Starting Solids
When is My Baby Ready for Solids?
For a first time parent this is a tricky question. Some pediatricians say four months, some say six. Some parenting experts say no solids ever before six months minimum. The truth is, there is no exact age at which all babies are ready for solids. However, there are things you can do to follow your baby’s lead.
Physical Milestones
There are fine and gross motor milestones that tend to occur around the same time as the digestive system begins to mature.
Supported sitting:
When you can prop your baby up in a sitting position or put them in a high chair and they don’t flop over, this is an indication they may be ready to try solids.
Hand coordination:
Your baby may be ready for solid food when they can pick up an object- either from a surface or out of your hand- and bring the object to their mouth fairly consistently. This skill will be useful for holding a spoon or a piece of food. You will see babies practicing and focusing on repeating this over and over with their toys, or anything in their reach.
Tongue Thrust Reflex
From birth, infants have a tongue thrust reflex. If they feel anything solid in the middle of their mouth, they will automatically push it out with their tongue. If you see this reflex when you give your baby solid food, they are not quite ready and you can give them a couple of weeks before trying again.
When babies are more ready to try food, you will likely see them smooshing it around in their mouths, gagging, coughing, and spitting things out. This is all normal for inexperienced eaters, and is actually a protective measure to keep themselves from choking.
Please remember- if your baby is gagging or coughing from food, calmly observe them and do not pat them on the back. Patting on the back can actually lodge food further in their windpipe and cause choking. If you have any health or safety concerns you should always talk to your pediatrician and/or take a pediatric first aid course.
Food Allergies
Common food allergens include egg, dairy, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy. Because studies show that exposure between four and six months old can help prevent more serious allergies in the future, it is a good idea to consider introducing your baby to common food allergens during that window. There are a few companies that make mix-in powders specifically for this that can be added to milk or purees. If you are nervous about introducing allergens or have a family history of food allergies, you can always start this process at your pediatrician’s office.
Purées vs. Baby Led Weaning
Baby led weaning- or letting your baby feed themselves (typically beginning by gnawing on large pieces of solid food) from the start- is quite popular in the US today. Additionally, there are many pediatricians who still recommend staring solids with cereals and purees. In actuality, neither method has been shown to be safer or to promote better future outcomes. Choose the method that works for your family, or do a little of both.
No Pressure!
As much as possible, keep this fun for you and your little one. Babies can still get a majority of their calorie and nutrient needs from breast milk or formula until about one year old, so no rush! If your baby isn’t showing signs of readiness for food when you first try, wait a week or two and try again.
