How to Determine Whether Your Baby is Ready for Solid Food

Is your baby ready for solids? Well, there are some clear signs that the baby is physically ready. She should be at least six months old. (Introducing before six months is not only unnecessary as the baby is getting all the nutrition needed from breast milk or formula, but it can promote unhealthy weight gain, onset of food allergies, and possible intestinal problems.) She should also be able to sit up, and hold her head up well. The last thing that happens at around the six month mark is that the thrust reflex lessens. If you put some food in the mouth of a tiny baby, her tongue will push it back out. This thrust reflex needs to be gone before starting solids. Luckily, there is a simple test, and it is the test that really clinches your baby's readiness one way or another.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A small dab of mushed food such as a banana or made up rice cereal.
• A freshly washed finger
• A baby who exhbits all the signs of being ready for solids.

1. Prepare a small dab of mushed food. I was eating a banana when I tried this with my baby, and mushed it between my fingers. You can also use a tiny amount of rice cereal.

2. Put a little piece on the end of your finger. You don't really want a spoonful right now, just a tiny bit; and for this first bite of food your baby may find a spoon a little intimidating. He is used to your finger.

3. Put your finger with the food in the baby's mouth.

4. Watch very carefully. If the food is spit back out all over himself, he's not ready. Wait a few days or a week and try again. Or if you're not sure (and it can sometimes be hard to tell) repeat the experiment.

5. If you watched him swallow and the food is gone, your baby is ready to start the fun of solids. Especially if he starts grasping and making "more, more" motions!

Resources

• How to Choose and Prepare Common Fruit and Vegetables to Make Homemade Baby Food
• More Articles by Bookmom

[djvaughn2]

on 10/18/2008 Great advice! Thanks!!!

[CCrock]

on 9/2/2008 Great article! My daughter started on sweet potatoes at 6 months! When she got older, we added herbs and seasonings to her babyfood like ginger to squash, cinnamon to sweet potatoes and basil to green beans.

[southernlady]

on 8/20/2008 Great tips. My son was around six months when we started introducing baby foods including sweet potatoes, peas and green beans. Now he is a great little eater!!!

[MidniteWriter]

on 8/12/2008 thanks for the helpful hints!

[TeryLynne]

on 8/8/2008 Great tips.