Starting Solids: Methods, Readiness, and Practical Tips

Starting solids is an exciting milestone for you and your baby. It’s more than just food, it’s about exploration, skill-building, and family connection. Whether you choose purées, baby-led weaning (BLW), or a combination of both, there’s no one “right” way. What matters most is that your baby is ready, safe, and supported in their feeding journey.

Responsive Feeding and Division of Responsibility

One of the most important parts of feeding is how we approach it. Two key concepts help guide this process:

• Responsive Feeding: Babies are born with an innate ability to self-regulate their hunger. They give clear cues when they are hungry (leaning forward, opening their mouth, reaching for food) and when they are full (turning away, pushing food away, losing interest). By respecting these signals, parents foster healthy eating habits and trust in food.

• Division of Responsibility (source Ellyn Satter):

  • Parent’s role: Decide what foods to offer and when they are offered.

  • Baby’s role: Decide if they will eat and how much they will eat.This division prevents power struggles and sets the stage for a positive relationship with food.

    
    

Signs of Readiness for Solids

While some older advice suggested starting solids as early as 4 months, the current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health recommend waiting until around 6 months—and until your baby is showing signs of readiness.

Look for all of these milestones before starting:

• Able to sit well with minimal support and maintain balance without tipping over.

• Has good head and neck control.

• Brings objects to their mouth intentionally (hand-to-mouth coordination).

• Can move food around their mouth with their tongue (lateralization and elevation).

• Shows curiosity about your food (reaching, watching intently, leaning forward).

  
  

Why wait until 6 months? Starting solids too early can increase risks of choking, poor nutrient intake, and unhealthy weight gain. By 6 months, babies are developmentally ready to explore textures, and their nutrient needs (especially for iron) begin to increase.

Why Solids Matter Beyond Nutrition

The saying “food before one is just for fun,” oversimplifies things because it is much more than "fun". Starting solids supports your baby’s growth in multiple ways:

• Micronutrients: At 6 months, iron stores naturally begin to decline, making iron-rich foods especially important.

• Oral motor skills: Chewing, moving food side to side, and swallowing safely are critical steps for speech and feeding development.

• Sensory exploration: Trying different textures, tastes, and smells builds a varied palate.

• Family connection: Eating together models healthy habits and social interaction.

  
  

Iron-Rich Foods for Babies

• Soft cooked meats (shredded chicken, ground beef, turkey)

• Fish (like salmon or cod, served in small flakes)

• Iron-fortified cereals

• Lentils and beans

• Tofu

• Eggs (well-cooked, scrambled or strips of omelet)

• Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, blended into soups or purées)

  
  

Pairing these with vitamin C-rich foods (like berries, citrus, tomatoes, or bell peppers) can help boost iron absorption.

Methods of Starting Solids

1. Traditional Purées

This method involves spoon-feeding smooth or mashed foods that gradually progress to thicker textures.

• Pros: Parents can control textures and portion sizes; easier to monitor intake; familiar approach for many caregivers.

• Cons: May take longer for baby to learn chewing and self-feeding skills if not paired with finger foods.

  
  

Examples: Mashed sweet potato, puréed carrots, applesauce, or blended lentils.

2. Baby-Led Weaning (BLW)

BLW skips purées and allows babies to self-feed from the start with soft, graspable finger foods.

• Pros: Promotes independence, hand-eye coordination, and exposure to a wide variety of textures and flavors; babies learn to chew early.

• Cons: Messier, requires careful attention to safe food preparation, and can make parents nervous about gagging (which is a normal reflex and not the same as choking).

  
  

Examples: Soft avocado slices, roasted sweet potato wedges, steamed broccoli florets, ripe banana spears.

3. Combination Feeding

Many families find a middle ground—offering both purées and finger foods.

• Pros: Flexible, helps babies learn spoon-feeding and self-feeding skills; exposes them to a variety of textures.

• Cons: Can take more prep work, but often feels like a balanced approach.

  
  

Examples: A meal might include spoon-fed oatmeal alongside soft-cooked strips of pear.

Bottom line: There’s no one-size-fits-all method. The best approach is the one that works for your baby, your family’s comfort, and your mealtime routines.

Practical Tips for Getting Started

• High Chair Setup: Choose a supportive high chair where baby can sit upright with feet resting on a flat surface (adding a footrest if needed). The tray should be at about elbow height. The Ikea Antilop with an added footrest is an affordable, popular option.

• Mess is normal: Expect spills, squishes, and smears. This is all part of the learning process.

• Start slow: Begin with one meal per day and gradually increase. Don’t worry about how much they eat at first—focus on exposure and practice.

• Avoid pressure: Let your baby decide how much to eat. Forcing bites can create negative associations with food.

• Stay safe: Always supervise meals, avoid choking hazards (like whole grapes, nuts, raw carrots, popcorn), and serve age-appropriate textures.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Starting solids is a journey: sometimes exciting, sometimes messy, always full of learning. Remember:

• Follow your baby’s readiness cues.

• Focus on variety, especially iron-rich foods.

• Choose the method (purées, BLW, or combination) that feels right for your family.

• Keep mealtimes positive, pressure-free, and fun.

  
  

Your baby’s relationship with food begins now. With patience and flexibility, you’re not just feeding them, you’re setting the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating.

If you have questions about introducing solids, we’re happy to help!

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