Starting Solid Foods

When can my baby try solid foods?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend starting the introduction of solid foods around six months of age. Does this mean your baby will wake up on their six-month birthday and magically start eating solids? Unfortunately, there is no magic wand to wave over your baby; all infants are different and will develop at different times.

Here is a simple checklist to see if your child might be ready for trying solid foods:

• Is baby nearing six months of age?
• Can baby sit independently?
• Can your baby hold his/her head up well?
• Does baby show an interest in what others are doing with their fork and food at the dinner table? In other words, does your baby eyeball you like a hawk when you’re eating?
• Does baby grab objects and put them in his/her mouth?
• Has baby lost the tongue-thrusting reflex? (If you put something on baby’s lips, does his/her tongue immediately try to thrust or push it away?)

If you’ve noticed these behaviors, then it is time to talk to your pediatrician about your baby’s readiness to start solid foods.

Looking for more tips on when to start solids (and what to offer as baby’s first solid foods)? Become a member and one of the healthcare professionals on our team can share their expertise with you.