Introducing Solid Food

Introducing solid food is a time of excitement and experimentation for babies and their parents.

Learning the mechanics of taking food from a spoon, chewing and transferring it from the front of the tongue to the back of the mouth and then swallowing takes time and lots of practice.

Don’t worry if, at first, all your baby seems to do is spit it out. Not only do babies have more sensitive taste buds than adults, they also have many more. Even the most subtle flavours can seem quite strong to a young baby.

The current recommendation from healthcare professionals is that babies should not be offered solid foods until they are six months of age.

Even after solids are introduced, milk still needs to be their predominant source of nutrition in the first twelve months of life. Breastfeeding mothers and their babies still gain significant health benefits by continuing to breastfeed for as long as they are both happy to do so.

Breast milk or formula contains all the nutrients babies need for their body and brain to grow and develop in their first six months of life. After this age, iron and zinc stores start to deplete and need boosting through additional dietary intake. Extra kilojoules are also necessary to fuel growth in the second half of the first year.

There are no benefits to introducing solid foods prior to six months. Some parents believe that doing this will support their baby towards improved sleeping overnight. However, there is no guarantee that this will happen.

Babies are still entitled to at least one overnight breast or bottle feed until at least six months of age.

There is a range of classic readiness signs which babies show they are ready to ingest more than just milk. Look for a combination of these:

When your baby can hold their head reasonably steady, has some upper body control and is able to sit upright.
When they are showing interest in what is going on around them, particularly when you and others are eating and they’re keen to do the same.
When their tongue thrust reflex is not so obvious. This is a sign that they’re ready to stop automatically pushing food back out of their mouth but instead, make some attempts to chew and swallow.
When your baby does not seem satisfied with just milk feeds. At around six months they may want to feed for longer, more frequently and not be as satisfied with what they’ve been having.

Soft, pureed and easily swallowed foods are ideal to start with. Don’t be disheartened if, at first, your baby isn’t too impressed. A small amount on a soft, shallow plastic spoon is preferable. Offer one solid meal of a few teaspoons each day until your baby is looking for more. If they are keen, then slowly graduate to a couple of tablespoons two to three times each day. Let your baby guide you in how much they want to eat.

Baby led weaning is becoming very popular and some parents are keen to hand over the onus of eating control to their child from the very beginning.

But it is still important to monitor which foods, how much and the consistency of the food you are offering.

Babies can quite literally, bite off more than they can chew andbe at risk of choking.

There are no hard and fast rules about introducing solids. Other than taking it slowly and being sensitive to your baby’s responses. Offering one new food at a time is ideal; if they have any problems or reactions to a particular food then it is easier to identify which one it is likely to be.

Start off by offering one solid meal each day for a few days until your baby is used to it. If there are no problems, then you can grade them up to two meals each day and after a few more days, offer three.

100 Comments

- - maureen3 said
  - 31 Jul 2013
    9:45 pm
Valuable tips an interesting read

- - a-edwards said
  - 25 Jul 2013
    1:41 pm
It’s difficult but worth it

- - rachkap said
  - 20 Jul 2013
    9:05 pm
Thanks for this invaluable guide!

- - jenny9761 said
  - 12 Jul 2013
    3:03 pm
This is some very information for mums with a baby at that age.

- - ero77 said
  - 05 Jul 2013
    12:30 pm
i started with the gels, my son loved them, then starting pureeing veggies and scoffed those.. he would have been around 5 months old..

- - maureen3 said
  - 28 Jun 2013
    4:02 pm
Interesting and informative read Thanks

- - meros said
  - 27 Jun 2013
    11:35 am
There are usually obvious signs, both mine were very interested while we were having dinner

- - natct said
  - 27 Jun 2013
    8:30 am
-My first started at 4 months and the second at 3 months. I didn’t have enough milk for my second. My third I have loads of milk and she still wants more so I think she may start soon. She is pretty much doing all that list. Can sit for a time at just 4 months holds her upper body well and gets upset if she isn’t at the table watching her brothers eat.

- - lynzstevo said
  - 24 Jun 2013
    11:08 pm
Both my kids were 6 months when we started solids. It can be such a confusing and frustrating time for some people. I think its important to let your baby set their own pace. My daughter didn’t really start enjoying solids until around 8-9 months. This is great info, thanks.

- - jodimummy said
  - 23 Jun 2013
    1:22 pm
I think it’s important to listen to your baby, they let you know what they want. Weetbix was my second sons first food. We are found a combination of purred food and baby led feeding. It’s so much fun!
- lovi replied
  
  23 Jun 2013 , 7:01 pm
  I love that phrase – baby led feeding!
  - lynzstevo replied
    
    29 Jun 2013 , 4:30 pm
    
    Baby led feeding is great!
- - jodie80 said
  - 21 Jun 2013
    1:59 pm
Took for ever to get my son to eat solid foods.
He just loved his bottle to much.
Its hard work.
- rachkap replied
  
  31 Jul 2013 , 4:10 pm
  Something for me to look forward to!
  - meros replied
    
    15 Aug 2013 , 3:53 pm
    
    Mine were very eager and would dribble at the table while watching us eat.
- - lovi said
  - 19 Jun 2013
    2:02 pm
Great article I am passing it on 🙂

- - nicoleisback said
  - 18 Jun 2013
    8:54 pm
I had some confusion when I first started bubs on solids, in that the food wasn’t solid at all. The first time I tried to feed him the food was soft and mushy, but still too much texture for him. After talking to others about this I realised ‘solids’ just meant food as opposed to milk, and has nothing to do with the texture.

- - zowieh said
  - 18 Jun 2013
    12:36 am
awesome article i have having this problem with my son atm. so glad i read this. THANK YOU

- - katith21 said
  - 11 Jun 2013
    11:21 pm
Weetbix has been one of the first foods for my kids, it is easy to make it to a consistency that is age appropriate!

- - downunderr said
  - 03 Jun 2013
    1:09 pm
Thanks for the guide as my son is starting to show signs he wants solids

- - littletacker said
  - 02 Jun 2013
    8:02 am
Great article -I wish maternal child health nurses provided such info to new parents. Introducing solids is such a scary but exciting time on your bubbas life.

- - littletacker said
  - 01 Jun 2013
    4:46 pm
I’ve got 4 kids, 2 that are everything and anything and wouldn’t touch purée foods and 2 that were so fussy with any texture or lumps -and they’re still the same

- - teetee said
  - 31 May 2013
    2:17 pm
The for the very useful tips.

- - mal_005 said
  - 30 May 2013
    8:15 pm
We also started solids early she was just shy of 4 months. We started with pears to help with constipation (she refused the juice but ate the solids) she had great head control and loved the pears (it also made her regular, it was a bit of a yay moment from me). She now at almost eight months will eat zucchini, broccoli, carrots etc straight from my plate as well as her purees. She even chews on little chicken here and there. We only had on choking incident on a piece of watermelon.