Starting Solids

Overview

Starting solids is an exciting milestone in your baby’s development. With all the advice on introducing solid foods, knowing where to start can be a bit confusing. Together, we'll know what to do.

From the age of 6 months, milk alone no longer meets your baby’s nutritional or developmental needs, so it’s recommended to introduce solids at this time (unless medically advised by a health professional).

When to Introduce Solids

Signs Your Baby is Ready for Solids

Every baby develops at their own pace, but there are some common signs that your little one might be ready to start solid foods:

• Good Head Control: Baby can hold their head steady and sit upright with support.
• Interest in Food: They watch you eat, reach for food, and open their mouth when you offer a spoon.
• Loss of Tongue-Thrust Reflex:  Baby no longer automatically pushes food out of their mouth with their tongue.

Safety Alert: Always use a 5-point harness when baby is in their highchair and never leave them unattended during mealtimes.

Why It’s Important to Wait Until Around 6 Months

Breast milk or infant formula has all the nutrients your baby needs until 6 month of age and starting solids too early may interfere with this important nutrition.

Waiting until around 6 months will allow your baby's digestive system to mature. Your baby's gut is still developing, and their kidneys may not be ready to handle the extra load from solid foods. There is also a higher risk of developing food allergies and obesity or choking if you start before your baby has the oral motor skills to manage solids safely.

It's important to wait. 

Your baby should also have doubled their birth weight by 6 months and be gaining weight steadily. If your baby was premature, chat with your doctor about the best timeline for starting solids based on their unique development.

First Foods and Texture

Start by offering small amounts of pureed food once or twice a day, then gradually increase the frequency and amount as your baby grows and shows interest. You can also offer your baby very soft finger foods around 6 months if they show the signs that they are ready. You can offer a combination of both puree and soft foods. Gradually increase the texture of foods between 6 and 9 months allowing a wide variety of iron-rich foods. They might need some practice with new textures so don’t be alarmed if they gag. 

Gagging

This is a normal response that helps your baby protect themselves from choking. It can involve coughing, retching noises and sometimes vomiting. Letting babies feed themselves and put their hands or a baby spoon in their mouth can help reduce the gag reflex.

Avoid showing panic to your child’s gagging response. Remain calm and sit in front of them and show them how to cough the food back up. 

This can be normal as you increase the texture. Keep offering them small amounts to practice.

Iron-rich foods like fortified cereals, pureed meat, poultry, fish, and cooked egg yolk are great first options. Then start introducing a rainbow of nutrient-dense foods from different food groups:

• Fruits: pureed or steamed pieces of apple, pear, stone fruit,s and soft banana or avocado
• Vegetables: pureed sweet potato, carrot, zucchini, and broccoli
• Grains: iron-fortified cereals, such as rice and oats
• Proteins: pureed legumes, tofu, and eggs (introduced according to allergy guidelines)

Offering a wide variety of foods helps your baby get the nutrients they need and learn to love different flavours and textures.

Karitane Tip:
Between six and nine months is a crucial window of opportunity to introduce textured foods. If you miss this opening, you may increase the chance of feeding difficulties later. A variety of tastes, choices and textures are key!

When making your own baby food, be sure to follow safe food handling practices like washing your hands, using clean utensils, and storing food in sealed containers in the fridge. Skip the salt, and sugar as your baby's taste buds are still sensitive, and these extras aren't necessary.

Karitane Tip:
As babies grow older, it’s very normal for them to have particular food preferences. Some like vegetables, some prefer fruit, some like only puree, and some like white foods (rice, breads, pasta, dairy). It is important that you encourage your baby to try a wide variety of tastes and textures to ensure you’re meeting their nutritional and developmental needs.  It can take between 15-20 times of offering a new food before your baby may like it.

Signs of Successful Transitioning

As your baby becomes more comfortable with solid foods, you may notice:

• Increased appetite and enjoyment of mealtimes
• Improved coordination when eating and handling food
• Gradual reduction in breast milk or infant formula intake

Remember, every baby is unique, and some take longer to adjust to solids than others. Be patient, follow your little one's lead, and trust that they'll get there in their own time.

Karitane Tip:
Always allow infants to satisfy their appetite. Do not push your child to overeat or force them to finish the bowl. Apply the rule ‘you provide the food, your child decides how much to eat' at mealtimes.

Foods to Avoid During the First 12 Months

To minimise the risk of choking and other health issues, steer clear of giving your baby:

• Hard foods, such as whole nuts, raw carrots, and apples
• Small, round foods, such as whole grapes, cherry tomatoes, and popcorn
• Sticky foods, such as thick nut butter and marshmallows
• High-salt foods, such as processed meats and snacks
• High-sugar foods, such as biscuits, cakes, and sweetened drinks
• Honey (due to the risk of botulism)
• Unpasteurised dairy products, such as raw milk and soft cheeses
• Undercooked or raw eggs, meat, and fish
• Herbal teas, juices, caffeinated drinks, or soft drinks

Also, be mindful of choking hazards around your baby, like small toys and batteries. Keep these out of reach and always supervise your little one during playtime and mealtimes.

Mealtime Tips

• Offer solid food 30 minutes after a milk feed. 
• Start slowly – offer solids once per day and work up to 3 times per day over a 4-week period.
• Start with pureed or soft finger foods and progress to family foods by 12 months.
• Offer iron-rich foods like iron fortified cereals, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes and tofu.
• You can introduce foods in any order and any combination
• Allow your baby to decide when they have had enough. Look for signs such as turning or looking away, pushing food out of or closing their mouth, playing with or throwing food.
• Gradually wean off bottles by 12 months of age.
• Be responsive to your baby by noticing their hunger and full cues

Safety Tip: From 6-12 months, any water given to your baby should be boiled and cooled tap water. This helps to ensure the water is safe for your baby to drink and reduces the risk of waterborne illnesses. Always supervise your baby when they are drinking water to prevent choking.

