A Guide to Starting Solids

Table of contents

• Let the feeding journey begin
• When is your baby ready for solid foods?
• Tips for a successful first solid food experience
• Starting solids game plan for supported sitters 4-6 months
• Hunger and fullness cues
• Readiness cues for the next stages

Let the feeding journey begin

Around the middle of their first year of life, babies need iron from the foods they eat — especially when they are breastfeeding. Iron-fortified baby cereal and baby meats help provide this important nutrient that supports your baby's healthy growth and brain development.

When is your baby ready for solid foods?

The Canadian Pediatric Society (hyperlink: Feeding your baby in the first year | Caring for kids) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months of age. If breastfeeding is not an option, they recommend using a store-bought iron-fortified infant formula for the first 9 to 12 months. Most babies are ready to start solids around 6 months. Remember that all babies are different. Some babies may be ready a few weeks before or just after 6 months. However, waiting after 6 months to introduce other foods increases your baby’s risk of iron deficiency. Talk with your pediatrician to be sure your child is developmentally ready before starting solid foods.

You’ll know baby is ready to start other foods when they:

• Can sit up without support, lean forward, and have good control of their neck muscles.
• Ability to pick up food and try to put it in their mouth.
• Hold food in their mouth without pushing it out with their tongue right away.
• Show interest in food when others are eating.
• Open their mouth when they see food coming their way.
• Can let you know they don’t want food by leaning back or turning their head away.

Tips for a successful first solid food experience

For those first attempts at eating, pick a time of day when your baby is in good spirits, wide awake, and mildly hungry. You can give some breastmilk or formula before solids so they're not uncomfortably hungry.

Make sure your baby is sitting up and secured in a feeding or highchair. Use a soft, rubber-tipped spoon. Start by guiding the spoon to their mouth with your hand and your baby's hand together on the spoon.

Your baby's first tries at swallowing solid foods may be awkward and they may need practice. If food is rejected, offer a few more spoonfuls. Enjoy seeing your baby learn something new: how to eat solid foods.

Starting solids game plan for supported sitters 4-6 months

First days:

When mixing cereal for your baby's first feeding, mix 1 Tbsp. cereal with 4–5 Tbsp. of breastmilk or infant formula. This familiar taste helps your baby accept the new taste of cereal.

Iron-fortified baby cereal supports baby's healthy growth and brain development.

Start with an Organic Oatmeal OR Non-organic Oatmeal or Rice Cereal. Click here for GERBER® options.

After a few days:

Introduce 1 new food from any food group — the order doesn't matter. Check for allergies by waiting about 3 days to watch for any reactions. Increase the amount of food gradually, to allow your baby time to learn how to swallow solids.

Continue cereal and add fruits and vegetables such as:

• Apple
• Banana
• Carrot
• Pea
• Squash
• Sweet potato

GERBER® Single Grain CEREALS are an excellent way to introduce new foods.

In the following weeks:

Introducing a variety of foods is key to expose your baby to new tastes, flavors, and textures. During this time it is no longer necessary to avoid foods with allergens for most infants. Talk to your pediatrician about how to introduce common food allergens. It may take up to 10 tries for your little one to enjoy a new food. Don’t give up, and always introduce new foods with a smile and a happy voice!

You may be offering solid foods 2–3 times each day. Mix infant cereal into your baby’s favorite purees for a new thicker texture as they progress.

Hunger and fullness cues

Mealtime is your time together

Mealtime is bonding time and the perfect moment to learn more about your baby’s appetite. You’ll find out if they’re adventurous or cautious; hungry or full. All this will help you feed them in the way that suits them best. It’s called “responsive feeding,” and helps to set them up for more healthy eating habits.

Follow your baby's lead

Pay attention to signs of your baby’s hunger and fullness so you know when to start and stop feeding. Research shows that babies know how much they need. And they’ll tell you in many ways — smiling, reaching toward the spoon, and eagerly opening their mouths.

Signs your baby is full

Readiness cues for the next stages

Sitter: 6+ Months

• Sits independently
• Picks up and holds small objects in hands
• Reaches for spoon when hungry
• Uses upper lip to help clear food off spoon

Sitters need nutrient dense, complementary foods that help provide iron to the diet, such as baby cereals and meat. With your doctor’s go-ahead, you can offer foods such as peanut and egg in baby-safe forms once your baby is eating a variety of solid foods.

Crawler: 8+ Months

• Crawls with stomach off the floor
• May pull self up to stand
• Begins to self feed with fingers
• Begins to use jaw to mash food

Crawlers are learning different textures and picking up foods to self feed. Make every bite count with fortified finger foods designed just for them. Encourage your baby to consume a variety of foods from all food groups and avoid added sugar. Include foods rich in iron and zinc, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Toddler: 12+ Months

• Stands alone and begins to walk alone
• Feeds self easily with fingers
• Begins to use spoon and fork
• Bites through a variety of textures

Toddlers need a daily variety of nutritious foods from all the food groups. Eat the rainbow of fruit and veggies — a variety of colors helps provide a variety of nutrients and helps limit sodium from salty snacks. Meats, eggs, whole grains, dairy, and toddler safe forms of nuts and seeds are important for protein, vitamins, and minerals.