Introducing Your Baby to Solid Foods: 5 Important Tips

Starting solids is an important milestone for you and your baby. You’ve got the camera ready, and how about all those cute little spoons and bibs. But before you place one bite into her little rosebud mouth, there are some important points you must consider.

Let’s start with the basics. As first noted in Introduce Vegetables into Your Baby's Diet:

“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding until your baby is six months old. However, there has been some controversy among Academy experts regarding when to start solids. Some support the Committee on Nutrition who state that you can safely start your baby on solids anywhere from four to six months of age. Your baby is an individual and the best way to decide when to start solids is to follow these guidelines:

• Your baby’s birth weight has doubled.
• Your baby has good control of his neck and head and can sit up with some support.
• Your baby is starting to show interest in food when you or the rest of the family is eating.
• Your baby can indicate that he is full by pulling away when you offer food or by clamping his little mouth shut.

When your baby has met the above requirements and you’ve discussed any questions with your pediatrician it’s safe to give him solids.”

Once you’re positive that your baby is ready for solids, here are the 5 tips you need to know:

Tip #1: Drink Up

It’s easy to forget during the hustle and bustle of starting solids, but babies need water. Babies who are exclusively breastfed or formula fed don’t usually need water, but once your baby starts eating solids, his risks for dehydration increase. Babies have kidneys that cannot concentrate waste as well as adult kidneys so much more water is excreted during bowel movements. Icky talk, but necessary – because of this, foods high in protein can increase dehydration. If it’s hot or dry and you’re thirsty, then your baby is probably thirsty too. You can give your baby water in a bottle or cup and let him drink until he’s had his fill.

Tip #2: Your Baby Is Sweet Enough

The National Institute of Health and most other well-known health agencies agree that you should never feed your baby any type of honey or corn syrup product. Children over a year old can have honey, but it can be very dangerous for infants. Honey and corn syrup can contain clostridium botulinum spores; which is as bad as it sounds. The spores found in these products don’t usually make an adult sick, but because of your baby’s tiny and underdeveloped tummy the spores can make him extremely ill. Most parents have heard this advice, and most don’t offer tablespoons of honey to their babies. But think carefully; do you add honey to anything? When my son was little I had to be very careful because I cook with honey all the time. I sometimes add it to spaghetti sauce, baked goods, carrots, sweet potatoes, and more. Make sure that you aren’t offhandedly giving your baby honey or corn syrup.

Tip #3: Slow Going Is Best

One food at a time is the best way to go. Every time you introduce a new food you should wait a few days before introducing another. While you wait, watch to see if food allergies develop. An allergic reaction may appear as a rash, respiratory trouble, or digestive complications. Sometimes a food allergy won’t appear right away, but vague symptoms may appear within a week. If you can pinpoint the food item – remove it from your baby’s diet. Often food allergies will disappear with time and maturity. Always talk to your pediatrician when you suspect a food allergy.

Tip #4: Cow’s Milk, Great for Baby Cows…

But not for your baby. When solids start, some parents assume that it’s okay to start giving cow’s milk as well. But cow’s milk is not recommended until your child is over a year old. The best drink for babies starting solid food is still breast milk. Human milk is almost always the best choice nutrition-wise for human babies. If you choose not to breastfeed, then formula is the next best choice nutritionally. Cow’s milk falls short of both breast milk and formula for numerous reasons. Cow’s milk is really high in protein, calcium, and phosphorus but very low in iron and vitamin C. Some babies have digestive tracks that are super sensitive to the high protein content of cow’s milk – which can make the digestive tract bleed – which can create a large iron deficiency. Not a good cycle. When your baby is getting at least two-thirds of his nutritional needs from a balanced food diet (usually after 12 months of age) you can give him fortified whole cow’s milk if you like.

Tip #5: Foster Independence

Mealtimes are a great time to foster a sense of autonomy in your baby. He may seem young, but if you let him take the lead, mealtimes will be much smoother. Time the introduction of solids around your baby’s schedule. If he’s sleepy every day at 6pm don’t try to offer solids for dinner. If your baby breastfeeds heartily in the morning, that could be a good time to try solids. Schedule the introduction of solids during peak emotional times – a cranky baby is not going to cooperate. Let your baby play with his food. Dab some on his tray or hand and let him look at it, smell it, and get used to it before it goes in his mouth.

It goes without saying that you should never force feed any child, least of all a baby, but following this point is positive for other reasons as well. A baby who is allowed to turn his head away and know that he’s done eating, will grow up with a more assertive attitude about food. Later, your child will have a better idea of when to stop eating when he’s actually full; rather than just finishing the food on his plate because it’s there. If a baby’s self-direction is consistently hampered by a parent’s decisions, self-doubt is far more likely to develop.

Lastly, mealtimes are a great time to hang out with, and enjoy your quickly growing baby. Take your time and have fun with your baby’s introduction to solid foods; it’ll only happen once.