Written by Claudia Botzet, former SDSU Extension Nutrition Field Specialist.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend introducing solid foods when infants are about 6 months of age. However, every child is different. Always speak with your child's healthcare provider before introducing solid foods. The timing can vary based on the infant’s signs of being developmentally ready, including:
- Sits up alone or with little support.
- Controls their head and neck.
- Opens mouth voluntarily when food is offered.
- Grasps small objects and brings them to their mouth.
- Transfers food to the back of their mouth with their tongue, and
- Swallows the food.
There are different ways to introduce food to your infant. Foods can be introduced as purees, mashed, or ground. If you are interested in learning about a method of introducing food where the infant takes the lead in the process, please see SDSU Extension’s article, Baby-Led Weaning: An Overview.
When introducing solid foods to infants, it is important to ensure they are still getting enough calories and nutrition. Breastmilk or formula should be provided with food until the child is about 12 months old. After 12 months of age, whole cow’s milk should be provided with meals.
It is important to introduce potentially allergenic foods one at a time when babies are first beginning to eat solid foods. This way, if the infant does have a reaction, you more than likely can pinpoint the food that caused the reaction more easily. The main allergens are cow’s milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, and sesame. If these foods are tolerated when introduced, it is important to make these foods part of their usual diet. If these foods are not made a part of the infant's regular diet, there is a chance the infant's body will begin to reject these common allergens and develop an allergy to one or more of these foods. You can learn more about the major allergens by reading Food Allergens.
Summary
It is important to provide a variety of appropriately sized and soft pieces of food for your infant, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy (if tolerated), and foods rich in iron and zinc. When a variety of food is offered, a variety of vitamins and minerals is also being offered, aiding the infant's growth and development. In addition, always stay by your baby's side while eating in case they start to choke.
References
- Stephen Borowitz. First Bites – Why, When, and What Solid Foods to Feed Infants.
- National Library of Medicine. What is the Relationship Between Repeated Exposure (Timing, Quantity, and Frequency) to Foods and Early Food Acceptance?.
- Anna Hicke-Roberts and Colleagues. Late Introduction of Solids into Infants’ Diets May Increase the Risk of Food Allergy Development.
