Starting Your Baby on Solids

Starting Your Baby on Solids

When to start

	There is no set time for starting solids. Go by what your baby can do, not by how old he/she is.
	Your baby may be ready for solids when he/she holds his head up easily, sits with support and shows interest in food.
	Starts solids early won't make your baby develop any faster. It also could make him/her very unhappy.
	But, if you wait too long to start solids, your baby might get stuck on nipple feeding.
	Most babies are ready to start solids at about 5-6 months old.

How to start

	Start solids with iron-fortified infant rice or barley cereal. Mix it with breast-milk or formula so it's thin and runny. Don't put it in a bottle.
	Put your baby in a high chair, maybe propped with pillows.
	Sit right in front of him/her.
	Use a long-handled baby spoon.
	Hold the spoonful of cereal about 12 inches for his face. Wait for him/her to open his/her mouth before you try to feed him.
	Feed as slowly or fast as he/she wants to eat.
	Let him/her touch his/her food.
	Be friendly but not exciting.
	Stop when he/she wants to stop.

Adding new food

	Go at your baby's speed. Some babies like new foods right away, others take longer.
	Thicken the cereal as your baby gets better at eating. Never put cereal in the baby's bottle.
	When he/she is used to the cereal, add lumpier foods, like mashed fruits and vegetables.
	When he can chew better and feed him/herself, try adding finger foods. Use crackers, small pieces of cheese and finely chopped meat. This may happen between 7 and 10 months.
	Introduce one new food at a time. Try it out for 2 or 3 days. Watch for reactions like diarrhea, skin rash or throwing up.
	Your baby will learn to like new food after he/she tastes it lots of times. Offer, but don't push.
	Continue with breast-milk or formula. At meals, offer it in a cup.

Your baby has feelings!

	Your baby loves you and want you to understand him/her.
	He/she will braver about eating if you do what he/she wants. That makes him feel loved and understood.
	When he/she doesn't want to eat, he/she will turn his/her head away, cry or fuss. Stop feeding him/her.
	Give your baby time to like solids. It's a big change from the nipple.

Caution

	Wash your hands before fixing your baby's food.
	Throw away all leftover food in his/her dish.

Starting juice

	Use a cup, not a bottle. Juice bottles can cause tooth decay.
	Limit juice to 3 ounces a day.

And, remember............

	Have a nice time with your baby when you feed him/her. Make it pleasant for him/her.
	Your baby will eat more on some days than others.
	Let him/her decide how much to eat.

* This information is not a substitute for professional medical care. Diagnosis and treatment should be done only by your health care provider. For more information contact your local health department or physician.