Introducing Solid Foods
About the time that your baby reaches her six-month birthday, it will be time to introduce her to solid foods. When the time comes, she should be giving you clear signs that she is ready to move beyond her liquid-only diet. Your baby is ready for solid foods when she:
Can keep her head in a steady, upright position.
Stops using her tongue to push food out of her mouth.
Sits well when supported.
Has doubled her birth weight and is at least four to six months old.
Seems curious about what you are eating.
To introduce solid foods for the time, start by nursing or bottle feeding your baby. If she is too hungry, she will only be cranky and agitated. Next, sit her up in a comfortable position and give her one or two teaspoons of food mixed with enough formula or breast milk to make it liquidy. Start with just a small amount of food on the tip of the spoon.
Begin with a one feeding of solid food per day, adding more food, and more settings as your baby's appetitive increases. Gradually thicken the consistency of her food as she adjusts to the idea of eating from a spoon.
When introducing new foods, it is best to do so one at a time, then wait a few days to make sure your baby shows no signs of allergic reaction.
