Introducing Solid Foods

by Sabrina Granniss, IBCLC June 11, 2021

Introducing Solid Foods

Introducing solid foods to your baby offers more than just nutrition. It is a time of learning, skill development, and exploration. You may have lots of questions like when to start solid foods, what foods to introduce first and how to balance introducing food while still breastfeeding. Understanding your baby’s growth and development as well as their nutritional needs can help you navigate the process. Mealtimes can be fun for the whole family and a great time to spend time together, share stories, celebrate family traditions, or create new ones while enjoying food together!

Eating solid foods is a developmental milestone. The process from breastfeeding to the introduction of solid foods and eventually to full meals are connected to other skills your baby gains, each building on the one before it.

Breastfeeding is the perfect introduction to the progression of solid food introduction. Following your baby’s cues for when they are hungry and wanting to nurse as well as their cues for when they are done eating by unlatching all on their own when they are done with a feeding prepares them to follow these same cues of hunger and fullness with solid foods. Letting the baby take the lead allows them to really explore the foods they are trying, eat at a comfortable pace and stop when they are full which has been shown to influence healthy weight gain and metabolism.(1)

During the first year of your baby’s life, breastmilk will remain the main source of nutrition. When solid food is introduced at 6 months old or older, it is called complementary food. It is not meant to replace breastmilk. Your milk should always be given first before any solid foods are offered.

Building Blocks & Signs Of Readiness

Sitting up unassisted: Your baby can get themselves into a stable seated position all by themselves and back out of that position. Core strength enables them to sit unassisted and upright which is protective to their airway during eating. If you are slouching when you eat, imagine how much harder it is to properly chew and swallow food. Stability in your baby’s hips to support a seated position and the ability to lean in towards food and sit back away from food are important skills needed before solids are given.(6)
Head-turning: While seated, your baby needs strong core and neck strength to turn their head freely and comfortably from side to side. They will be able to look at their food and navigate picking it up, chew food safely and turn their head away when they are finished. Holding their head up and stable also protects their airway so they can direct the food they chew toward their esophagus and not their airway, avoiding choking.
Reaching for their parent’s food: Around the middle of the first year of life, your baby may begin to grab at your food. This is a sign of curiosity and should not be interpreted as readiness for solid foods. They see what you are doing and want in on the fun. In preparation for chewing, babies switch from bringing their fists to their mouth and sucking on them (a sign they are wanting to nurse) to bringing objects to their mouth and “chewing” on them. Teether toys can be a great tool for practicing moving their tongue side to side and strengthening their jaw for when they will chew solid foods.
Food stays in: For breastfeeding, the tongue needs to come out of the mouth(extrusion reflex). The baby is then able to latch and suck to get milk. This tongue thrust also ensures anything other than their milk will be pushed out of the mouth. As your baby grows and becomes ready for solid foods, their lips are now able to draw inward to close around a spoon or food.(2) The tongue thrust reflex is fading and food will not be pushed out of their mouth. If you choose to spoon-feed your baby, watch for if their lips are closing around the spoon or if food is being pushed back out. If it is pushed out, hold off a little longer on giving solids. They may not be quite ready.
Chewing and swallowing: Around 6 months of age, the baby’s swallow reflex becomes more pronounced. The lips being able to close gives their jaw stability to move food around in their mouth and swallow. After your baby picks up a piece of food and brings it to their mouth, their tongue moves the food to the sides of the mouth which is why lateralization of the tongue is important. Their jaw muscles work to “chew” the food. Even if they do not have many teeth, they will gnaw the food smashing it between their gums. These jaw and tongue movements play an important role in the development of speech.
Pincer grasp: Your baby is beginning to use their fingers vs their whole hand to grasp food and bring it to their mouth. The pincer grasp is usually not as developed until closer to 9 months old.

How to Introduce Solid Foods

Family mealtimes are often a convenient and good time for introducing solids. You probably have noticed your baby enjoys watching what you are doing while eating and grabbing at what you have.
Sitting in a high chair that allows your baby to be upright with their feet resting on a footrest gives stability and makes it easier to be comfortable while eating. It is not as easy to eat when your feet are dangling unsupported. Avoid the harness type highchairs because they restrict your baby’s arm movements.
Let your baby feed themself. Remember food is an exploration for the senses as well as skill-building. Let them reach for and pick up their food to bring it to their mouth. It might get messy and that is ok. The more involved they are with feeding, the more variety of food they will be open to trying.
Pay attention to their cues. If they reach for more food, offer more. If they are turning away, that is their way of saying, “Thanks, I’m all done.” They know when they have had enough.
Go slowly. Breastmilk is still their primary source of nutrition and calories. Only little bits of food will be offered in the beginning and will increase as your child gets older.
At 6 months old, give only 1 - 2 Tablespoons worth of food for them to try at 1 or 2 meal times a day. As they get older, around 8 months old, they will be eating finger foods at 2 - 3 meal times a day. At 12 months old, they will be eating 3 meals a day and snacks.
Water can be given in small amounts with meals.
Introduce whole foods with a variety of colors, textures, and flavors that are nutrient-dense. Avoid packaged foods as they are less nutritious and often contain unhealthy ingredients. Offering what is served at your mealtime can be a nice way to begin.
Foods that are high in iron, vitamin C (for better iron absorption), and calories.(7) Some ideas are strips of meat, lentils or beans, steamed stalks of broccoli or carrots, and avocado wedges.
Food that is left whole or lightly mashed with a fork, but still lumpy is preferable so your baby exercises their jaw muscles which is shown to benefit overall oral development.(3) Pureed foods are ok to include but should not be the only way food is given. Your baby may enjoy practicing using a spoon.

What Foods To Introduce

Beans and legumes(4)
Meats, fish, and cooked egg yolks
Steamed or roasted vegetables
Raw vegetables
Fruit
Healthy fats
Organic whole foods, pasture-raised and sustainable foods whenever possible

Risks Of Starting Solids Too Soon

Increased risk of choking
Parent’s milk supply decreases
Overfeeding when baby is fed rather than feeding themself
Decreased nutrition if beginning to eat more solids and less breastmilk
Early weaning

While breastmilk contains everything your baby needs for at least the first 6 months of life, the introduction of solid foods should include foods that add to your baby’s overall nutritional profile.(5) There are no flavors or foods that are specifically off limits when introducing solid foods. There are babies all around the world eating different flavorful foods that are part of their family’s mealtimes and traditions. Follow your baby’s lead and enjoy the introduction of solids with your baby.