How to Decide When to Feed Your Baby Solid Foods

Introducing solid foods into your baby's diet is a big milestone, but one that you don't want to rush into if your baby isn't ready. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents feed their baby breast milk or formula exclusively for the first 6 months of her life. Parents can also look for signs of readiness to determine whether their baby is ready to have solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula.

Instructions

    • 1

      Determine if he has enough head control to sit up where he will be eating. His head shouldn't bobble to the side. He'll need to display adequate head control to sit in a high chair, on your lap or in a feeding seat.

    • 2

      Watch your baby's mouthing habits. Your baby should open her mouth if you bring food toward it in anticipation of eating it. You might also notice that she starts putting her hands and toys in her mouth. She'll also start to show an interest in food by leaning toward your plate or grabbing at your food.

    • 3

      Observe your baby's mouth when you attempt to spoon food such as oatmeal or baby cereal into it. If he's ready to start solids, then the extrusion reflex, which causes him to push food out of his mouth with his tongue, should be gone. It's normal for a little to dribble out of his mouth onto his chin, but if he pushes it all out, then you might want to wait another week or two.

    • 4

      Evaluate her size. Typically your baby is ready to begin solid foods once she has doubled her birth weight or reached about 13 pounds, which can occur at anytime from when she is 4 to 6 months old.

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