Starting Solids

Determining the right time for starting solids in babies is an important time in infant milestone development, yet it remains a widely debated issue. A study reveals that introducing solids before 4 months could lead to gastrointestinal issues, while a delayed introduction beyond 6 months could lead to micronutrient deficiencies ⁽¹³⁾. This shows the importance of finding the right window to start solids in babies.

As parents, you might often have thoughts on your baby’s readiness to start solids, what foods to introduce, the quantity, and other concerns about starting solids with your baby.

Introducing solids is more than baby-led weaning and filling their tummy. It's about providing key nutrients, stimulating sensory exploration, and developing essential skills like chewing, swallowing, and coordination.

In this article, we will talk about knowing when and how to start your baby on solids and foods you can begin with.

Signs Your Baby is Ready for Starting Solids

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most babies are ready to start solids at around 6 months old. Signs of readiness include sitting up independently, good head control, and showing interest in food.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also advises that solid food introduction should start at about 6 months to support developmental needs as breastmilk and formula remains the primary nutrition source until the first year.

There are many misconceptions about starting solids in babies, one of which is that it helps babies sleep longer at night and that babies need teeth to eat solids when research shows that there was no significant difference in sleep duration and that soft foods and strong gums are just enough. ⁽⁷⁾

Common signs of readiness in babies to start solids are: ⁽⁵⁾

• Your baby is sitting up independently or with minimal support.
• Has good head control.
• Showing interest in foods, such as watching others eat and opening the mouth when food is offered.
• Ability to pick up food and bring it to their mouth.
• Loss of the tongue-thrust reflex; does not push food out of the mouth automatically.

When your baby shows these signs consistently, it is a strong indicator that they’re ready for starting solids.

Should I Start With Baby-Led Weaning or Traditional Purees?

You might be faced with the dilemma of choosing the right feeding approach for your baby, but research shows that both baby-led weaning and traditional feeding of purees have their benefits. Dr. Amna Husain, a pediatrician, explains that both methods are safe and effective depending on the baby's development cues and the parent's confidence.

Baby-led Weaning involves giving your baby safe and sizable pieces of soft foods so they can self-feed. This method supports the development of motor skills and independence. And traditional feeding purees on the other hand involves spoon feeding mashed foods or purees by caregivers. This method helps your baby's food texture advance gradually from smooth to more solid.

Pros and cons of baby-led weaning: ⁽⁹⁾

Pros: 

• It encourages your baby to be independent and self-regulate.
• Promotes family-style eating and participation. 
• Your Baby can learn to manage different textures early.

Cons: 

• Can become a messy mealtime for your baby.
• There's a risk of choking if foods aren’t prepared in small bite sizes.
• May require additional focus on iron-rich food choices.

Pros and cons of traditional purees: ⁽¹⁴⁾

Pros: 

• Easier to monitor food intake and reduces concerns of choking.
• Less messy for your baby. 
• More structured and familiar for you or your baby’s caregiver.

Cons: 

• It may delay chewing and self-feeding skills in your baby.
• Your baby could resist spoon-feeding.
• Transitioning to solid textures may take longer for your baby

Although both Baby-led weaning and traditional spoon-feeding of purees have their pros and cons, what's more important to you as a parent or caregiver is that your baby is healthy and fed nutrient-rich meals. 

Best First Foods for Babies Starting Solids

Studies show that nutrient density in early complementary foods for babies, especially iron, zinc, and healthy fats are important to support cognitive and physical development in babies ⁽¹³⁾. This highlights the importance of being informed about the right first foods to introduce to your baby.

You might be wondering what foods are the best first foods containing these important nutrients for starting solids. Experts recommend both Homemade and commercial baby foods as they both can be nutritious if prepared or selected carefully. ⁽¹²⁾

Homemade baby foods allow you to have control over ingredients, texture, and freshness. It is also more economical in the long run. While some commercial baby foods are also nutritious, convenient and are also regulated for the safety of your baby, not all brands are equal; always check the nutritional facts and ingredients for sugar, salt, or fillers and opt for a more organic option when possible.

Nutrient-rich foods to prioritize when starting solids include:

• Iron-rich foods: such as shredded beef, lentils, egg yolks, and iron-fortified baby cereals
• Zinc sources: like chickpeas, tofu, and dark poultry
• Healthy fats: avocado, full-fat plain yogurt, olive oil
• Vitamin A and C: carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, mangoes
• Fiber and antioxidants: berries, oats, pears, spinach

These foods not only support physical development in your baby, but also builds taste diversity and reduces the chances of your baby being a picky eater later on. Always remember to keep textures soft and bite size to avoid choking hazards.

