat before serving it to your baby.

Food allergies

As you add new foods to your baby's diet, be on the lookout for allergic reactions. Gradually add cottage cheese, hard cheeses and yogurt to your baby's diet. These protein-rich foods are OK to use once in a while but they may cause an allergic reaction. You can also offer strained cooked egg yolk-a good source of iron. Avoid whole eggs and egg whites because they might also cause an allergic reaction. Save whole eggs for sometime after your baby's first birthday.

Introduce one food at a time. Wait a few days before trying another new food. If your baby has a reaction, stop offering the food. If there is no reaction, you can offer the same food again or try another new one.

Honey alert

Don't feed honey to your baby before her first birthday. Honey can contain bacteria that will make your baby sick.

Low appetite

Toward the end of her first year, you may notice that your baby is eating less. Her growth rate may be slowing. She also has lots of new and exciting activities that distract her from meals. Don't worry. Continue to offer healthy foods at set times. Trust your baby to eat as much as she needs. Remember, meal and snack times are best when they are pleasant and regular.

Finger foods can help encourage your baby to eat. They also foster your baby's growing independence. Offer foods like cooked macaroni, soft cooked vegetables, ripe peeled fruit slices, small slices of cheese, small pieces of bread and crackers.

Formula feeding

Continue to hold your baby on your lap when you give her a bottle of formula. Never prop the bottle or allow her to lie down when drinking. When she wants to get down, take the bottle away. Don't let her get into the habit of carrying the bottle around with her. Offer her water or juice from a cup.

Formula and juice contain sugar. Falling asleep with a bottle containing sugary liquids can cause tooth decay. This is called "baby bottle tooth decay." You can avoid it by not putting her to bed with a bottle. Instead of a bottle, give her a comforting blanket or toy to help her feel secure.

Practice makes perfect

Give your baby a spoon to hold during her meals. Show her how to hold it, dip it into the food, and carry the food to her mouth. She'll probably need lots of practice. Serve foods that stay on the spoon easily such as applesauce, mashed potatoes and cooked cereal like oatmeal or cream of rice. Also give her foods she can pick up with her fingers. She's getting good at doing this, and it helps her develop motor control in her hands.

Family meals

Your baby is getting better at feeding herself. She is also more social and enjoys being with the rest of the family.

Introduce her to family meals. Give her most of her meal before the rest of the family is ready to eat. Then let her feed herself finger foods while the whole family enjoys a meal together. Turn off the TV. Include her in the family's conversation. Tell her about everyone's activities. Talk about the food. Encourage other family members to talk to the baby too.

Of course, a 10-month-old will not understand all the words you say. But she will understand that people enjoy each other's company. She'll learn that conversation is back and forth. Sometimes we listen and sometimes we talk. And she'll connect mealtime with being close to her loving family.

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