At what age should we introduce solids? Which foods to introduce first? Can we use a spoon to feed the baby? Why does my baby reject some foods? What time should I be feeding my child?
These are some questions parents ask us when they transition their baby from milk to solids.
How to Introduce Solids
In this blog post, we’re going to answer some of the most common questions parents have on how to introduce solids.
At what age should I start?
Most kids are ready to start solids between the age of 4-6 months. You can tell if your baby is ready for solids when:
- Your baby doesn’t have a tongue thrust reflex. She doesn’t push the food back out of the mouth.
- Your baby is able to site up well and hold his head steady
- Your baby has developed good hand-eye coordination and is able to bring objects to his mouth to explore.
If your baby gags out the food you offer him, don’t worry. Resume after a few days.
What food should I start with?
Research suggests that babies who are fed vegetables first are most likely to eat vegetables later on in life. Here’s our list of suggested vegetables to start with:
- Bitter Vegetables: Potato, Cucumber, Green Beans, Avocado, Aubergine and Spinach.
- Windy Vegetables: Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Leeks, Celery, Brussel Sprouts and Artichoke.
- Sweet Vegetables: Peas, Sweet Potato, Sweet Corn, Parnship, Squash, and Pumpkin
Give a break of 2-3 days before starting a new food. Once your child is acclimated to these foods, you can offer your baby fruits, pulses, beans, bread, pasta, meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
What time should I be feeding my child?
The best time to feed your child is early morning or afternoon. This way you will be able to observe your child’s reaction to the food.
Also, try to feed an active baby. If your child is tired, he might not be as open to accepting new foods and you don’t want that.
Why Does My Baby Reject Food?
There could be a number of reasons for your child rejecting food. If this is happening occasionally, it’s not a cause of concern. Switch foods, and offer the same a few days later.
If your child is pushing out all the food you are feeding, he might have a tongue thrust reflex. If your child is younger than 6 months, you may want to delay introducing solids to your child. However, if after 6 months, he is still rejecting food, it would be a good idea to talk to a feeding therapist.
If you have any questions on how to introduce solids, Call us at (408) 337-2727 to book a free 15-minute consultation with our expert occupational therapist. At JLD, we offer Sensory Integration and Sequential oral sensory (S.O.S) to address feeding challenges in kids.