When you have a baby, each new milestone is something that parents anticipate and celebrate. One of the big milestones during the first year is starting solid foods. Many parents are given conflicting advice about when and how to start solids.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)states “Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth.” The AAP used to recommend starting solids between 4 and 6 months but have revised their position recently. More information is now available and they have found that infants do best if solids are delayed until at least 6 months.

One of the main reasons to delay solids until after baby is 6 months old is because the gut has a chance to close. When babies are born, they have an open gut. This means that the cells in their intestines are spaced farther apart to allow intact macromolecules including whole proteins and pathogens to directly enter the baby’s bloodstream. This is good for the breastfed baby because all the good antibodies and nutrients from mother’s milk goes into baby’s blood. When solids or formula is introduced, the larger proteins and possible pathogens in these foods can easily cross into the baby’s bloodstream, increasing their risk of disease or food allergies. The gut closes between 4-6 months, so waiting until the baby is 6 months to start solids almost guarantees that the gut will be closed before solids are introduced.

There are signs to watch out for as your baby approaches 6 months old. You will know that he is really ready to start solids when:

  • he is about six months old
  • he can sit up without any support
  • he continues to be hungry despite more frequent nursing which is unrelated to illness, teething, or the normal 6 month growth spurt
  • he has lost the tongue-thrusting reflex and does not push solids out of his mouth
  • he can pick up things with his finger and thumb (pincer grasp)

Your baby should meet ALL of these criteria before starting solids. If they are only showing one or two signs, keep an eye on the baby and wait for awhile until he is truly ready. Even if your baby is showing all of the signs and does not seem to want to eat solids or refuses outright, it is alright to take another week or two then try again. Pushing the baby to eat when he isn’t ready will only create food battles that will cause problems as baby gets older.

Now that your baby is ready to start solids, what food should you offer? Good nutrition means eating a well-balanced and varied diet of foods in as close to their natural state as possible. There are many brands of ready-to-eat baby foods on the market, but it is simple and very economical to feed your baby fresh foods that aren’t processed in any way. Fruits, such as bananas, unsweetened applesauce and avocados are all excellent first foods. Vegetables, such as mashed sweet potato, baby carrots, peas, green beans and squash can follow. Steaming vegetables is quite simple and can be made in batches and frozen into single servings in ice cube trays.

Starting slowly, with one food at a time is the recommended way so you can watch for any potential food allergies. New foods should be introduced one at a time and should be given for 3-4 days before trying a different food. If you give baby a mixture of foods and he has a reaction, you won’t know which food caused the problem. If either mom or dad has any history of food allergies, solids can be delayed longer than 6 months or the allergenic food can be avoided until baby is older.

The main thing to keep in mind is to watch your baby and not the calendar. Just because your baby is 6 months old does not automatically mean he is ready for solids. Follow your baby’s cues and your instincts. Attend La Leche League meetings for support from other mothers who have older babies. Your Group’s library may even have books that you can borrow, such as My Child Won’t Eat! by Carlos Gonzalez and Whole Foods for Babies and Toddlers by Margaret Kenda. Also, you can call your local Leader for any questions regarding starting solids or any breastfeeding situation.