Introducing Solids

Introducing solids (Approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board)

When should I introduce solid foods?

It's a good idea to wait until your baby is six months old before giving her solid food as well as her usual milk. The Department of Health says it's best to exclusively breastfeed your baby until she is six months old. After that, breastmilk on its own doesn't give your baby everything she needs, in particular iron.

If your baby is bottle-fed, you should give her formula milk which is based on cows' milk for the first six months. This is unless your doctor or health visitor has advised you to give her a different milk.

It's safer for your baby if you wait until she's six months old to introduce her to solids. There is less chance of her:

• picking up an infection from food, as her digestive system is more mature
• having a bad reaction to food, as her immune system is stronger

If you feel your baby is hungry for food earlier than six months, it's worth offering her extra milk first. Or you could ask your health visitor about trying a different formula if you bottle feed your baby. However hungry she seems, keep your baby on just milk until the end of her fourth month (17 weeks).

If you do decide to start your baby on solids between four and six months, don't give her foods she could react to. These foods are:

• cow's milk and dairy products
• anything with gluten
• citrus fruits and juices
• fish and shellfish
• eggs

If you want reassurance, talk to your health visitor or GP. This is especially important if your baby was premature, as she may need weaning at a different time.

How can I tell if my baby is ready for solids?

Your baby may be ready to start solids if she:

• Can hold her head up. Your baby needs to be able to maintain a steady, upright position, to take her first foods.


• Sits well when supported. You may have to have your baby on your lap at first. A highchair can be pulled into action a bit later when she can sit up by herself.


• Makes chewing motions. Your baby should be able to move food to the back of her mouth and swallow. As your baby learns to swallow efficiently you may notice that she dribbles less. She may even have a tooth or two.


• Has gained a healthy weight. Most babies are ready to eat semi-solids when they've doubled their birth weight. This may happen before or around their sixth month.


• Is curious about what you're eating. Is she eyeing your meals and reaching out to try foods you're moving from your plate to your mouth?

How should I introduce solids?

You may find it easiest to start with simple puréed or well-mashed foods. Try offering your baby one or two spoonfuls of the following:

• Mashed or puréed vegetables, such as cooked carrot, parsnip, potato or sweet potato.


• Mashed or puréed fruit, such as banana, cooked apple, pear or mango.


• Baby cereal such as baby rice, sago, maize, cornmeal or millet. You can mix these with some of your baby's milk.

You can offer food to your baby before or after a milk feed, or in the middle of a feed if it works better. Pick a time that's good for both of you. If the food is hot, make sure you stir, cool and test it on the inside of your wrist before giving it to your baby.

It may take your baby a while to get used to these new flavours. Don't be surprised if she rejects the food or spits it out. Just try again later, or the next day. You can make the food a little blander by mixing it with a few teaspoons of your baby's milk.

At first, your baby may seem to eat very little. Be patient and remember it may take time for her to learn how to eat. As she develops more of a side-to-side, grinding motion, add less liquid to her food so the texture is thicker, with chunkier, soft lumps. This allows your baby to work on chewing, or gumming, and swallowing.

As your baby becomes used to fruits, vegetables and cereal, add a variety of other foods. Then gradually increase the number of times a day that she has solids. By the time your baby is about seven months old, she should be eating solids three times a day. A typical day's intake could include:

• Breastmilk or formula milk.


• Iron-fortified cereal. Check packaging for salt and sugar levels, though.


• Vegetables. These can include potatoes, parsnips, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato, spinach and butternut squash.


• Small amounts of meat, poultry, fish, yogurt, hard-boiled egg, well-cooked lentils and cheese. Don't give your baby brie, stilton and other mould-ripened or soft cheeses.


• Fruit.

Remember that your baby's appetite will vary from one feed to the next. Watch out for cues that she's full. If she keeps her mouth shut, turns away, or starts playing with her food, she's probably had enough.

Can I give my baby finger foods?

Some babies prefer to feed themselves with finger foods from the beginning of weaning, rather than to be spoon-fed. Finger foods for six-month-olds can be a finger of buttered toast or a slice of soft, peeled pear. If this is true of your baby, don't worry and let her feed herself. Or you could let your baby hold a finger food while you spoon feed her at first.

At about seven to nine months, most babies are ready for finger foods cut into bite-sized bits. Ideal finger foods for this stage are:

• tender cooked carrots and sweet potatoes
• cooked pasta shapes
• breakfast cereals
• ripe bananas
• bread
• melon

Always stay with your baby when she's eating because of the risk of choking.

Finger foods encourage your baby to chew, even if she doesn't have teeth. Your baby will suck or bite the food using her gums and this also helps speech muscles to develop. Finger foods should be stick-shaped, to make it easier for your baby to pick up and hold.

Do I still need to breastfeed?

Yes. Breastmilk is designed to be the perfect food for your baby's first six months. Both breastmilk and formula provide important vitamins, iron, and protein in an easy-to-digest form. Breastmilk or formula will remain her most important source of nutrition until she is a year old. This is the case even though solid foods will gradually replace some of your baby's milk feeds.

You could give your baby vitamin drops containing vitamins A, and D from six months. It's a way of ensuring she has enough of the important vitamins she needs. This is especially important for breastfed babies, and babies who drink less than 500ml of formula milk a day.

How can I help my baby develop healthy eating habits?

Feed your baby a little at a time. If you try to give her too much, she may be put off trying other foods. And give her a variety from the four main food groups:

• fruit and vegetables
• bread, rice, potatoes, pasta
• milk and dairy foods
• meat, fish, eggs, beans

It's best to avoid sugar, salt, and very fatty foods or very hot, spicy foods. Some babies enjoy mildly spiced foods, but they can't tolerate highly spiced foods to start with.

Give your baby sips of water from a cup or beaker at mealtimes. If you give your baby fruit juice, keep it to mealtimes only, and dilute it well. Add one part juice to 10 parts water.

Try not to use food as a bribe or reward. Instead, give your baby plenty of hugs, kisses and attention.

Do I need any special equipment?

There's a dazzling array of feeding-related items you can buy, but, only a few that make mealtimes easier. A rubber-tipped spoon helps protect your baby's sensitive gums.

Once your baby can sit up on her own, it's time to use a highchair. Handing finger foods to a crawling baby can cause choking. And, if your baby learns to associate eating with sitting at a table, she's more likely to develop the good eating habits that can make mealtimes a family pleasure.

A plastic dish with suction cups can keep your baby's meal on the highchair instead of the floor! To protect your floor, try a splash mat or lay down newspaper to catch spills. It'll make cleaning up simpler.

My baby's poo has changed now that she's on solids. Is this normal?

Yes. You will find that solid foods make your baby's poo change colour and smell different.

If you suspect your baby's poos are so firm that they seem to be giving her pain, she may be constipated. Make sure you offer plenty of fruits and vegetables and frequent drinks, such as a few sips of water or well-diluted, unsweetened fruit juice. If the problem persists, speak to your doctor or health visitor.