Starting your baby on solid food is an exciting milestone! It's a time to explore new tastes and textures and start your precious one on their journey of lifelong healthy eating. But it can also be a time of confusion, especially when it comes to figuring out what foods are best for your baby and how to introduce them. When they find something they like, you know it's a winner, but the matter is how to find it. Don't worry, Peekaboo is here to help. 

Here we'll share our top tips for feeding your baby on solid food, including when to start baby food, what foods to introduce, and how to make it a positive and fun experience for both you and your little one.

When to Start Solids

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting solid foods after 4 months old. However, some countries recommend starting at 6 months old or later. This is the time that their digestive system is ready to handle solids and they can sit up without support. Breast milk or formula should still be the main source of nutrition for your baby until they are at least 1 year old and have a healthy diet of solid foods.

The first food that you introduce to your baby should be single-ingredient purees like bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, squash, applesauce and pears. These purees are easy on their digestive system and will not cause any discomfort while they adjust to eating solid foods.

Rather than worrying about when to start solid foods, it’s best to focus on what are the benefits of starting first foods for babies. Starting solids is a great way for babies to get essential vitamins and minerals that they can’t get solely from breast milk or formula alone. It allows them to develop key skills such as chewing and swallowing, which can help them later in life as they learn new foods. We should also be mindful of the fact that babies have small stomachs and eating solids will help regulate their appetite so that they don't eat too much at any one feeding.

How to Introduce Your Baby to Solids

The best time for your baby to start solids is when he or she shows signs of readiness, such as sitting up with support and waiting for an object thrown into the air before grabbing it. You can start introducing the baby's first solid food at this time by giving your baby a little bit of what you're eating--a mashed-up banana or avocado on toast, for example. Alternatively, you can try introducing your baby to new flavours with mashed fruits and vegetables mixed in with a little bit of breastmilk or formula. 

Also keeping mealtimes as social as possible and using family time is a great opportunity for bonding. It is important to stay consistent during feeding schedules: because babies don't have a set eating schedule like adults do, it can be hard for them if their parents feed them at different times! Last but not least, only give your child pureed foods that are textured with mashed fruits or vegetables before they are ready for the more complex food!

When you are introducing new foods, it is important to watch for any signs of allergies. If your baby has any adverse reaction to a food, you should stop feeding it to them and consult your doctor. Babies are all different and will progress at their own pace. Some babies will be ready for solid foods sooner than others. It is important to listen to your baby and follow their cues.

Baby’s First Foods by Months

Our babies’ world is simple, they want their needs met and all their wants fulfilled. For the first few years of life, the only thing that your baby wants or needs to be happy is breast milk or formula. Trying any other food before about 6 months can cause your baby digestive distress and will make them unhappy.

Rather than when to start your baby on solids is less about feeding them and more about feeding them a healthy diet, so if you're considering starting your baby on solids, you first need to figure out the best time for it.

The following list gives an overview of the different potential age ranges for introducing solid foods as well as some of the benefits and concerns associated with these approaches:

• 4 Months: Breast milk or formula only before age six months has been shown to significantly increase a child's risk of developing type 1 diabetes. 
• 6 Months: Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity, allergies, eczema and other diseases.
• 7 Months: Baby may be ready to start eating finger food with soft textures but won't eat chewy foods.

Don’t forget to ask your doctor before starting solids for your little ones!