When Do I Start Solids?

There are 3 signs of readiness to look out for.

1. Baby can hold themselves upright in a seated position with light support

This means they can concentrate on the new skill of eating and not be focusing on trying to balance.

2. Tongue Thrust Reflex has disappeared

This is a protective reflex which pushes things out of baby’s mouth that don’t belong, for example: food when they’re not ready to start.

3. Hand-Eye-Mouth Coordination mastered: can bring something to their mouth in a targeted motion

If baby is still ending up bringing the forehead to their mouth or their ear, then they’re not ready. They should be able to bring food to their mouth in a controlled manner.

You should start weaning when all 3 signs appear.

When can I expect to see these?

These signs tend to appear in babies between 4 and 6 months with most children only showing signs at this timeframe.

What happens if I start earlier – are there risks or benefits?

The national recommendation is to start solid foods in this window when all 3 signs of readiness are reached. There are no known benefits to starting solids earlier.

There are however risks. Each of these signs of readiness shows that baby has mastered a certain skill and this helps keep them safe when they start weaning.

Can I start later?

The recommendation is to start weaning baby in this timeframe because this is when they are physically ready to start and supports skills and competencies in other areas. For example, the oral skills they develop while eating also support their language development.

Another factor to consider, is that baby’s iron reserves from birth start to run low at this time. Breastmilk is low in iron, so baby needs to get this from an alternative source at this time.

There are no known benefits to delaying starting weaning once all signs of readiness are there.

Caveat: Some premature babies might hit some of these milestones later. If your baby has hit 6 months and isn’t showing these skills, you might want to discuss it with a professional.

What about milk?

The WHO recommends exclusively breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life (i.e. when most children develop the skills for starting the introduction of solids) and continuing to offer the breast as part of baby’s diet until age 2 and beyond if mum and baby wish to.

The change to solid foods is gradual, in the first few days and weeks and even months the focus is on introducing baby to flavours and textures – we don’t expect a lot to actually be ingested. This increases with time and milk consumption decreases albeit at different rates for different children.

What do I need to know before I start?

1.        Understand the difference between gagging and choking

2.        Complete an infant first aid course so you know what to do in an emergency

3.        Consider booking a consultation or participating in a weaning workshop to learn about: different methods of weaning, more about number 1, creating a positive atmosphere while eating, safety considerations and more!