A Guide to Developmentally Appropriate Introduction of Foods in Infants

Babies develop at different paces, that is a fact. Doesn't it make since that their bodies mature at different paces as well? What is right for one child may not be right for another. Watch the cues in your child for when he is ready to eat finger foods, don't listen to generalizations. Your baby is unique from every other baby and it makes since that his food-eating time table would be also. Developmental readiness for the introduction of solids includes these things: Sitting up unassisted, does not reflexively push solids out of his mouth with his tongue, has the pincer grasp, is willing and able to chew, and is interested in trying foods.

Sitting up unassisted

Sitting up unassisted can happen for babies on average between 5 and 9 months. It means sitting up on his own without the support of a seat, pillow, or mom, and staying there. Sitting up unassisted is a sign that your baby may be ready for solids.

Thrust reflex

The thrust reflex is likely designed to keep an infant from choking by swallowing things before it's body can handle them. A young baby will reflexively push something solid out of his mouth, often even if he, himself, put it in there! If your child still has a thrust reflex, his system is not ready for anything but human milk or human milk substitute (formula) yet!

Pincer grasp

A pincer grasp is what allows babies to pick up small things, using a finger and thumb. A baby who lacks the ability to pick things up himself is not ready for solids yet!

Being willing and able to chew

A baby who is not willing or able to chew is not developmentally ready for solid foods yet. The inability to chew is often accompanied by the thrust reflex. Yes, this can be stepped around by pureeing baby's foods, and that will avoid choking, but a baby who doesn't chew on his own is communicating that his body is not ready for other foods yet.

Interest in trying foods

This is not to be confused with an interest of putting things in their mouths. Babies start putting things in their mouths long before they meet the criteria for starting foods. Putting things in their mouth is a sign of curiosity, not a sign that they need to eat food. To keep a baby happy who is wanting to put things in his mouth, we would give our child a couple spoons and a cup of water or expressed milk to play with and chew on while we were eating dinner. After all these milestones are reached, and not before 6 months, a baby is ready for the introduction of solid foods. For introducing solids in a way for optimal gut health, see my article on what specific foods are developmentally appropriate for baby's immature digestive system and how to avoid allergies.