Go back to breastfeeding or bottle-feeding exclusively for a time before trying again. If your baby cries or turns away when you feed them, do not make them eat. This allows your baby time to learn how to swallow solids.
Increase the amount of food gradually, with just a teaspoonful or two to start. This will prevent your baby from getting frustrated when they are very hungry.ĭo not be surprised if most of the first few solid-food feedings wind up on your baby's face, hands and bib. One way to make eating solids for the first time easier is to give your baby a little breast milk, formula or both first then switch to very small half-spoonfuls of food and finish with more breast milk or formula. They may look confused, wrinkle their nose, roll the food around inside their mouth or reject it altogether. Your baby may not know what to do at first. Start with half a spoonful or less and talk to your baby through the process ("Mmm, see how good this is?"). Check with your child's doctor about the recommendations for vitamin D and iron supplements during the first year. You should continue breastfeeding after introducing foods at six months for as long as you and your child wish, for 2 years or beyond. After that, the AAP supports continued breastfeeding, along with introductory foods. NOTE: The AAP recommends providing your baby only breastmilk for approximately 6 months after birth. Is your baby big enough? Generally, when infants double their birth weight (typically at about 4 months of age) and weigh about 13 pounds or more, they may be ready for solid foods. You may also want to wait a week or two and try again.
Try diluting it the first few times then, gradually thicken the texture. Remember, they have never had anything thicker than breast milk or formula before, and this may take some getting used to.
Remember that each child's readiness for solid foods depends on their own rate of development.Ĭan they hold their head up? Your baby should be able to sit in a high chair, a feeding seat or an infant seat with good head control.ĭo they open their mouth when food comes their way? Babies may be ready if they watch you eating, reach for your food and seem eager to be fed.Ĭan they move food from a spoon into their throat? If you offer a spoon of cereal, they push it out of their mouth and it dribbles onto their chin, they may not yet be able to move it to the back of their mouth to swallow it. Here is information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help you prepare for your baby's transition to solid foods. Which infant cereal or other foods will be on the menu for your baby's first solid meal? Have you set a date?Īt this point, you may have a plan or are confused because you have received too much advice from family and friends with different opinions.
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