Infant Nutrition: Basic Guidelines

You should introduce each new food gradually, in progressively increasing amounts, and carefully watch for any signs of allergies. Completely avoid salt at least until the first year of life. Offer water after each meal.

Transitioning from Milk Feeds
Start replacing one milk feed with a new type of meal, beginning with the late-afternoon feeding by introducing vanilla-flavored rice cereal.

Vanilla Rice Cereal Preparation:
Mix lukewarm water and the powdered cereal (for example, 40g of water with 1 measuring scoop) in a soup bowl. Stir until it becomes porridge-like. Serve it to your baby with a spoon (not a bottle). After about 7-10 days, the baby should be eating about one bowl of vanilla cereal prepared with around 200g of water and the corresponding amount of cereal powder.

Next Step: Fruit Puree (Mid-Morning Snack)
Use ripe, seasonal fruits. Peel and blend them thoroughly.

Start with pear: give 2-3 teaspoons initially, then gradually increase.
Every 5 days, add another fruit. For example, 5 days after starting pear, add apple; 5 days later, add banana.
Gradually introduce other fruits, such as orange, avocado, peach, and kiwi, depending on the season.
Introduce one fruit at a time for a few days before adding another.

Adding a Meat-Vegetable Puree (Lunchtime Meal)
This is the last meal to add. For two days, cook 2 small potatoes, 1 carrot, 2 zucchini, and chicken or beef (about 180g raw). After boiling, blend everything and add 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil and a bit of lemon juice.
Other vegetables you can add include peas, leek, lettuce, celery, broccoli, or a small amount of onion.

Additional Foods

Introduce cereals/farin-lacte (grain-based cereals) or biscuit-based cereals from the 7th month onwards.
Egg yolk can be given starting from 7-8 months, or even earlier, as long as it’s thoroughly cooked!
Fish soup can be offered around 11 months.
By 12 months, your baby can gradually follow the family’s diet!

The exact diet plan should always be adjusted in consultation with your pediatrician, especially for infants who have allergies or any difficulties when introducing solid foods.

Katerina Katsibardi, MD, PhD
Paediatrician
Doctor of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
www.katsibardi.gr

Note: Regular paediatric check-ups are recommended. This article provides general information, and you should always consult your paediatrician.