Starting Baby Solids

When and How to Start Your Baby on Solids

This article has been written to help parents understand when they need to introduce solids to their baby, how to start feeding their baby solids, and what type of baby food to start with. Remember each baby is unique, and once you've armed yourself with the following guidelines, you'll become the best judge of the when, how, and what for your baby's feeding.

• Nutrition
• Children's Food
• Baby Products

When to Introduce Baby Food
Your baby is ready to start on baby solids between 17 weeks and 6 months. Don't introduce any baby solids before 17 weeks. You may be itching for your little bubs to grow up, but his/her digestive systems won't cope if he/she is too young. If you have reason to believe your baby may develop food allergies or celiac disease, you can reduce the risk by waiting till the 6 month mark - but be warned the milk feed will increase, day and night. Every baby is different so combine this advice with the following points, and don't hesitate to seek advice from a family doctor or paediatrician.

• Babies need control over their head and neck so they can eat. For instance they should be able to sit well with support. (Don't pull a highchair into action until they can sit unsupported.)
• Swallowing ability - babies needs to be able to move food from the front of their mouths to the back.
• Doubling of birth weight is an indicator that your baby may be ready for baby solids.
• Showing signs of hunger - irritable, chews hands, shows an interest in what you are eating, increases milk feeds.

How To Introduce Baby Food

• Your baby is going to need something to sit in while being fed, preferably specific children's furniture. A high chair, bouncer, bean bag or infant seat will work. If you're out and about your lap, or a friends lap, will also work - but is a potential for mess. With younger babies it is nice to cuddle them up against you with one arm holding them in an upright position, and use your other arm to feed.
• To keep the mess levels low you will need bibs, and soft muslin cloths to clean your baby's face  (and possibly to wipe down your clothes with!).
• You will need baby feeding equipment such as a plastic bowl or plate, and a plastic spoon. Plastic is kinder than metal on a baby's tender gums and a small shallow spoon is easier to use. Consider a plastic tablecloth to protect the floor from food splatters.
• Hygiene becomes all important at this stage. Take a look at our Preparing Baby Food article for some handy hygiene hints.
• To make or to buy? Our Preparing Baby Food article points you in the right direction for preparing store bought baby food, as well as homemade. The Free Baby Recipes article is a must-read if you choose to follow the homemade path.
• When feeding your baby for the first time put a small amount of food onto a spoon and place in your baby's mouth. You will need to wipe the spoon against the upper gum while removing spoon from mouth, until your baby learns how to take food. Choose a relaxed time of day for the first feed. Patience is a must as it may take a while for your baby to get used to the idea of food, and to actually swallow anything you offer.

What to Start Feeding Your Baby With

• You can start with baby rice, pureed vegetables, or pureed fruit. If you want to start with pureed vegetables or fruit you also have the choice of using a can of bought baby food - make sure the can is part of the 4-6 month age range.
• If your baby suffers reflux you may want to avoid apple.
• Start with one solid meal a day. Offer this meal after your baby's breast feed or bottle. One or two teaspoons are enough to start with. The amount of food you offer will increase gradually, and you will need to use your own baby's appetite as the main guideline.
• Make the food smooth and a little runny. As the weeks go by, you can make the food thicker, and eventually lumpier.
• After a week increase to two meals a day of different solids. Introduce each new food one at a time, and keep offering it for several days before introducing another new food. Never force food on your baby. If your baby doesn't want a meal, throw the remains out, but re-offer the same food the next day. After a short while your baby may develop a liking for that food.
• Refer to the Baby Solids for Each Age Group to know what to offer in the future weeks and months. If you have waited till the 6 month age mark to introduce baby foods, you need to move through the initial baby foods quickly in order to introduce the iron enriched food. Believe it or not - by the age of 7 months your baby will need more iron than that of a grown man!

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Family images from Flickr: Baby Carrier, Kids Classroom and Hands.