Foods to Avoid When Starting Solids

When starting solids, it’s important to introduce foods that are both safe and nutritious for your baby. Research shows that there are certain foods that should be avoided during the first year to prevent choking, allergies, or poor digestion. ⁽¹⁶⁾

Some foods to avoid when starting solids include:

• Honey: Due to the risk of botulism, experts advise that babies under 12 months should not be given honey as it contains spores that can cause a severe infection in infants.

• Whole nuts or hard foods: Whole peanuts, almonds, or other hard foods are choking hazards and should be avoided. If you want to introduce them to your baby, you can offer nuts in finely ground form or as nut butters, which are more suitable for babies.

• Unpasteurized dairy products: Products such as raw milk carry bacteria that can be harmful to babies. Parents are advised to always opt for pasteurized dairy products such as soft cheese and yoghurts.

• Foods with added sugar and salt: Excessive salt in babies can harm a baby's developing kidneys, cause dehydration and lead to long-term health problems such as hypertension and Hypernatremia. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends avoiding added sugar in infant food to improve health.

• Large chunks of food or tough textures: Foods like chunks of meat, raw vegetables, or tough fruits should not be given to babies as they can lead to choking. Parents are advised to cut up the foods into small bite-sized pieces.

Food Allergens and How to Safely Introduce Them When Starting Solids

Food Allergens are proteins in foods that trigger an abnormal response by the immune system, causing an allergic reaction. Although there is no cure for food allergies, thankfully there are safe ways to introduce these foods to your baby and even diagnose the allergies. ⁽¹⁶⁾

Most parents find it scary to introduce potential food allergens to their baby. However, experts like Dr. Joanna Parga-Belinkie, a Pediatrician, explains that early introduction of these foods can reduce the likelihood of developing allergies, and that delaying the introduction of common allergens like peanuts and eggs has been linked with a higher risk of allergic reactions later in life.

Introducing allergenic foods as early as 4-6 months can help reduce the risk of developing food allergies ⁽¹⁾. However, this doesn't apply to babies who have been tested for such allergies and are confirmed to be allergic.

Common allergens and how to safely introduce them to your baby:

Peanuts: peanut, often introduced as peanut butter or powder, is a very common food allergen in both babies and adults. Studies show that introducing peanuts to high-risk infants as early as 4-6 months old can prevent them from becoming allergic. Experts recommend it to babies around 6 months of age.

Eggs: Eggs are also a common food allergen and parents are advised to start by introducing bits of well-cooked, mashed or pureed eggs to their babies. Remember to always be on the lookout for signs of an allergic reaction.

Milk and dairy: Experts advise that whole milk or dairy products should not be recommended to babies until after 12 months of age. However, small quantities can be introduced in other forms like yogurt or cheese after 6 months.

Fish and shellfish: Fish and shellfish like shrimps, are also common food allergens. Dr Parga says It is important for you to carefully introduce these foods in small bits and observe your baby for any sign of an allergic reaction.

These foods and other allergen foods shouldnt be introduced at the same time. It's best to introduce them one at a time and not too frequently.

Signs of food allergies can include: ⁽¹⁾

• Skin reactions such as hives, redness, or swelling.
• Facial swelling. 
• Digestive issues like vomiting and diarrhea.
• Breathing problems and in worst cases, wheezing.
• In severe cases, Anaphylaxis, which is the swelling of the throat leading to difficulty in breathing and a drop in blood pressure.

If your baby shows any of these signs, it is important to discontinue the suspected food and take your baby to the emergency room immediately.

Practical Tips to Make Starting Solids Easy and Stress-free

To make starting solids easy and stress-free for you and your baby, you can start by practising complementary feeding, which is simply balancing milk feeds with solids to get your baby transitioned easily. Experts recommend complementary feeding from 4 months of age. ⁽²¹⁾

Here are some practical tips that can help you along the way:

Sample feeding schedules by age: Feeding schedules are like a time chart showing when your baby is due for a feed. This helps your baby get acquainted with solids gradually and helps you stay organised. Here's a sample of a what your feeding schedule could look like: ⁽²⁰⁾

• At 6 months - start with 1-2 tablespoons of solids once a day with formula or breastmilk 5 - 6 times a day.
• At 7-8 months - introduce solids twice a day with formula or breastmilk 3-4 times a day.
• At 9-12 months - offer solids 3 times a day, along with milk feeds 2-3 times a day.

