Introducing foods to your baby

Everything you need to know before starting solids on your baby.

Starting solids on your baby is an important milestone in his life. But remember that there is no need to rush it. Most babies are ready to start solids between 5 and 6 months. You should never offer food to your baby before four months of age.

Before you begin, make sure that your little one is ready for baby food. Make sure that your baby can: sit upright and hold up their head. Is curious, looking at everything around them—especially what you're eating! Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex that automatically pushes food out of their mouth. Still seem hungry after getting a full day's portion of milk. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends you should start your child on solids between 4 and 6 months, but the final answer depends on your baby.

When you’re first introducing solids, it’s good to offer solids when you and your baby are both happy and relaxed.

This is often after a feed of breastmilk or formula. Babies will still have room in their tummies for a taste of new foods after a feed of breastmilk or formula. But if they’re really hungry before a feed, they just want the breastmilk or formula which they know satisfies their hunger.

As time passes, you’ll learn when your baby is hungry or full, not interested or tired.

Signs of hunger include your baby:

• getting excited when they see you getting their food ready

• leaning towards you while they’re sitting in the highchair

• opening their mouth as you’re about to feed them.

Signs your baby is no longer interested include:

• turning their head away

• losing interest or getting distracted

• pushing the spoon away

• clamping their mouth shut.

Your baby’s appetite will change daily. At first, your baby will only need a small amount of food before their usual milk feed.

Don’t worry about the amount of food they eat. The most important thing is getting them used to new tastes and textures. And learning how to move solid foods around their mouths and how to swallow them.

They'll still be getting most of their energy and nutrients from breast milk or infant formula.

There are some foods to avoid giving to your baby. For example, do not add sugar or salt to your baby's food.

Babies should not eat salty foods as it's not good for their kidneys, and sugar causes tooth decay.

Eating is a whole new skill. Some babies learn to accept new foods and textures more quickly than others. Keep trying, and give your baby lots of encouragement and praise.

Allow plenty of time, especially at first.

Go at your baby's pace and let them show you when they're hungry or full. Stop when your baby shows signs that they've had enough. This could be firmly closing their mouth or turning their head away. If you're using a spoon, wait for your baby to open their mouth before you offer them food. Do not force your baby to eat. Wait until the next time if they're not interested this time.

Be patient and keep offering a variety of foods, even the ones they do not seem to like at first. It may take 10 tries or more for your baby to get used to new foods, flavors, and textures. There will be days when they eat more, some days when they eat less, and then days when they reject everything. Do not worry, this is perfectly normal.

Let your baby enjoy touching and holding the food. Allow them to feed themselves, using their fingers, as soon as they show an interest. If you're using a spoon, your baby may like to hold it or another spoon to try feeding themselves.

Keep distractions to a minimum during mealtimes and avoid sitting your baby in front of the television, phone, or tablet.

Show them how you eat. Babies copy their parents and other children. Sit down together for family mealtimes as much as possible.