Starting solid foods: signs your baby is ready

Signs your baby is ready

• Sits up alone or with support
• Controls their head and neck
• Opens their mouth when food is offered
• Swallows food instead of pushing it out onto their chin
• Brings objects to their mouth
• Tries to grasp small objects like toys or food
• Moves food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow

From the CDC. The AAP adds that readiness varies by baby, and that pushing food out is normal at first.

What to offer first

• The AAP says most children do not need foods offered in a set order. There is no evidence that fruit first stops a dislike of vegetables.
• Offer one single-ingredient food at a time. The CDC says to wait 3 to 5 days between new foods; see the allergens page for the AAP's different timing.
• Include iron- and zinc-rich foods, such as meat-based baby food or iron-fortified cereal (AAP).
• Offer a variety of fortified infant cereals such as oat, barley and multigrain, rather than only rice cereal (CDC).
• Start with half a spoonful or less and build to a teaspoon or two (AAP).

Textures

The CDC says to start with very smooth, mashed or pureed foods, and to add thicker and lumpier foods as your baby's eating skills develop. Expect some coughing, gagging or spitting up while your baby adjusts. Choose foods that dissolve easily with saliva, serve small portions, and always watch your baby eat.

Once your baby can sit up and bring things to their mouth, the AAP says you can offer soft, small, easy-to-swallow pieces such as banana, scrambled eggs, well-cooked pasta or cooked peas.

Purees or baby-led weaning?

The AAP says purees can be nutritious and are easy to make, and that feeding by spoon for a few days or weeks is fine. It says there are very few studies of the benefits of baby-led weaning, and lists low calorie intake, low iron and choking among its risks. If you do offer finger foods, cut them into finger-shaped pieces and avoid round, coin-shaped slices.

Where and how

• Sit your baby up in a high chair and buckle the harness (AAP). Not in a car seat or stroller (CDC).
• Keep meals calm, with no rushing, and watch at all times.
• Don't put cereal in a bottle: it is a choking risk (AAP).