Introducing your baby to solid foods is an exciting milestone for the whole family. It can also be a very nerve wracking and confusing time for new parents. When is the right time to start your baby on solid foods? What kind of food should you start with? How do I know my baby is ready for solid foods? It’s important to consult your doctor first and then follow some simple rules and guidelines to help you tend to your baby’s needs. http://familyfirstpeds.com/

1. INTRODUCING SOLID
FOODS TO
AN INFANT
Presentation prepared by Family First Pediatrics

2. WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO START YOUR
BABY ON SOLID FOODS?
WHAT KIND OF FOOD SHOULD YOU
START WITH?
HOW DO I KNOW MY BABY IS READY FOR
SOLID FOODS?

3. IS MY BABY READY FOR SOLID FOODS?
 Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn
needs. However, around ages 4 months to 6 months,
most babies are ready to begin eating solids.
 It’s during this time that babies typically stop using their
tongues to push food out of their mouths and begin to
develop the coordination to move solid food from the
front of the mouth to the back for swallowing.

4. IN ADDITION TO AGE, LOOK FOR OTHER SIGNS
THAT YOUR BABY IS READY FOR
SOLID FOODS SUCH AS:
 Can your baby hold his or her head in a steady,
upright position?
 Can your baby sit up with support?
 Is your baby mouthing his or her hands or toys?
 Is your baby interested in what you’re eating?

5. IF YOUR BABY BEGINS TO SHOW SIGNS OF
BEING HUNGRY FOR MORE THAN WHAT HE
OR SHE IS GETTING, AFTER CONSULTING
YOUR BABY’S DOCTOR, PARENTS CAN
BEGIN SUPPLEMENTING THEIR BABY’S
LIQUID DIET WITH SOLIDS FOODS.

6. WHAT FOODS SHOULD I START WITH?
 Baby cereal. These baby cereals have the
advantage of boosting your baby’s iron intake, and
they’re easy to digest. Just mix with a little baby
formula, breast milk, or even water on occasion.
 Vegetables. Start out by offering green vegetables,
followed by orange and yellow vegetables. Good
vegetables to start out with are green beans, peas,
spinach, sweet potatoes, squash, and pumpkin.

7.  Fruit. Fruits should only be instituted after vegetables
have been incorporated into child’s diet.
Recommended fruits to puree include apples,
bananas, peaches, pears and avocados.
 Pureed meat: Meat can be blended using a food
processor. Chicken, pork tenderloin, and turkey are all
good meats you can start giving your child.
 Offer finely chopped finger foods. By ages 8
months to 10 months, most babies can handle small
portions of finely chopped finger foods – soft fruits,
vegetables, pasta, well-cooked meat, baby crackers
and dry cereal.

8. WHAT DO I NEED TO START?

9.  Use a soft-tipped plastic spoon when you feed your baby
to avoid injuring their gums. Start with just a small
amount of food on the tip of the spoon.
 A high chair or other secure seat that holds your baby
upright to eat.
 Plastic or other waterproof bibs, which are easy to rinse
off.
 Unbreakable plates and bowls that won’t shatter when
they’re knocked off the high chair tray.
 You may also want to introduce your baby to a sippy cup
soon after you start solids.

10. WHAT KIND OF FOOD SHOULD
I NOT GIVE MY CHILD?
 Cow’s milk. Cow’s milk doesn’t meet an infant’s
nutritional needs – it isn’t a good source of iron and
can increase the risk of iron deficiency.
 Honey. Honey might contain spores that can cause
a serious illness known as infant botulism.

11.  Large pieces of food. Do not offer hot dogs, chunks
of meat or cheese, grapes, raw vegetables or fruit
chunks, unless they’re cut up into small pieces.
 Citrus fruits. Some pediatricians recommend
waiting until your baby is 1 year old to introduce
citrus fruits because the acidity can be irritating.

12. WHAT’S NEXT?

13. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INTRODUCING YOUR
BABY TO SOLID FOODS,
VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL OUR WINTER
SPRINGS PEDIATRICIAN OFFICE AT
407-335-4760 TODAY.

14. HTTP://FAMILYFIRSTPEDS.COM/