The scoop on knowing when babies should switch from formula to solid food
Babies start out getting all of their nutrients from liquid—formula or breast milk, whichever method you choose to follow. Around the age of four months, however, it's safe to start introducing your little guy or gal to solid foods.
When should I start giving my baby solid foods?
At six months, most babies will still be getting the majority of their nutrients from milk or the best formula their parents choose. As early as four months, you can start introducing your baby to some solids. Every kid is different, but in general, most babies can handle solid foods in certain increments:
- At 4 months, start feeding your baby solids once a day.
- Around 6 months, most babies can have solids 2 or 3 times a day.
- At 8 to 9 months, incorporate solids into breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
In general, at mealtimes, you should feed your baby milk first, then move on to solids until they're about 6 to 9 months old. After the 9 month mark, switch to trying solid foods first, then finishing up with milk. By the time your baby is a year old, she'll be ready to make the transition to 100 percent solid food.
What kind of solid foods are safe for my baby to eat?
When you first start introducing solids, pick first foods that are high in iron and easy to eat. These include things like iron-enriched baby food, cooked and pureed fruits and veggies, and small pieces of meat, poultry, or fish. When you first start out, your baby's solid food should be completely pureed, smooth with no lumps. As you gradually start introducing more solids, you can move up to chewable foods.
In general, try to pick foods from the major food groups. Your baby's nutrition follows similar rules to your own.
- Vegetables: Pureed sweet potato, squash, pumpkin, carrots, etc. Legumes, beans, peas, and other small, mashable veggies. Start with smooth, pureed veggies, then gradually increase the "chunk factor" until your baby can handle cooked (but not pureed) veggies, too.
- Fruit: Stewed, mashed, or pureed apples, pears, peaches, berries, bananas, etc. Like veggies, start with a puree, then move up to grated, chopped, or mashed fruit. Older babies can handle small slices and chunks—just be careful of tougher fruits, like apples and plums, which can pose a choking hazard in larger pieces.
- Grains: Many instant cereals offer recipes and versions specifically for babies. You can start with fortified cereals, then move to tougher foods like rolled oats and breakfast biscuits. Just be sure to keep an eye on the ingredients label—you want to avoid sweet additives like honey, chocolate, or sugar.
- Protein: Ever had a pureed hamburger? Like all other foods, you should start out with pureed proteins, like tofu. Gradually, you can move up to small pieces of shredded chicken, minced meat, or flaky fish. Maybe skip the T-bone steak until your kid's a little older.
- Dairy: As your baby starts to move away from formula and breastmilk, you can replace it with healthy dairy by adding small amounts of milk to their pureed meals. Dairy in general can be used as an additive (pop some grated cheese in your veggies, or round out mashed fruit with some yogurt). As your baby grows older, you can move to things like cheese cubes.
What are the best practices for introducing babies to solid foods?
Every baby is different, so let your kiddo drive the show. Babies aren't responsible for their own dietary choices, but they do know when they're hungry—and when they're done eating. If your baby's had enough to eat, he might turn away from the spoon or lose interest completely. And that's okay! Healthy babies stop eating when they're no longer hungry, so it's nothing to worry about.
Is it okay for my baby to feed herself?
Around the age of 9 to 12 months, most babies start to take an interest in finger foods. This is great for a lot of reasons—your baby gets to explore her world, you get to take some adorable spaghetti sauce pictures, and you introduce your baby to a wider range of likes and dislikes.
At the same time, playing with finger foods boosts your toddler's tactile senses, muscle memory, and cognitive function, as she learns more about what tastes good (peaches), what she isn't a fan of (broccoli), and what makes Mom and Dad mad if it gets "accidentally" eaten (iPhones, remote controls, and the poor dog's tail).
Introducing your baby to solid foods can be a scary hurdle. However, with some patience, some creativity, and a little luck, you can get your toddler chowing down with ease.
Resources— Pregnancy Birth & Baby, Mayo Clinic, Parents
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