How do you know your baby is ready for solid foods?

It’s best to wait to give your child solid foods for the first time until they are about 6 months old.В  There are some studies that indicate that the risk of developing allergies and childhood obesity are reduced if you wait to introduce solid foods until then.В  Additionally, the immune system boost that a baby acquires from drinking breast milk is most effective if the baby is fed breast milk exclusively until 6 months old.В  Also, the baby should be able to get all of their nutritional needs from breast milk or formula until that time.В  Even after introducing solids, a baby should get the majority of their calories from milk for the first year.

Additionally, you baby should be able to sit up and hold up their head before you give them solids.В  Most babies will have doubled their birth weight before they are ready for solids.В  And they will have developed the ability to swallow without their tongue pushing food out.В  Unless your doctor advises you to do so, a baby should never be given solids before 4 months of age.

That being said, some people (like me) have to start giving solid foods earlier than 6 months even though it’s not ideal.В  Here are a couple of situations and signs that indicate your baby might be ready for solids.As always, if you have any questions, consult your pediatrician!

They no longer sleep though the night
If your baby used to sleep through the night, and they are now waking up for additional feedings, this could be a sign that they are ready for solids during the day.В  This can also be a sign of teething, gas, and a variety of other factors, so use your instincts.

If your baby us showing a lot of interest in what adults are eating
Babies that track you while you are eating, reach for food that you are eating, or move their mouths while watching you eat they may also be ready for solid foods.В  Keep in mind that babies between the ages of 4-6 months put everything in their mouths, so make sure you can see the difference between curiosity and the need to receive additional nutrition (this is how my mother-in-law knew that my husband was ready for solids when he was a baby)

Your breast milk is not enough
If after a large milk feeding, the baby still wants more to eat consistently, they are probably ready for the introduction of solids or going through a growth spurt.В  This is what happened to me with my son.В  In my case, I would have plenty of milk in the morning, but by the evening, I was not satisfying his needs (this took place over a week and I tried to pump to stimulate more milk production).В  If this happens to you, try replacing or supplementing two feedings from the day with solid food.

The baby is not taking as much milk as before
Babies need to get a certain amount of calories each day.В  If for some reason they are not taking in the calories they require you should talk to a doctor about introducing solids.В  This happened to a friend of mine.В  Her son started weaning himself off his bottles and was not as interested in them as she would have liked.В  Since she was worried about his development and weight gain, she introduced solids and he was much more interested in them then he was in his bottles.

30 Day Song Challenge