a. Babies naturally push food out of their mouths with their tongues. However, at 5–6 months of age, this reflex passes away and they start swallowing small amounts of food. This is when you may start with solid foods.
b. Your baby must have adequate head and neck control and the ability to sit up in order to consume solid foods.
c. When your baby is looking at food, reaching out and grabbing food items, and opening their mouths, they are ready to try solid foods.
However, some babies who get the green light for starting solid foods from their doctor may still seem dissatisfied or disinterested in solid meals. Even when your baby starts eating solid food, breast milk and formula will still meet all of their nutritional needs. But after six months, babies need the extra iron and zinc that they can get from solid foods. Adding cereal or other food to your baby’s bottle might result in excessive weight gain, so avoid doing so.
Tips to get your baby started on solids
a. Keep offering purees or small, bite-sized pieces of fruits or cooked vegetables to your baby a few times a day.
b. Try having your meal with your baby. They may try to mimic you and start eating solid foods.
c. Offer a variety of foods from different food groups such as fruits, scrambled eggs, diced and thoroughly cooked chicken, fish or meat, veggies, etc.
d. Keep offering your baby solid foods until they start showing interest in them. You can also try purees first and then mashed foods.
