How to tell if your baby is ready for solid foods

It is often difficult to tell if you baby is rady for solid foods. There are no real guidelines but as a rule of thumb, it is usually between ages 4 to 6 months. Some babies will be ready for solids sooner, and others will have no interest for a while. Either way, they will not be on breastmilk or formula forever, so watch for these signs and you make the determination when you think she is ready.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 4 to 6 month old baby
• Signs to watch for

1. Head Control. Can your baby keep their head in an upright position? This is a necessity for solid food eating.

2. Extrusion Reflex eliminated. Your baby should not try to push solids out of their mouth when eating. This is also a must.

3. Be highchair "ready". Having the ability to sit upright in a highchair and be ready to eat is important. If your baby can't sit on their owna nd keep a steady head, they are not ready for solids

4. Most babies are ready for solids when they have doubled their borth weight, (over 15 pounds) and are at least 4 months old.

5. Does baby seem hungry after feedings? If you feed 8 to 10 times a day and baby still seems hungry, it may be time to start solids.

6. Shows a general curiousity in what you are eating. Does our baby watch you chew and shallow your food with an interest to imitate you? do you think they will grab that slice of pizza off of your plate if you turn your back? This is a sign that it is time to start rice cereal.

7. Chewing Motion. Can your baby chew solid foods and move their mouth in a chewing motion Does food stay in or is it spit out?

Tips & Warnings

• Start with rice cereal as a first food. It contains iron that is much needed for your baby's development.
• do not rush into feeding solids. wait until your baby is ready and shows these signs.
• You may think your baby is ready, but when you try solids you are unsuccessful. If this happens, wait a few days and then try again.
• There is no need to rush into feeding solid foods. Your baby will let you know when she is ready.

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on 8/30/2008 Very important tips! Recommendations about age have recently changed from 4 months to 6. The World Health Organization (WHO) released this statement regarding Infant and Young Child Nutrition in April 2002: "Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. As a global public health recommendation, infants should be EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for UP TO TWO YEARS OF AGE OR BEYOND."