Introducing Solids

When to start?

Solid foods should be introduced to your baby at around 6 months.  There is no reason to rush starting solid foods; breast milk has all the nutrition your baby needs for the first 6 months of life. Babies are not ready to digest solid foods until closer to 6 months.

The following are signs that an infant is getting ready to eat solid food:

• sits up (on own or with some minimal assistance) and leans forward;
• opens mouth when food is offered;
• turns head away to refuse food
• keeps food in mouth and swallows it instead of pushing it out

How to start?

There are two important things to consider when introducing solids to your baby:

1. What specific types and textures of food to offer
2. The best ways to feed your baby to develop a healthy relationship with food

Feeding Supports

In your Community:

• Find a Dietitian
• Healthy Baby Programs
• Feeding Your Baby Solids Workshop

For more information:

• Feeding Baby Solid Foods: 6 Months to 1 Year
• Feeding Your Breastfed Baby Solid Foods: 6 Months to 1 Year
• Eating Behaviors
• Dietitians of Canada: Infant Feeding
• Ellyn Satter- Division of Responsibility
• Cups for Babies
• Starting Solid Foods

Next: What Specific types and textures of food to offer