This is always a bit of a contentious topic. Some professionals say you should only start your baby on solid food from 6 months old, but others will say it’s ok to start from 4 months old. In my opinion (raising two boys) its best to start earlier rather than later. However, it’s important to follow the general guidelines to make sure it’s safe and your baby is ready.
TIPS:
Signs of readiness:
Head control: Can your baby hold their head steady while sitting.
Sitting with support: Can your baby sit up with minimal assistance.
Interest in food: Is your baby curious about what you are eating and do they reach for food.
Loss of tongue-thrust reflex: Baby no longer automatically pushes food out of their mouth with their tongue.
Increased hunger: Baby seems hungry after regular milk feedings and may want more than what breast milk or formula provides.
Once you’ve made the decision to start solids with your baby its best to keep things simple at first.
Here are some common options to try:
1. Rice Cereal: Rice cereal is usually mixed with breast milk or formula to create a smooth consistency.
2. Pureed Vegetables: Start with mild, non-acidic vegetables like sweet potatoes, butternut, carrots, or peas. These can be steamed and pureed to a smooth consistency.
3. Pureed Fruits: Apples, pears, and bananas are good first fruit choices. These can be mashed or pureed.
4. Oats or Barley Cereal: Like rice cereal, these can be introduced as smooth purees mixed with breast milk or formula.
5. Avocado: Avocado is rich in healthy fats and can be mashed or pureed for easy consumption.
Always introduce one new food at a time and continue with the same food for a few days. Start with small amounts and gradually increase as your baby gets used to solids. Make sure the food is soft, smooth, and easy for your baby to swallow.
TIP:
- Start with simple to digest food with simple flavours.
- Continue with the same food for a couple of days before introducing something new.
- Use natural spice like cinnamon to add flavour to food, don’t use salt.
- Its also important to start giving a little bit of water too, just to make sure your baby doesn’t get constipated with the change of diet which will affect their gut.
How to Introduce Allergens:
Introducing allergenic foods like peanuts and eggs earlier (around 4-6 months) may help reduce the risk of allergies, based on recent research.
Start with one allergen at a time to monitor for any allergic reactions. This way, you can easily identify which food may cause a reaction if it occurs.
Introduce slowly by starting with a small amount of the allergenic food (about 1/4 teaspoon). Wait 3-5 days before introducing another potential allergen. This allows you to observe any signs of an allergic reaction, such as skin rash, hives, swelling, vomiting, or difficulty breathing.
Common Allergenic Foods:
Peanut butter (smooth, thinned with breast milk or formula to avoid choking)
Eggs (start with well-cooked eggs, like scrambled) ****Mix butternut in
Dairy (like yogurt, but avoid cow’s milk as a drink until 1 year) (Mix with mashed banana)
Fish (like salmon or trout)
Tree nuts, wheat, soy, and sesame are also common allergens.
Things you should try to avoid:
Honey, as it can cause botulism. Honey can be introduced at 1 years old NOT before.
Choking hazards, such as whole grapes, nuts, or hard foods.
No salt in food and try to keep sugar to a minimal
If you decide to start your baby on solids at 4 months, it’s important to remember that breast milk or formula should still be the primary source of nutrition. Solids are meant to complement, not replace, milk at this stage. But exposure to foods is important. However, as you progress through this journey you can start giving food before and eventually in place of milk.
A very helpful source of information I used is a FB page called Solid Starts, she also has an Instagram page. She shares information is an easy-to-understand way with lots of images.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dno1Z2V2h/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.instagram.com/solidstarts?igsh=MW45eG8xbHBzc3h4bQ==
*The above tips are only a guideline, and one Mom’s opinion on what has made my life easier. Always consult your paediatrician before starting solids to ensure your baby is ready.