Signs A Baby Is Ready For Solid Foods?

Experts agree most babies are ready for solid foods around 6 months of age. But it’s important to watch your baby—not the calendar. Your baby will show signs of developmental readiness, including, an ability to:

• Sit up with no support
• Eliminate his tongue-thrust reflex (pushing food out of his mouth, a defense against choking)
• Chew (with his gums if he has no teeth) or move food from the front to the back of his mouth and swallow without choking
• “Pincer” grasp (the ability to pick up small, soft foods between his thumb and forefinger)
• Show interest in food you are eating

When your baby shows these signs of readiness, you can begin to introduce solids.

If your baby refuses to open his mouth, turns his head away from the food, or pushes the spoon away from his mouth, it may indicate that he is not hungry or that he isn’t interested (yet) in the food being served. It usually takes repeated offerings (10 or more!) before a child accepts a new food. If your baby refuses to eat, wait a few minutes and try again. If he still resists, try a different food. Refusing to eat at all might be a sign that your baby is full or that he is not developmentally ready for solids.

Click here to learn about first foods to serve as you start your baby’s introduction to solids.