Feeding Your Baby: Starting Soft Foods
- Check with your pediatrician on the best time to start solids. Starting your baby with semi-solids before they are ready may cause your baby to choke.
- A good time to start your baby with semi-solid foods is between 4 to 6 months.
 One recommendation is to start your baby with fortified rice or barley cereals because they are less likely to cause allergies. Follow cereals with the introduction of pureed fruits, vegetables and finally meats.
- If you are using canned baby foods, check the "use by" dates. If the date has passed, throw the food away. Also, check to see if the safety button in the lid is down. If the jar lid doesn't "pop" when opened or it is not sealed completely, don't use it.
- Try to start your baby with individual foods rather than mixtures to help identify any food allergies.
- It is recommended that vegetables be introduced before fruit so that a child will be less likely to want sweet foods.
- Infants can begin to start feeding themselves around 6 to 7 months. To get them started, serve them finger foods that give them practice picking up foods. Also, allow your baby to hold a spoon or cup to help them reach this goal.
Signs that the baby is ready for soft foods:
| Growing appetite |
Your baby will still seem hungry after eight to ten feedings of breast milk or formula in a day and the baby will become curious about what you are eating. |
| Head control |
To eat soft foods, your baby needs to be able to keep his head in a steady, upright position. |
| Sit in an upright position |
Your baby will need to be able to sit upright to swallow well. |
| Chewing motions |
You will know your baby is ready to start soft foods when he or she should be able to move food to the back of the mouth and swallow. Some other signs are that you may notice less drooling and your baby may also be teething around the same time. |
| Weight gain |
Most babies are ready to eat soft foods when they've doubled their birth weight and are at least 4 months old. |
|
