4 Signs Your Baby is Ready for Solid Foods

Each baby is on his/her own schedule for all milestones and starting solid foods is no exception. There are a few important signs of readiness for starting solids that your baby will exhibit and that your pediatrician will look for. All you have to do is be attentive and your baby will let you know when they’re ready to take a seat at the table and join in on the meal!

Signs of readiness to start solid foods include:

#1 Baby is around 6 months of age

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommend breastfeeding or formula be the sole source of nutrition for the first 6 months
• The advisory committee for the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans has published a review of research that revealed there may be an increased risk of developing obesity if solids are started before 4 months of age

#2 Good head control

• Baby must be able to fully control their head and neck before starting solids
• Consider waiting to start solids if baby needs support holding head upright; focus on developmental play like tummy time and side-lying to improve head control

#3 Sitting up with minimal support

• Baby should be able to sit upright in a high chair without slouching in any direction

#4 Reaching and grabbing toys

• Baby is able to reach and grasp objects with the palm and bring them to the mouth

Usually the above signs emerge around 6 months, but each baby is different. Baby should show all of the above signs before starting solids.

False Signs of Readiness Include:

Some milestones and behaviors emerge around 6 months but don’t necessarily indicate that baby is ready for solids. Some of these false signs of readiness for solids include:

Interest in food

Around 4-6 months most babies are naturally interested in anything you have or do whether its food or not

Waking at night

• Babies wake at night for all kinds of reasons and not always because they are hungry
• If babies are hungry at night and are under 6 months of age, breastmilk or formula should be offered. Even when starting solids baby may still wake at night for a milk feeding.

Weight gain slowing

• Weight gain commonly slows around 4 months of age and is not an indication that baby needs solids. This slowing of weight gain is often nothing to be worried about.

Watching parents eat

• Babies naturally have an increase in curiosity toward most activities their parents are doing around 4 months, not just eating

Lip-Smacking Sounds

• Learning to use the mouth is also important for speech development but does not mean baby is ready for solids

Baby seems small or big for their age

• Small babies are either naturally small or need more nourishment through breast milk or formula, with the exception of certain premature babies who may need additional nutrients. Large babies do not have a more mature digestive system than small babies and do not need solids any earlier. Size of baby does not matter

Tongue thrust reflex disappears

• Although there is little research on the function of the tongue thrust, you may not need to wait until it is gone to start solids
• The tongue thrust may even be protective against choking when starting solids