Balancing milk feeds with solid foods: Complementary feeding is recommended for babies 6 months of age. Breast milk or formula should remain the primary source of nutrition during the first year. As you introduce solids, experts advise that you continue breastfeeding or formula feeding alongside meals. ⁽²¹⁾

Meal prep and storage tips: You can prepare your baby's meals in advance by freezing pureed foods in ice cube trays for up to 3 months. You can also offer fresh food when possible, and store leftovers in a sterilised, airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.

Common Challenges and Solutions When Starting Solids

It is common to face some challenges when starting your baby on solids. However, with patience and following certain steps, your baby will adapt well. Here are some common challenges with starting solids: ⁽⁴⁾

Choking: choking is the complete or partial obstruction of the windpipe by a large piece of food. It is usually silent and your baby may start turning blue if you don't intervene with a hard pat on the back or the Heimlich Maneuver.

Always supervise your baby while eating, and avoid large and hard foods that could pose a choking hazard; foods such as whole grapes , whole nuts and large pieces of meat are choking harzards. To avoid choking, parents are advised to cut food into small pieces and ensure the texture is appropriate for your baby’s developmental stage.

Gagging: Gagging is a natural reflex that involves loud coughing and gurgling from babies trying to swallow. This is different from choking which is silent and obstructs breathing. It often happens as babies learn how to move food around in their mouths and down their throats. When this happens, stay calm and give your baby time to manage the food. ⁽¹⁷⁾

Allergies: Food allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to foods that are usually harmless. If your baby shows signs of a food allergy, like hives, difficulty breathing and facial swelling, it is best to go to the emergency room. ⁽¹⁶⁾

Constipation: When starting solids, some mothers often tend to forget to feed their babies meals with lots of water on the side and this can cause constipation. Always remember to give your baby enough water with every meal and consider fibre rich foods like whole wheat, apples and peaches to aid bowel movement.

Food Intolerance: when starting solids, some babies' systems might find it hard to tolerate and digest some foods which could be apparent in symptoms such as rashes, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. A common form of this is lactose intolerance and intolerance to gluten. If you notice any of these signs in your baby, it is advised to reduce the food intake or stop if it persists. ⁽¹⁸⁾

Messy Eating: Unlike breastfeeding or bottlefeeding that gives a neat passage straight into your baby's mouth, starting solids could be messy; either with baby-led weaning or spoon-feeding. It is important to always be patient with your little one as they are still getting accustomed to the new taste and textures. To manage this, you can feed your baby in little bits, use a bib and always have a washcloth or baby wipes beside you. 

Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Solids

Nicole, a mother of two, explains that introducing solids on time and making plans for baby-led weaning for her second baby led to her baby being open to trying foods, unlike her first who is a picky eater.

Parents could innocently make mistakes like rushing the weaning process too soon or offering foods that are unsafe to their baby. You might be wondering how to avoid making such mistakes. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Starting solids too early or too late: Premature introduction before 4 months can lead to allergies, obesity and even digestive issues, while delays can contribute to nutrient deficiencies and delay in development. ⁽⁶⁾

Experts advise that solids should be introduced from 4 - 6 months of age as anytime before 4 months is too early and anytime after 6 months is too late. ⁽³⁾

Offering foods that are choking hazards: Foods like large cuts of meat, whole grapes, and whole nuts are wide enough to block your baby's tiny airways.

Parents are advised to always cut up large foods into small pieces of food that can be easily nibbled with their gum and swallowed.

And if choking occurs, a firm pat on the back or an infant Heimlich Maneuver will help dislodge the food.

Not offering a variety of foods: Giving your baby one type of meal is teaching them to like a certain taste, flavour and texture. It is best to avoid relying on the same foods consecutively. Offer your baby a variety of meals that ensures balanced nutrition. This could help prevent picky eating later on in life.

You can try a variation like fruit slices and oatmeal, mashed potatoes and shredded beef, or even steamed broccoli and rice. The idea is to introduce your baby to healthy foods with different flavours and textures.

Not practising baby-led weaning: research shows that baby-led weaning promotes self-feeding and early transition to solid foods. Instead of always spoon-feeding your baby, you can alternate in between by allowing your baby self-feed ⁽¹⁴⁾. To make this transition easier, you can start with soft foods like oatmeal and fruits and gently guide your baby to take bites on their own.