All About Starting Solid Foods

Babies start out on breastfeeding or formula milk, however at 4to 6 months a baby needs more of nutrients for his/her development. Solids are necessary to make a baby learn to chew and swallow solid and assist development.  

Some tips about starting solid food:

• When you start solid foods your baby should be able to hold his/her head in a steady and upright position and sit well when supported. It helps the baby to swallow.  

• Never start your baby on cereal from a bottle, feed him/her with a soft tipped plastic spoon; thickened formula from the bottle could make your baby gag or inhale the liquid into his/her lungs.

 
• The best time to start solid foods is when your baby stops using the tongue to push out food from the mouth; keeping solid food in his/her mouth and will ultimately help the baby swallow it.

 
• Start solids when the baby is able to move the food to the back of it mouth and then swallow it; once the baby starts to efficiently swallow the food there would be less drooling.

• A sure indication that a baby should be introduced to solid foods is when the baby seems hungry even after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or formula milk.   

• Most babies are ready for solid food when their weight is double the weight at birth or about 15 pounds; this is achieved around 4 months of age. 


• Most babies are curious about what the parent is eating with time; he/she may reach out for the spoon/fork or bowl. This is the right time to introduce solid foods.

• It is best to start the baby on pureed solid food; any cereal is fine. Some of the best foods are however pureed sweet potatoes, squash, applesauce, bananas, peaches, and pears.

• Start off on solid foods by giving the baby just one or two teaspoons of pureed solid food; a cereal could be mixed with enough formula or breast milk to form a semi liquid consistency. You could gradually thicken the consistency by adding lesser liquid; increase the number of feedings once his/her appetite increases.  

• Introduce one food to the baby at one time; wait for a few days before introducing another new food; this will help notice allergies like vomiting, rash or diarrhea. Most of these symptoms appear within 4 hours after eating.

• Most babies may not take to some foods at the very first time and may wince after eating it; some babies take a few times before accepting a new food. It would be advisable to offer the same food after some days mixed with something he/she likes; the baby may take to it.