STARTING SOLIDS The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solids around six months of age and when your baby displays the below signs of readiness. Always discuss introducing solids with your pediatrician who knows your baby best.
Signs of Readiness: They can sit with support. They hold their head up when sitting. They can turn their head toward or away from food. They are interested in food when other people are eating. They open their mouth when you offer a spoonful of food. They can take food from a spoon and swallow.
How to Start Start by offering a small amount of food one to two times per day. It is perfectly normal for your baby to push food out of their mouth while learning to handle solids. Remember, your initial goal is to introduce your baby to the new tastes and textures of solid foods. Rest assured, even if they don’t initially do much eating, breastmilk and/or formula will continue to provide your baby with the majority of nutrients needed for the first year of life. This tip is from our Happy Mama Mentor Angela, RD, CBS and mom to Parker, Hadley & Emma Also available to chat at: happyfamilyorganics/chat
TOTS & TYKES Introducing
foods to your baby
New research shows there is no specific order in which foods should be introduced*, as long as it is in a texture your baby can handle. With that in mind, the below are simply recommendations; you can choose to add these foods in whenever you feel your baby is ready and in a texture they can tolerate.
FRUIT apple avocado banana pear apricot mango peach plum melon kiwi berries
2
VEGETABLES
Check off the foods baby has tried!
TOTS & TYKES
GRAINS
fortified infant cereal barley oatmeal rice buckwheat millet pasta quinoa
PROTEIN beef poultry fish shellfish nut butters beans/legumes *Babies under 1 should never have honey. Avoid foods that are choking hazards. Check with your pediatrician before introducing allergens.
green beans peas sweet potato butternut squash carrots zucchini kale broccoli beets asparagus bell peppers cauliflower eggplant spinach turnip parsnip
DAIRY breastmilk or formula yogurt (whole milk no-sugar-added)
Tip: Don’t give up! It can take up to 10 (or more!) encounters with a new food before your child will eat it.