Your baby’s motor skills are starting to develop as they try to hold objects and bring them to their mouth. They’ll start to gain control of their head and even hold it up while on their tummy. When your little one can sit upright with some support, they’ll be ready to be introduced to new tastes and textures. To start with solid food is simply about helping baby to learn to eat, and it’s less about nutrition. Remember to try and relax and enjoy this new phase in their growth. Signs your baby is ready for their first foods:
Your baby is able to sit up with some support, and starts to keep their head stable, however it’s normal for them to still lose balance and roll over. They will be able to push themselves up with straight arms and can turn their head to look around whilst on their tummy. They will also start to grasp for objects voluntarily.
First foods such as Wafers and purées will help babies learn how to gum, chew and swallow and to move food inside their mouths. At this stage your little one will be able to use their tongue to move food towards the back of their mouth. They will have developed the swallow reflex to allow them to swallow food once it is in the back of their throat.
Babies are born with a preference for sweet food and so they really don’t need much help to like sweeter tastes and flavours. That’s why it’s a good idea to offer first foods from a range of tastes such as umami (bitter tastes), sour and savoury flavours. Vegetables are an ideal way to help familiarise baby with a variety of flavours from their very first mouthful. Importantly familiarisation with foods such as vegetables has been shown to increase acceptance and help avoid fussing eating habits later on in life.
During the introduction of solid foods it’s important not to forget about offering iron rich foods to babies. This is because at around 4-6months of age, a baby’s iron store that they get from their milk (breast/formula milk) will be decreasing.
Giving your baby a healthy balanced diet will help to ensure they have the vitamins and nutrients they need to grow. Try not to give your baby foods that are high in sugar or salt. These foods are low in the nutrients they need and it’s easy for your baby to fill up on them, leaving less room for healthy meals. If your baby gets a taste for sugary, salty foods, it may be harder for you to persuade them to try healthier options.
