When is it a good time to start introducing solid foods?

Starting solids is a very exciting milestone for you and the child! You can normally start introducing solid foods by around 4 to 6 months of age, ideally no earlier than 4 months. Research shows that children who started solid foods by 4 months had a better response and acceptance to new foods introduced later on than those who started at solids at 9 months or later.

If your child does not seem ready to start solids between 4-6 months and they start solids a little later than 6 months, it is also okay. Remember, every child is different and they will all develop at their own pace. Observe your child to know when they are ready to start solids. Here are a few signs you could look out for that will tell you they may be ready to start solids.

• They are able to sit up alone or with support
• They are able to control their head and neck
• They open their mouth when food is offered
• They have learnt to swallow their food (breast milk or formula) and don’t push it out of their mouths 
• They can transfer food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow
• Signs your child might or might not be able to do (the following signs would be nice if your child can do but it is not a must):
• They can grasp small objects such as toys or food
• They can bring objects to their mouths
• They show interest in food, for example, reaching for others’ food, watching others eat, etc.

Now that you know what to look out for as signs your child might be ready to start solids, how can you start? Trying new foods with your child should be exciting! The opportunity to observe their reactions to new flavours and textures, the opportunities to see whether they have similar likes and dislikes as you!

There are no ‘rules’ to follow in terms of what foods to start introducing. However, it is recommended by the CDC to start by introducing potential allergens to eliminate the possibility of allergies. The CDC advise parents to introduce potentially allergenic food such as milk products, eggs, fish, nuts, wheat, soy and sesame first. Doing so could reduce the occurrence of allergies later in life (Caffarelli et al 2018). If your child shows any signs of discomfort or allergies, or you have a family history of any particular allergies, talk with your paediatrician about how and when to introduce that particular food. 

In line with ruling out allergens, one suggested method of introducing new foods can be as a single ingredient, one at a time, waiting a few days between each new food introduced. This way you can track if your child has any allergies or reactions with that food. Once you know your child is not allergic to anything, you can begin mixing and combining foods. Offering food that is always kept separate can lead to fussy eating later on, so it is best to start combining foods as soon as possible.

When trying any new foods, give your child the opportunity to get used to the textures. It can be best to offer food in mashed, pureed, strained or very smooth textured forms initially. New textures like thicker or lumpy foods can be introduced once your child’s oral skills develop. This will help avoid any choking hazards with your child.

That being said, it is completely normal if your child coughs, gags, or spits up food as it is part of them learning the gag reflex to prevent choking later on. Try to learn the different between gagging [which is safe] and choking, and learn how you can respond to these.To prevent choking, start by feeding larger pieces of food which will encourage your child to suck or bite the food instead of putting an entire piece in their mouth!

Always try to encourage your child to eat slowly, preparing food that is easily dissolved with saliva and does not require excessive chewing and, as we’re sure goes without saying, always being present to watch your child whilst they eat.

As your child’s motor skills develop with age, try to encourage your child to pinch or pick up the foods independently, eventually using a fork. Most babies learn to pick up foods by 9 months and that is when you can start offering larger or cut up pieces of food.

A top tip at this stage of weaning onto solids would be to avoid letting your child choose what they would like to eat as it can lead to fussy eating habits. Whilst we all have preferences with flavours and tastes, allowing your child to dictate what they will and won’t eat at such a young age can be detrimental to their eating habits later on in life.

When looking to prepare foods for your little one, here are a few tips you can follow:

• Cereals and grains can be mashed with breast milk, formula or water, making it easy to swallow
• Mash fruits and vegetables until smooth; hard fruits or vegetables should first be cooked in order to mash or puree them
• Remove all seeds or hard pits from fruits and cut them into large pieces or thin slices.
• Any cylindrical or spherical foods, like grapes, would need to be crushed or flattened so they can chew on the entire thing with less chance of choking
• Make sure they are not round pieces as they can get stuck in the airway
• Whole-grain kernels of wheat, barley or rice would need to be cooked and mashed
• Avoid any sticky, small or hard foods that may be hard to chew or swallow
• Avoid adding processed sugar or table salt to your child’s food. Rock salt or natural sugars are certainly okay for children

In terms of the general eating structure and dynamic, for safety reasons ensure your child is always seated when eating. Ideally they should be seated  in their high chair or another safe place, not lying down, crawling, or walking. Avoid introducing new foods in a car or a stroller. Always try and keep mealtimes calm, without distractions and without time constraints. Meal times should be enjoyable and a time to bond with your child.

In order to ensure your child is exposed to a variety of healthy, nutritious foods from early on, we recommend introducing some of the following:  

• Fruits 
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Proteins such as beef, lamb, chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, bone broth, raw beef liver (blend it with yoghurt/fruits/berries or you can freeze it and give it to children which can soothe teething pain)
• Unpasteurised dairy such as cheese, milk or yogurt
• Raw unprocessed cod liver oil (try mixing it with milk)
• You can check the following link for cod liver oil recommended by our nutritionist 
• Water from around  6 to 12 months old, offer them 4 to 8 ounces per day. Adding powdered fruits and greens to their water to increase their detoxification, digestion, and immunity
• Fermented products such as greek yoghurt, applesauce or kefir

Whilst there are is a whole bunch of wholesome foods you can introduce your little one to, there are equally some foods you should avoid:

• Honey should not be offered to your child until they are 12 months old as it may lead to food poisoning called botulism. This includes food containing honey as well such as yoghurt with honey or cereals with honey, etc
• Raisins can be a choking hazard for your children as they usually clump together. Offer these to your children by around 18 months of age, offering one piece at a time
• Foods with added processed sugars. Any food with added processed sugars, like muffins or cookies, and drinks such as soda or flavoured milk/water should not be offered until the child is 24 months and older
• Foods high in table salt
• Fish high in mercury. Always check fish advisories before feeding it to your child as too much exposure to mercury over time can be harmful to the brain and nervous system. Some types of fish are low in mercury but some, like king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, are higher in mercury
• Caffeinated drinks including soft drinks, tea or coffee can be offered once the child is around 2 years or older. Herbal teas can be offered from 6-9 months such as chamomile tea, mint noncaffinated fruit teas as it helps with digestion

*Please note that the lists mentioned above do not include all possible food or drinks. For any questions, please consult with your paediatric.

References:

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Burritt, K. (2021, July 8). Toddler Food Guide: When to introduce new foods. Parents. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/feeding/healthy-eating/toddler-food-guide-introducing-new-foods/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, December 17). Picky Eaters and what to do. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/picky-eaters.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 29). Tastes and textures. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/tastes-and-textures.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 24). When, what, and how to introduce Solid Foods. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, April 11). Foods and drinks to encourage. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/foods-and-drinks-to-encourage.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, February 25). Choking hazards. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/choking-hazards.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 17). Foods and drinks to avoid or limit. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 11, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/InfantandToddlerNutrition/foods-and-drinks/foods-and-drinks-to-limit.html

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