3 Signs that your baby is ready for solids

It is important to know when the right time to start solids is. The World Health Organization recommends you exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first six months. Their guidelines indicate that you should not start feeding your baby solids before 4 months of age and solids should be introduced no later than 6 months. Babies do develop at different rates; reaching readiness for this milestone will vary depending on your child and their makeup. Here are some signs that your baby is ready to start solids.

1. Takes an interest in food

– If your little one is looking at you with interest as you are eating or trying to grab at your food, this is a good indicator that he may be ready to try his first solids.

2. Can sit upright

– It is usually around the time this milestone is reached that your baby will be sitting independently. When your baby reaches this milestone it is a good time to start introducing solids.

3. Tongue thrust reflex

– Your child is ready for solids when they have lost the tongue thrust reflex which pushes food out of their mouth. If your baby is still pushing most of the food out, he may not be quite ready.

If your little one is showing any of the above signs it may be time to start introducing solid foods.

Start simple: along with iron-fortified cereal, baby’s first solids can be single foods such as mashed banana or avocado, or cooked and pureed apple, pear, pumpkin or potato.

Good luck, we would love to hear your stories of when your baby started solids and what their favorites were.