Responsive Feeding

Responsive feeding is all about recognising and responding to your baby's hunger and fullness signals. When they're hungry, they may reach for food, open their mouth, and become more alert. When they're full, they might turn away, push food away, or lose interest in eating.

Creating a positive mealtime environment can help your baby develop a healthy relationship with food. Try to sit and eat together as a family whenever you can – it makes mealtimes more enjoyable and sets a good example for your little one.

Karitane Tip:
After 9 months, offer milk feeds after solid foods rather than before. This helps to ensure your baby is hungry enough to eat a variety of solid foods and get the nutrients they need for growth and development.

Mealtime Challenges

Introducing solids can come with some challenges but try not to worry – most of these are minor and easily managed with a bit of know-how.

Messy meals

Learning to eat solid foods can be a messy business! If you’re prepared for a messy situation, it’s often a lot easier to handle. Remember your baby is learning a new skill, by exploring different tastes and textures. This will help to create a positive experience with feeding. Here are some tips:

• Allow your baby to experiment with tastes and textures
• Expect spit and grubby hands
• Place a plastic mat under the highchair
• Use a bib to protect clothing
• Avoid wiping your baby’s face
• Leave clean-up to the end

Mealtime Safety

As a parent, keeping baby safe is always top priority, especially during mealtimes when they're exploring new foods and textures. Stay alert and take precautions to prevent choking and other hazards.

Some key safety tips:

• Always stay with your baby during mealtimes. It's crucial to supervise them closely and never leave them unattended while they're eating.
• Use a five-point harness highchair with a footrest to keep your baby’s body supported, secure and prevent them from slipping or climbing out.
• Cut food into small, manageable pieces that are appropriate for your baby's age and developmental stage.
• Encourage your baby to eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Avoid rushing mealtimes or pressuring your baby to eat more than they want.
• Make sure your baby is sitting upright and supported during mealtimes. Avoid feeding them while they're lying down or reclining.
• Learn the signs of choking and what to do in case of an emergency. Consider taking a first aid course specifically designed for parents and caregivers. Here’s a free online course

It's normal to feel a bit anxious about introducing solids and keeping your baby safe. By staying informed, taking precautions, and trusting your instincts, you can help your little one develop a healthy relationship with food while keeping them out of harm's way.

When a baby isn't ready for solids

It can be worrying when your baby shows little interest in solid foods, especially if you feel pressure to make sure they're getting enough nutrients. But remember, every baby is different, and some may need more time to adjust to this new way of eating.

If your baby isn't enjoying solid foods yet, there are plenty of ways to help them to explore new tastes and textures:

Don't force it

If your baby is not interested in solid foods, don't pressure them to eat. Forcing a baby to eat can lead to negative associations with food and mealtime.

Keep up with breast milk or formula

If your baby is not eating solid foods, continue to provide breast milk or formula as their primary source of nutrition. You may need some guidance from your child and family health nurse or your doctor to help during this period.

Offer solids at different times

Try offering food when your baby is happy, rested, and not too hungry or full. Some babies prefer solids in the morning, others in the afternoon.

Mix up textures and flavours

Experiment with different purees, mashes, and finger foods to see what your baby likes best.

Make mealtimes fun

Use colourful utensils, plates, and cups to make mealtime more visually appealing. Talk to your baby during mealtime, sing songs, or make silly faces to keep them engaged and interested.

Be patient

Some babies take longer to adjust to solids, and that's okay. Keep offering a variety of foods and trust that they'll get there in their own time.

Baby-Led Weaning

Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an approach to starting solids where you let your baby feed themselves whole foods right from the start, rather than spoon-feeding purees. This can help your baby develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and a love for different textures and flavours.

BLW does come with a higher risk of choking and gagging, so it's important to follow safety guidelines:

• Always supervise your baby during mealtimes
• Ensure your baby is sitting upright and supported
• Offer soft, easily manageable foods
• Avoid high-risk choking hazards

If you want to try baby-led weaning, have a chat with your child and family health nurse or doctor first to make sure your baby will get all the nutrients they need. Some babies do best with a combo of spoon-feeding and self-feeding.

Read more about purees vs baby-led weaning here.

Introducing allergenic foods

Recent research suggests that introducing common allergenic foods like peanuts, eggs, and cow's milk around 6 months may help prevent allergies. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) recommends offering these foods in an age-appropriate form (like smooth peanut butter, scrambled eggs, and yoghurt) . Once introduced, you need to continue giving these foods to your baby twice a week to help maintain their tolerance levels to that food. It is a good idea to put up a chart on your fridge to keep track of these types of foods and when you introduce them one at a time. ​

Signs of an allergic reaction may include:

• Hives or welts
• Swelling of the face, lips, or eyes
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Signs of anaphylaxis are more severe and may include: difficulty breathing, wheezing or turning blue

If you think your baby might be having an allergic reaction, get medical help right away.

When introducing allergenic foods, offer them one at a time in small amounts, waiting a few days before trying the next new food. It’s best to try these at earlier mealtimes during the day. This can help you pinpoint any potential reactions and their causes. If your baby has a known food allergy or is at high risk (e.g., due to family history), chat with an allergy specialist for personalised advice. It’s also important to never rub food on a baby’s skin. Treat all eczema as recommended by your doctor and avoid kissing your babies' skin where eczema is present. Even with this advice, some babies may still develop an allergy. ​