Is your baby reaching the age where you are starting to consider introducing solid foods? Whether it’s your first or fourth baby, introducing your little one to solid foods can be overwhelming! Our pediatric Registered Dietitians wrote this post to ensure that you feel comfortable and educated as you begin to introduce your baby to the world of food! One of the first questions parents ask is, “Is my baby ready for solid food?” Use the list below as a framework for knowing when to start solid foods. *Keep in mind every baby is different depending on milestones, weight gain, and medical necesity*
The basics of knowing when to start solid foods:
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Never before six months and often somewhere around or after six months, depending on development.
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Baby can sit up well without support. Baby can achieve a seated position and move back out of that position without assistance.
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Baby is able to control their core and neck by turning their head freely and comfortably from side to side.
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About halfway through their first year of life, you can expect your baby to begin reaching for or grabbing your food at the table. It’s an indication of curiosity and interest!
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Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of their mouth with their tongue. If your baby is still pushing food back out of their mouth, you should consider delaying any further introduction of solid foods until this reflex has integrated.
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The pincer grasp usually develops between 9-10 months of age. This skill is when a baby uses their first finger and thumb to pick up food/items. Babies around six months of age will still use their whole hand to grasp food, while older babies will start to use the pincer grasp to pick up food. Typically, you’ll see babies begin to eat more solids around this age if they haven’t been as interested.
Unhelpful reasons to start solid foods (before 6 months):
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Baby has or has not hit a specific weight
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Baby has teeth
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Baby is slow to gain weight
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Baby is waking up frequently
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Mom’s milk supply is low
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Reflux
*These are reasons to get help or clarity until they reach developmental readiness.
Tips for introducing solid foods:
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You, as the parent, get to decide what (baby eats), where (baby eats), and when (baby eats). Your baby gets to decide if (they eat) and how much (they eat). This is what is called the division of responsibility. It helps to navigate, giving your baby the freedom to make choices while still setting guidelines and structure.
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Start and focus on foods that are always in the home. There’s no correct order to introduce foods. But keep it simple for yourself until you feel like you are making strides in the process, and then, if you want to get more adventurous, you can. A good rule of thumb is to introduce nutrient-dense solids varying in color, texture, and flavor. Start with one meal/day, and go from there as you get more comfortable!
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Let your baby feed themself. Allowing your baby to explore their food will strengthen motor skills and strength. It might get messy, but the more they are involved, the better. Some days, your baby may eat a lot; other days, the food might as well be a sensory toy. Both are normal as long as your baby grows normally and meets developmental milestones.
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Pay attention to cues. Give your baby more food when they reach for more, and don’t force more solids when they have turned their head away, a sign that means, “Thanks, I’m all done.”
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Leave food whole (prepared correctly) or lightly mashed. This will enable your baby to effectively exercise their jaw muscles. Pureed foods are still beneficial for your baby, but they shouldn’t make up their whole diet.
Some of the top choking hazards include popcorn, whole grapes, uncut hotdogs/meat, raw vegetables, nuts, and hard candy. Our pediatric Registered Dietitians encourage families to avoid these foods until their toddler is old enough to navigate them more successfully.
Continue to breastfeed during this process! There’s no hard and fast rule when it is time to transition the baby away from the breast. You get to make that decision, which should only happen once you are ready. You can offer breast milk in straw cups and open cups in addition to bottles/sippy cups, but you can also continue to breastfeed. Remember, at first, food is meant to encourage oral motor skills, play, and exploration. Not much of a baby’s nutrition will come from food in the first few months of exposure, and that’s ok. Breast milk contains everything your baby needs for the first six months of life, so introducing solids should supplement your baby’s overall nutrition profile.
If you’re confused or curious about how to introduce solid foods, we have pediatric Registered Dietitians on staff, in network with insurance, ready to walk you through it! These visits are hands-on and include an introduction to baby’s first foods, signs of readiness, allergies, intolerances, picky eating, meal plans, utensils and highchairs, and help you maintain your milk supply while also incorporating foods. Have more questions regarding our baby-led weaning consultations? Get your answers here!
