How do I get our baby to eat solids? I have resumed going to my office a few months ago and my wife plans to do so in one month. Till now, she has been breastfeeding exclusively. I will then be responsible for some of the feeding and I need a strategy pronto! – Baba of a 5 month-old son in Siliguri

If your wife is breastfeeding, she is already introducing your son to the taste of solids, and by cooking you help to feed both of them. In fact, the foundation for healthy eating is breastfeeding. Not merely because it nourishes baby physically, emotionally and intellectually but because it serves as a safety net while growing children explore the world of solids and explore the world. Regarding how to offer solids, please see: How Children Learn to Eat and Introducing Foods.

In principle, the pace of eating solids need not change for baby when mother goes to the office, provided she knows her rights. Read the rest of this entry »