August 26, 2024
By Solid Starts
Solid Starts is a team of pediatric feeding therapists, board-certified pediatricians, registered dietitians and a pediatric allergist whose mission is to help you introduce real food to your baby and raise a happy eater.
When introducing allergens, there are different approaches to take: all at once over the course of a meal, a day-long introduction, or a slow-and-steady pace over a few days. Check out the Solid Starts App on iOS or Android for details, including allergen introduction schedules with specific quantities.
★ Tip
Offer one food allergen at a time. It’s okay to pair with a food that your baby has already tried, but offer just one allergen at a time until an allergy is ruled out. This way, you’ll know which food was responsible if there is a reaction.
A final word: prepare yourself for gagging.
Gagging is common and expected as your baby learns how to eat, but it can be incredibly scary to see when it happens.
To help put your mind at ease, we encourage you to download our free Infant Rescue Guide, so you can see what gagging looks like. The guide also explains the difference between gagging and choking. Gagging is not the same as choking, and gagging does not lead to choking. It may sound counterintuitive, but gagging helps your baby learn how to eat by teaching what a “too big” bite feels like in the mouth.
Bottom line: Your baby’s body is built to protect itself with reflexes (like gagging) that are designed to reduce the risk of choking.
Your baby is ready for solid food. Now what?
Introducing solid food is a big, exciting step in your parenting journey. If knowing when and how to start feels overwhelming, rest assured. We’ve summed up the basics thanks to our licensed pediatric feeding team who happen to also be parents like you.When to start solids?
It’s generally recommended to introduce solid food around 6 months of age, which is aligned with the AAP and most leading medical institutions in the world. Some babies will be ready a bit earlier and some a bit later. Rather than looking for the “right” age, look for signs that your baby is ready.- The ability to sit with minimal support and maintain the head and neck upright.
- The ability to bring the hand to the mouth while sitting.
- Cognitive interest in feeding, mealtimes, and food.
How to start solids?
Your baby is showing all of the signs that they are developmentally ready to start solids. Now what? Some families choose to offer purees with spoons. Others start with finger food. No matter which approach you choose, the top advice from the pediatric pros at Solid Starts: let your baby control what goes in their mouth. When you allow your baby to explore solid food at their own pace, you strengthen your connection and build trust at the table. Do not force food into your baby’s mouth and try not to pressure your baby to eat. It’s totally normal for babies to not consume much (or any!) solid food at first. Simply seeing, touching, smelling, playing, and watching you eat are invaluable experiences at this stage. ★ Tip Offer solid food 30 to 45 minutes after a breast or bottle feed. This way, baby is happy, playful, and ready to explore solid food. Visit Baby Feeding Schedules on our website to learn more.
What are great first foods for your baby?
Good news: Just about any food can be safely prepared for babies who are ready to practice eating real food. Choose a food that you like to eat, offer a piece for your baby to explore, and eat together. Babies learn how to eat by watching you. Modeling how it is done teaches them what food is, how food works, and what happens at mealtime. As first foods, we love big pieces about the length and thickness of two adult fingers put together. This stick shape is easier for new eaters to grab, hold, and munch. Bigger shapes can also be safer because they are more effective at triggering the chewing reflexes, especially when they are firmer and less likely to break in the mouth. We call these “food teethers” and they are our favorite first foods for teaching your baby how to chew. Think asparagus spear, chicken drumstick, corn on the cob, mango pit, or a whole green bean. When choosing foods for babies, take extreme care with foods that present a high risk of choking. Foods that are small, round, firm, and slippery are particularly risky. Look up any food in our First Foods® database for information on how to safely prepare and cut food for a child’s age and eating ability. ★ Tip Focus on skills at first. Give your baby plenty of opportunities to try and try again with real food, and try not to stress if not much (or any!) makes its way into the belly. It’s totally normal, and breast milk and formula are the main source of nutrition for now.When to introduce allergens to your baby?
We recommend introducing egg, peanut, and other common food allergens as soon as your baby is ready to start solids. The research is clear: introducing common allergens early and serving them often can reduce the risk of food allergies developing later in life. When introducing allergens, there are a few tips to keep in mind:- Know the risk factors. Some babies are more at risk of food allergy, including those with severe eczema. Talk to a doctor before introducing food allergens at home.
- Understand the symptoms. Runny nose, sneezing, hives—these are just some of the signs of an allergic reaction. We’ve got a full briefing our our website, including photos.
- Start small. Just a scant amount of mashed hard-boiled egg or cow’s milk in porridge is enough at first. If there is no reaction, gradually increase the quantity over time.
- Offer in the morning. While an allergic reaction is unlikely, it may be easier to reach a doctor if you need help.
- Keep it in rotation. Once you’ve safely introduced a food allergen, keep that food in regular rotation at mealtime. Allergists typically recommend at least once a week, ideally twice.
When introducing allergens, there are different approaches to take: all at once over the course of a meal, a day-long introduction, or a slow-and-steady pace over a few days. Check out the Solid Starts App on iOS or Android for details, including allergen introduction schedules with specific quantities.
★ Tip
Offer one food allergen at a time. It’s okay to pair with a food that your baby has already tried, but offer just one allergen at a time until an allergy is ruled out. This way, you’ll know which food was responsible if there is a reaction.
A final word: prepare yourself for gagging.
Gagging is common and expected as your baby learns how to eat, but it can be incredibly scary to see when it happens.
To help put your mind at ease, we encourage you to download our free Infant Rescue Guide, so you can see what gagging looks like. The guide also explains the difference between gagging and choking. Gagging is not the same as choking, and gagging does not lead to choking. It may sound counterintuitive, but gagging helps your baby learn how to eat by teaching what a “too big” bite feels like in the mouth.
Bottom line: Your baby’s body is built to protect itself with reflexes (like gagging) that are designed to reduce the risk of choking.