Is your baby ready for solids?

3 min read

Most health bodies, including the WHO, suggest starting solid foods at about 6 months, and not before 4 months. Age is only a guide. What matters is that your baby shows the signs of being ready.

The signs: sitting upright with little or no support and holding the head steady; reaching for food and bringing things to the mouth; and having lost the tongue-thrust reflex, which pushes food straight back out. Chewing movements and real curiosity about what you eat are good signs too.

Some things are not signs of readiness: waking more at night, chewing fists, or wanting extra milk feeds. These are usually growth spurts or teething. Solids do not make babies sleep through the night.

If your baby was born early, or has a medical condition, ask your pediatrician which age to count from and when to start. Until then, breast milk or formula is all your baby needs.