Starting Your Baby on Solid Food

By Sharon Rose


      Starting our precious babies on solid foods is a big step. It is the milestone that will lay the foundation for healthy eating habits. Always consult with your pediatrician, first, regarding starting solid food. Babies are usually ready to start eating solid food between 4 to 6 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting babies on solid food at 6 months of age. However, some pediatricians are recommending, to their patients, starting solid food at 4 months. Parents Want to Know 101 feels the best way to determine if your baby is ready for solid food is to go by the milestones your baby has accomplished and not by the calendar age of the baby.

Signs of Readiness for Solid Food:

1. Baby can hold head up.
2. Baby sits well in a high chair.
3. Baby makes chewing motions.
4. Baby has significant weight gain; at least, double birth weight.
5. Baby shows an interest in food; such as, grabbing at your food.
6. Baby is teething.
7. Baby can close mouth around a spoon.
8. The tongue reflex that would push food out of mouth is no longer
    present

      Another way to determine if you should start solid food, and what solid foods should be started, has to do with, how prone to allergy the baby may be. Look at factors, such as: history of allergy in the family, and has the child had an allergy indicator like eczema. If there is a strong history of allergy in the family you may want to wait longer to introduce solid food, and be cautious and informed on what and what not to introduce.

     Most babies start a cereal/grain first; usually iron fortified rice cereal. When served it should be well diluted with the milk the baby is on; one teaspoon of cereal to 4 to 5 teaspoons of baby’s milk. However, it is okay to start a fruit first, such as banana, a fruit babies tend to be least allergic to. Introduce foods one at a time, at least, 4 days between each one to make sure your baby is not allergic.

      So, there is no right way, or best time to start your baby on solid food (between the ages of 4 to 6 months); it has more to do with your baby’s development, which is likely different from another baby’s. To find out more on how to introduce solid foods and dairy to your baby’s diet go to the American Academy of Pediatrics website, www.healthychildren.org.

      Remember, always consult with your pediatrician, first, before starting your baby on solid food, and go from there.



Copyright, Starting Your Baby on Solid Food, Sharon Rose, Parents Want to Know 101, September 7, 2011, all rights reserved.

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