Transitioning Your Baby to Solid Foods: How and When
This blog was written in paid partnership with Dr. Brown's
No matter if you're a first-time parent or a seasoned caretaker, the milestone of transitioning from breastmilk or formula to solids is a significant pillar in a baby's developmental journey and can ultimately be a daunting process. This phase, starting in the first year, introduces an infant to a whole new world of exciting tastes and textures and lays the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. When a parent understands the right time to begin, what types of foods to introduce, and is equipped with anticipatory guidance, the entire process can become much smoother and overall, less stressful. This article will explore practical tips and evidence-based guidelines to help you confidently make the transition and allow you to have some fun along the way.
A General Timeline
Scientific research and guidelines state that solid food introduction should begin around the time a baby doubles their birthweight or around 4 to 6 months of age. This is generally the time when an infant's nutritional requirements increase to match needs for growth and development. That being said, a parent should always evaluate their baby's readiness from a big-picture standpoint rather than going by textbook recommendations. For example, ensuring overall safety should be paramount in deciding if your baby is ready, in addition to their overall interest in solid foods. I find in my experience as a clinician that babies do not show signs of readiness (as described below) until closer to 6 months of age. It is also important to factor in a baby's medical and birth history. For example, was the baby born 1 month prematurely or are they facing any developmental delays? This will ultimately offset and delay their timeline to solid foods and should be viewed as completely normal.
Safety First – Signs of Readiness
Before we can confidently give baby their first tastes of food, we must ensure that they have the gross motor skills for a safe swallow. This means baby needs adequate core strength to be able to sit upright without a head bobble or the assistance of steady, adult hands. In addition, your baby ideally should check most (if not all) of the following boxes before they sit down for a meal:
- Disappearance of the "tongue thrust" reflux – This is an inherent safety mechanism to prevent choking but will start to diminish or disappear completely around 6 months.
- Crossing midline with hands – Just as head and neck support requires core stability and strength, so does a baby's ability to reach diagonally for an object like a teether toy or a piece of food on their highchair tray.
- Ability to grasp items in the palm – Known as the "palmar reflex," this is a gross motor milestone that allows baby to hold strips of food and is especially important if the parent plans to feed their infant via a baby-led approach.
- Ability to bring items to mouth – No matter if you decide to take a traditional approach with pureed foods or start baby-led weaning, it is important for your baby to have the opportunity to feed themselves.
- Showing interest in food – In order for meals to be successful, your baby needs to have interest in the yummy foods you set in front of them. Perhaps this is eyeing what mom or dad is eating from across the dinner table or even reaching out for your own adult food -- this is what makes starting solids fun! On the flip side, don't be discouraged if your baby is not showing interest in food right at the 6 month mark. Babies grow and change quickly so take their feeding progress day by day.
Setting Baby Up for Success
Equipment
You don't need fancy supplies or equipment to get started with complementary foods, however, a sturdy highchair with an adjustable footrest will allow for baby to be in an optimal position for safe swallowing. Age-appropriate spoons, like the Dr. Brown's Designed to Nourish Soft-Tip Toddler Feeding Spoons, with a shallow end will allow a parent to load purees of various thickness for baby to self-feed. Accessories like bibs and suction bowls add another element of fun to mealtimes too.
Feeding Schedule
A commonly asked question is, "What is the best schedule for starting solids?" The answer is whatever works best for your family and is a time you can remain consistent with from day to day. In the beginning, at 6 months of age, your baby should get no more than one feeding opportunity per day. This can occur in the morning, afternoon or at dinnertime. Allowing an hour or so between breastmilk or bottle feeding to help promote an appetite and likely result in more interest in food.
Foods to Serve
The food you decide to give your baby will depend a lot on your family's culture, taste and preferences. Ultimately, the most important nutrient of concern at this stage is iron, so offering items like infant cereals, pureed or soft meats, beans and broccoli will help reach your baby's daily goal. An appropriate serving size will differ slightly, based on your baby's weight, but shouldn't be more than a few tablespoons at a meal. For more information on this topic and to learn what foods are not appropriate at this stage, read the article "The Best Meals for your Solid Food Journey."
Remember, that you as a caretaker ultimately know what is best for your child, and it’s no different when starting solids! Trust your gut on the preferred method of feeding, and always enlist the help of your baby's medical and nutrition providers to inform your decisions.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chapter 2 Infants and Toddlers In Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020.
- AAP.org
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health concern. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.