How to Start Your Baby on Solids

• by J.M. Brown

Introduction

• Introducing solid foods to your baby is exciting for both parent and child. It's the next step of development for your son or daughter (and a break from the routine of breast or bottle feeding for you). When your baby is ready to try solid foods, use these great tips to ensure your baby's introduction to solids goes as smoothly as possible.

What You'll Need

1. High Chair
2. Baby Food
3. Baby Spoon
4. Bib
5. Baby!

Step 1: Make Sure Your Baby Is Ready

• You should check with your doctor before starting your baby on solids. Age is a big factor, but also track your child's motor skills and interest in food. What you note about your baby's development will help you and your pediatrician come to the right decision about when to start your baby on solids.

Age

• The standard window for introducing new foods, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, is when your baby is 4 to 6 months old.^[1]

Weight

• Has your baby doubled his birth weight? If so, or if he's at least 15 pounds, he should be ready for solids.

Motor Skills and Development

• Age is not the only factor for deciding if your baby is ready for solid food. To learn how to eat safely, your baby should also have the proper motor skills.^[2] Your baby should ready for solid food if he:

1. Can hold his head up.
2. Can also turn his head (so he can indicate when he's eaten enough).
3. Is able to sit up when supported.
4. Has the ability to pick up small objects.
5. No longer has thrust-tongue reflex (also known as "extrusion reflex"), which causes babies to spit out anything solid.
6. Is able to make chewing motions: after all, if he can't chew, he won't do well with solids!

Interest in Food

• Other signs your baby may be ready for solids include:

1. Is still hungry, even after feeding.
2. Watches what you eat, perhaps even grabbing at your food.

Step 2: Your First Feeding

• The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that for most babies it doesn't matter what their first solid food is.^[3] Many pediatricians recommend starting with cereal.

1. The most common first solid food is an iron-fortified rice cereal.
2. Since breast milk is low in iron an iron-fortified cereal can be a great supplement to your baby's diet.
3. Rice cereal is also less likely to cause an allergic reaction than wheat.^[4]
4. Do not start your baby on eggs as a first food: they are occasional culprits in allergic reactions.^[5]

The First Feeding

• When you and your baby are ready, it's time for the first feeding!

1. Begin by breast or bottle feeding.
2. Then mix cereal with enough breast milk, formula or water to make a smooth, soupy consistency.
   • You can add more or less liquid depending on your baby's needs.
3. Put a small amount of cereal on the tip of a long, rubber-tipped spoon.
   • The rubber will protect your baby's gums.
4. Turn the spoon sideways and touch it to your baby's lips.
5. If she's interested, give your baby one to two teaspoons of cereal.
6. Be prepared for a big mess. Before your baby gets used to the food's consistency she may spit out solid foods.
7. Don't be concerned if your baby rejects the food at first, sometimes it takes a few tries.
   • If needed you can always wait a few weeks before trying again.

Step 3: Pay Attention

• When introducing new foods, go slowly. The American Academy of Pediatricians says to wait at least 2 or 3 days between every new food.^[6] This allows you to see if your baby is allergic to the new food. To make it simpler to keep track, you may want to introduce a new food once a week.

• KidsHealth lists signs that your baby has a food allergy^[7], which include:

1. Diarrhea
2. Bloated tummy
3. Increased gas
4. Unexplained rash
5. Unusual crankiness

Foods to Avoid

• KidsHealth advises that the following foods may cause allergic reactions^[8]:

1. Eggs
2. Cow's milk
3. Honey
4. Citrus

• Steer clear of the following foods until your baby is 2 or 3:

1. Seafood
2. Peanuts
3. Tree nuts

Safety Rules

• Keep these safety rules in mind:

1. Always feed your baby in a seated position to reduce the risk of choking.
2. Never allow your baby to eat without supervision.
3. Feed your baby from a dish, instead of the baby food jar, to avoid contamination of any leftover food.
   • Throw out leftover baby food after three days.

Step 4: Introduce Other New Foods

• There is no one correct order to introducing new foods. As long as you stay away from foods that may cause food allergies and take the time to watch out for adverse reactions, any food you choose will be fine. If you choose commercial baby foods, try to steer clear of brands with added sugars.

1. Meat: Mashed or strained well-cooked beef or lamb are good sources of iron.
2. Vegetables: Mashed carrots and sweet potatoes are sweet, which babies will like. Also try mashed peas.
3. Fruit: Apples, pears, bananas, peaches, and plums are all healthy and delicious.
4. Grains: Rice, oatmeal, and barley are all good choices.
5. Juice: WebMD cautions you not to give your baby juice until she's at least 6 months old.^[9] Be wary of giving your baby too much juice; it's high in calories.

• By 8 months your baby will be eating solid foods three times a day.

Step 5: Signs Your Baby Is Full

• Babies are not afraid to let you know when they've eaten enough. Listen when your little one tells you he's full. Don't force your baby to eat when he's not hungry.

• Signs your baby is full include:

1. Turning his head away from food.
2. Leaning back in his chair.
3. Refusing to open mouth.
4. Hitting the spoon away.

• Remember that as you introduce solids your baby is still getting nutrients from breast milk or formula. Solid food is supplemental to your baby's diet.

Step 6: Self-Feeding and Finger Foods

• Pediatricians suggest teaching your baby to self-feed by introducing finger foods, usually when your baby reaches 8 or 9 months. All finger foods must be very soft to prevent choking and allow the baby to gum the food. If the food is not naturally soft (like a banana) then the food will need to be cooked and cooled completely before feeding your baby. Cut all food into small, bite-sized pieces.
• Good finger foods include:

1. Avocado
2. Tofu
3. Fruit slices
4. Cottage cheese
5. Cooked vegetables

• Avoid these choking hazards, such as:

1. Olives
2. Nuts
3. Grapes
4. Popcorn

• If you're concerned about a food presenting a danger, cut it into small pieces.

Conclusion

• Have fun introducing your baby to solid foods. You're helping her find out what foods she'll love, and which ones she'll hate. Don't rush the process, be ready to clean up the inevitable messes, and you'll do just fine.

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Resources for How to Start Your Baby on Solids

• About.com: Tips and Recipes for Introducing Finger Foods to Your Baby  
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Parenting Corner Q&A: Starting Solid Foods (March, 2007)
• Baby Center: Introducing Solid Foods (October, 2006)  
• CNN: When it's OK to question your pediatrician's advice (March 13, 2008)
• eHow: How To Introduce Solid Food to Your Baby
• eHow: How To Introduce New Food to Your Baby
• iVillage: Starting Solids: Everything You Need To Know  
• iVillage: Finger Foods Babies Will Love  
• KidsHealth: Feeding Your 4- to 7-month-old (January, 2006)
• Parents.com: Baby's First Solid Foods
• Today's Parent: Baby's First Foods (February, 2008)
• Today's Parent: How Much? (February, 2008)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Feeding Baby Nature and Nurture (March, 1991)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Good Nutrition for the Highchair Set (January, 1992)
• WebMD: What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler (2006)

How to Start Your Baby on Solids Video

• WebMD: Introducing New Foods

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