Frequently asked questions
Checklist to know if baby is ready for solids:
✅ 6 months old AND
✅Can sit relatively unassisted on the floor - good trunk support
✅Brings toys or objects to their mouth
✅Shows an interest in food
Breastmilk and/or formula is sufficient to meet a baby’s nutritional needs up until 6 months of age. There is no nutritional benefit in starting solids prior to 6 months. It is also okay if the baby is not quite ready at 6 months. Observe their readiness and know that even a week or two can make a big difference. If your baby was born premature, make sure to use their adjusted age when starting solids.
Here are 10 great first foods when starting BLW with your baby.
- Sweet potato
- Pork shoulder
- Omelet (allergen)
- Mango
- Plain (full fat) Greek yogurt
- Pasta (allergen)
- Zucchini
- Broccoli floret
- Ground beef strips
- Avocado
Coming up with ideas of what foods to serve your baby can be overwhelming. Where do I even start? I came up with a 100 foods before one guide that includes a 9-week sample calendar with 5 new foods each week. This also includes a 100 foods checklist so you can document your progress.
The big 9 food allergens make up for ~90% of all diagnosed food allergies. These include: egg, wheat, milk, fish, shellfish, peanut, tree nut, soy and sesame. The general recommendation is to introduce food allergens EARLY and OFTEN. As soon as your baby meets the criteria to start solids you can start introducing allergens. Introduce an allergen by itself and early in the day (not before a nap/bedtime) so you can monitor your child in the case they have a reaction. Once you have introduced that allergen, keep it in your food rotation as most reactions do not occur until subsequent exposures.
The period of 6-12 months is a time of practice for baby to learn how to eat. The goal by 12 months of age is for solid food to be the primary source of nutrition.
As you begin to start solids, I recommend doing whatever works best in your schedule and what you are comfortable with. It is best to offer new foods at home so typically it would be breakfast or supper meal.
Here are some general recommendations on how often to offer solids.
6-7 months ➡️ 1-2 times per d ay
8-9 months ➡️ 2-3 times per day
Your baby is born with the internal capability to regulate their food intake. It is the child’s responsibility to decide how much they eat and whether or not they eat. Don’t get caught up in the portion sizes. Start by offering small portions and adjust as needed once your baby gets more familiar with eating food. Fostering their intuitive eating skills is important.
- Reaching for food
- Opening mouth
- Pointing to food
- Excitement at sight of food
- Playing/throwing food
- Turning head away from food
- Losing interest/ slowed down pace
- Batting spoon away