Your baby is a few months old now and you are probably wondering when is the best time to start solid foods. The most common age to start solids is between four to six months old. However, your baby will give you certain cues to let you know when he or she is ready.
Here are signs to look for:
- Can control head and neck
- Drinks at least 32-40 ounces of formula every 24 hours and still appears hungry
- Breast feeds at least 8-10 times every 24 hours, emptying both breasts, and still appears hungry
- Food does not come back out of mouth when spoon fed
- Turns head away or closes mouth when full
- Can sit up with or without support
- Has doubled birth weight
- Sleeps in shorter periods
- Shows interested in foods you eat
- Can no longer sleep least 8 hours without a feeding
You may be tempted to start feeding solid foods before 4 months of age. Some believe that giving solid foods early will help a baby sleep through the night and may even encourage you to start your baby early. That is a myth. Every baby is different and each may have different sleep patterns. Starting baby too early on solid foods when he or she is not ready can lead to other problems such as obesity, choking, and food allergies.
When in doubt, the best advice you can get is from your child's pediatrician. However, if you notice the signs listed above, and your baby is at least 4 months old, you can try spoon feeding your baby cereal or ripened pureed or mashed avocado. All babies need to learn how to push food to the back of their mouths using their tongue and swallowing. So it is important to give them practice by feeding them with a spoon. Never add food to your baby's bottle.
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