Introducing solids

For the first 12 months of your baby’s life breast milk or formula is the primary source of nutrients.

The World Health Organisation(WHO) recommends not introducing solids until a baby is 6 months old.

When your infant is ready and shows signs of being ready, which is generally around 6 months, but certainly not before 4 months, start to introduce a variety of solid foods, starting with iron rich foods.

It is best to wait so the baby’s body is able to cope and breakdown the food and their immune system is prepared, which is not before 17 weeks.

Attempting to start solid foods before 4 months is strongly discouraged. A baby is not developmentally ready to start solids at this age. They do not have the ability to chew and swallow properly. Their immune and digestive systems are too immature to cope with food being introduced at this early an age.

Starting the introduction of foods can be a anxious or exciting time for parents and is an important milestone for your baby. It can be exciting as it means a new phase in their babies life, but also a anxious time as it can sometimes be daunting in knowing what to introduce and how much.

It is good to check with your health nurse/doctor when you are having you child’s check up before starting your baby on any solids.

It is recommended babies not be weaned (off the breast) before six months of age and ideally milk should be continued as the main source of nutrition. Even once started on the road to introducing solids continue milk feeding for as long as possible and to at least 12 months.

The best things to try first are iron rich foods. Easily digestible foods, like baby rice, pureed fruit and vegetables are often the first offered. Keep the portions small.

Breast milk or formula should still be the main food source for your baby and will continue to provide them with the majority of the nutrients and energy they need.

Aside from certain foods that are not to be introduced (see below for more details), it’s more a matter of trial and error in the first few months of your baby’s food intake. The first foods generally introduced is the not so exotic cuisine of cereal which is usually Iron enriched mixed with breast or formula milk. Rice cereal is introduced first as it is considered the least likely to have an allergic reaction for the child.

It is best to stick to bland foods first such as banana, pear and pureed carrot or pumpkin. What you decide to introduce first, be it fruit or vegetables is entirely up to you.

When introducing foods introduce one food at a time and wait 4 days before introducing another food. This is to safeguard against any potential allergy the baby may have to a particular food. If too many foods are introduced too quickly then it is harder to determine which food the baby displays a reaction from. Sometimes a reaction may present itself in the way of diarrhoea and this won’t necessarily occur the same day. It is also so as not to overwhelm the child with too many tastes at once.

Once your baby has mastered the spoon feeding then you can increase the amount of food per serve. Remember your baby has a small stomach. Small servings are best. Their intake of milk should still be the primary food still having between 600-800ml/day.

After 4 months you may start to see some cues that demonstrate that your baby is getting ready for the introduction of solids. The age your baby actually starts having solids introduced may vary from the average age of 6 months due to many factors.

Introducing solids is dependent upon the development of the child. There is no point starting a baby on solids if they are not looking for food, can not hold their head up and don’t genuinely seem to be hungry and searching for more food constantly, etc.

Initially if a baby is searching for food increase their milk intake. If they are still searching for food after increasing their milk they may be showing signs of readiness. Increasing the milk intake offered is the first step to take especially if a baby is under 6 months as they may be going through a growth spurt and just need extra milk &/or they have grown and their daily intake of milk has increased.

If you are breastfeeding and you feel your baby is hungry and are thinking about introducing solids before they are 6 months we recommend discussing this with a professional as they may need to be moved onto mixed feed (breast and formula) before you start to try solids. Guidance from a professional will be able to give you a more tailored answer to your specific situation.

A baby has a tongue thrust reflex and while they may have lost the reflex at 4 months it doesn’t necessarily mean they are ready for solids. In the beginning a baby may/will still push food out of their mouth but you will find that from 6 months old they will be more ready for solids and keep more food in their mouths.

A baby needs to be able to sit up, or sit enough to be holding their head on their own and open their mouth if a spoon is put near it.

A baby will be looking around or showing interest in food as a sign to readiness.

Offer a small amount initially, equivalent to about ½ a teaspoon in the first try. Offer breast or bottle first always. Offer food when your child is happy and not tired. You don’t need to add to a child’s food (i.e. salt, sugar).

Provided you have been feeding your baby some form of solids since 6 months then you may be offering 3 meals a day. This is 3 small amounts of food of between ½ to 1 cup at each time. Your baby will still have 3- 4 milk feeds.

If they refuse the first try, that’s ok just try again in a few days.

Make the introduction to solids a pleasant experience and never force a child to eat.

Bear in mind that not all foods are created equal and are safe to offer your baby. Some foods are not safe to offer your baby until much later and after they have successfully started solids. The introduction of food is determined by the age you started solids, your baby’s reaction to food, the types of food offered to date.

There is a rough guide of the types of food and age range for introducing solids to babies.

6 months – 8 months

Introducing these type of foods to your baby from 6 months if they are ready.

• Mashed vegetables – potato, pumpkin, carrot
• Mashed fruit – banana, mashed apple or pear that is cooked only
• Pureed meat –meats and chicken- cooked of course
• Finger foods- such as toast fingers, rusks.
• Baby yoghurt

From around 8 months, babies have developed the ‘chew’ motion which means they can use their gums to chew food. Therefore they displaying signs that they are ready for food that is mashed or minced with less emphasis on the pureed and with a little more consistency (or coarseness). Your baby is ready for and will enjoy finger foods. Finger foods are great for encouraging self-feeding.

8 months +

Introduce foods such as:

•  Meats and chicken
•  Bread
•  Well-cooked fish
•  Pasteurised milk and hard cheese

There are definite no-no’s when to comes to the introduction of some foods for babies and toddlers. They are considered unsafe and potentially harmful.

Under 6 months to 8 months                                                        6-12 months                                                                              12 months- 2 years