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5 tips to Introduce Solid Foods

Ellie McMahon

Are you wondering if it’s time to get started on solids and needing a little guidance?

The aim of this guide is to help point you in the right direction when you are just starting out, and be as practical and useful as possible.

I will include a comprehensive resource list at the end of the article.

I would love for you to feel empowered and confident in your baby feeding so let’s get straight to the 5 tips.

Happy feeding!

  • How do I know when to start? Babies start eating solid foods at 4-6 months old. You will know when the time is right as they will be showing signs of readiness: sitting up unassisted, showing interest in food, bringing objects to their mouth, and you will see that they generally have a greater interest in food. Note that baby must be holding themselves up and have good head control before introducing solids. If you’ve got medical advice to start or withhold food then let that be your guide.

  • Should I introduce peanuts? Yes! Consider these a regular part of the diet, no special treatment required except for the preparation. Nuts are choking hazards so no whole or chopped nuts until much later on. One easy way to include peanuts is to use peanut butter powder such as PB2 (not sponsored, I’ve just used it for years) or smooth peanut butter mixed with breast milk, formula or a little oat milk to form a yoghurt-like consistency.

  • Should I start with rice cereal? Is it necessary? No. Is it a convenient option at times? Absolutely. When starting foods, baby is learning about textures, hand-eye co-ordination, flavours as well as the physiological process of eating. By varying food choices we allow them to explore these learning areas and develop a positive relationship to food. In other words, don’t use it because you feel you have to.

  • My baby gags and I’m frightened of them choking. This is one of the most common concerns of new parents and rightly so. Babies will often gag while learning to eat. This can be so scary, especially if unexpected. Firstly, it is normal, and there is a distinct difference in how a baby looks when gagging vs choking. The key to feeling confident here is knowing the difference (resources at the end), acknowleging that this is a part of their learning experience, and something I tell every single parent and carer: do a child first aid course. Please, book it in right now. As a mum of 2 little ones and a former paramedic I can tell you it literally saves lives.

    Also note that if baby is gagging or vomiting excessively during meals and you are concerned, book a chat with your Dr in case a feeding specialist is required.

  • Should I do baby-led weaning? What exactly is it? Baby-led weaning is a method that goes straight to letting baby feed themselves. There are so many benefits to doing this and maybe the only downside is that it can be extremely messy. Keen to try? Cook one meal for everyone including baby, but modify their plate to be baby safe (no choking hazards or sharp items etc). It can be a beautiful way to enjoy mealtimes together without having to worry about mashing and blending and being on spoon feeding duty. It also allows you to sit down and eat which we know can be a luxury! We did BLW with our two without knowing it was an actual method until much later. It just felt like the most natural option at the time.

Ideally, I would love to see us remove some of the stress around mealtimes. Not just for our babies and kids but for ourselves too. By feeling confident and arming yourself with knowledge around feeding you can simplify the process and make mealtimes joyful.

PARENT/CARER RESOURCES