Skip to main content
FamilyEducation
FamilyEducation
Family Education

FE-Menu

  • Pregnancy
    • <blank>
      • Pregnancy Tracker
      • Trying to Conceive
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Pregnancy Health
    • <blank>
      • Baby Names
      • High Risk Pregnancies
      • Preparing for Baby
    • <blank>
      • Concerns & Complications
      • Labor & Delivery
      • Postpartum
  • Baby Names
    • <blank>
      • Browse All Baby Names (A-Z)
      • Top Names for Boys
      • Top Names for Girls
      • Baby Name Generator
    • <blank>
      • Baby Name Lists & Ideas
      • First Names By Origin
      • Browse All Last Names (A-Z)
      • Last Names by Origin
  • Babies
    • <blank>
      • Caring For Your Baby
      • Baby's Health
      • Feeding Your Baby
    • <blank>
      • Your Baby and Sleep
      • Baby's Growth & Development
      • Baby Hygiene
    • <blank>
      • Baby Safety
      • Baby Products
    • <blank>
  • Toddlers
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Growth and Development
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Behavior and Discipline
    • <blank>
      • Your Toddler and Sleep
  • Kids
    • <blank>
      • Health
      • Childhood Development
      • Fitness & Nutrition
      • Childhood Safety
    • <blank>
      • Communicating with Your Kids
      • Childhood Behavior and Discipline
      • Fostering Responsibility
      • Instilling Values & Manners
    • <blank>
      • Childcare
      • Neurodiversity in Kids
      • Adopting Children
  • Teens
    • <blank>
      • Teen Health
      • Teen Puberty & Sex
    • <blank>
      • Behavior & Discipline
      • Teen Social Development
    • <blank>
      • Values & Responsibilities
  • Activities
    • <blank>
      • Printables
      • Indoor Activities
      • Learning Activities
      • Arts and Crafts
      • Performing Arts
      • Food Activities
      • Outdoor Activities
    • <blank>
      • Books
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Online
      • Quizzes
      • Games
      • Celebrities
    • <blank>
      • Parties
      • Travel
      • Toys
      • Holidays
      • Gifts
  • Learning
    • <blank>
      • By Grade
      • By Subject
      • College
      • Preschool
    • <blank>
      • Back to School
      • Study Skills
      • Learning Styles
    • <blank>
      • Homeschooling
      • Parental Involvement
      • Your Child's School
  • Family Life
    • <blank>
      • Mom Life
      • Dad Life
      • Family Relationships
      • Having a Healthy Marriage
      • Divorce
    • <blank>
      • Health & Fitness
      • COVID Resources
      • Managing Your Home
      • Moving Your Family
      • Pets
    • <blank>
      • Family Finances
      • Work
      • Families and Food
  • NewslettersNewsletters
    Newsletters

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Babies
  3. Feeding Your Baby
  4. Tips On Beginning Solid Foods

Tips on Beginning Solid Foods

This article contains some basic tips for starting your baby on solid foods.
  • facebook share icon
  • pin
  • twitter share icon
  • email share icon
  • Print page icon

In this article, you will find:

  • Getting started
  • Specifics on solids
  • More helpful advice

Getting started

Tips on Beginning Solid Foods

Babies usually start eating true solid foods just around six months, and it's not recommended they start before that. There are many reasons for this, but in a nutshell, it's about baby's digestive tract being fully developed, choking hazards, allergies, and the simple fact that you could overfeed your baby. They just don't need that much food and the difference between breastfeeding and formula versus foods is that they can tell you, by stopping, when they're full. With table food, they may not show you that sign until too late.

  • Note that babies who are not full-term infants may experience delays in their development and this can be especially important when introducing foods. See your doctor for more information in this case, because I'm completely out of my league here.

  • Allergies show up in different forms, such as diarrhea, throwing up, a rash (diaper or other), or even coughing. You have to watch your baby for any unusual behavior and the times that the symptoms occur, because she can have her own reaction to things her body can't take. Remember, though, that gagging doesn't indicate an allergy. It's a reflex, and it's common when babies start to taste new foods.

  • Whatever you do, don't gag yourself when tasting your baby's food in front of him. Lesson #1 in food introduction is that babies follow the philosophy "Don't expect me to eat anything that you won't eat."

  • Signs that baby is getting ready for solid foods are when she can sit up, hold her head up, allow tasting food with a spoon, and when she can begin to show you what foods she likes.

  • Babies usually will like foods their parents like and we need to try it, try it again, and try it again with them in order for them to develop the taste. Developing a liking for foods includes getting used to the flavor, but it also includes getting used to the odors and the textures.

  • The key to introducing solid foods is to decrease formula or breast milk, etc., during the day. Baby has to be hungry and without view of their "old reliable" bottle or breast. If you are normally "lunch," you might have someone else feed your baby for a short period of time until baby adjusts.

  • As soon as baby can sit up, feed solids in the high chair. Even small babies understand and enjoy it when they are allowed to do things that bigger people or other babies do. Somehow, they just know they are growing. These things, like sitting in a high chair, become accomplishments to them even if they are a bit afraid of it at first.

  • The goal is to get baby on the same meal schedule as you are. In the beginning, you may have to eat breakfast a bit earlier and dinner a bit earlier, but you can deal with pulling baby into your normal dining schedule once baby starts liking the foods and as she starts to stay awake longer.
  • Next: Specifics on solids

    Was this article helpful?

    Thank you for your feedback.

    What's hot

    • Introducing Cereal to Infants BabiesWhen Can Babies Eat Cereal? (…
    • two babies playing in the playroom Babies12 Simple Developmental…
    • Toddler Takes Sips of Wine and Beer BabiesIs It Okay for Toddlers to…
    • Printable Month-by-Month Developmental Milestone Chart BabiesPrintable Month-by-Month…
    NewslettersNewsletters
    Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.
    Family Education
    FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found here.

    FE Footer

    • Newsletter Center
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Editorial Policy
    • Editorial Team
    • Expert Panel
    • Medical Review Policy
    • Fact-Checking Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Site Map
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Use
    • Do Not Sell My Info (for CA Residents)
    sandbox learning logo
    Family Education is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites for parents, teachers, and students. 

    factmonster logoinfoplease logoTeacherVision logo

    sandbbox logo
    ©2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company.