Ways You Can Prepare Your Baby for Solid Foods

When your baby turns about six months old, at the green light of your child’s pediatrician, you can begin feeding your baby solid foods. This is an exciting milestone for your baby, who is likely, at this point, already very interested in the food you’re eating. If you’re gearing up to start feeding your baby solid foods, there are a few things you should know and great ways to practice ahead of time. Keep reading for our best tips for ways to prepare your baby for solid foods, including how to get a jumpstart on their oral development to make it easier.

Solid Foods: The Basics

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old. Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended. Every child is different.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that for most children, you do not need to give foods in a certain order. Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months old. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months old, your child can eat a variety of foods from different food groups. These foods include infant cereals, meat or other proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, yogurts and cheeses, and more. (source: "When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods", CDC.gov)

Look for Signs of Readiness

The first step to preparing your baby for eating solid foods is to look for signs of readiness. If they are not showing any signs yet, this is important to note and talk to your pediatrician about. If they are showing these signs, then you can start feeding them solid foods.

Signs your child is ready for solid foods include:

• Your baby sits up alone or with support.
• Your baby is able to control head and neck.
• When food is offered, your baby opens their mouth.
• They swallow food rather than push it back out onto the chin.
• Your baby can bring objects to the mouth.
• Your baby can, or tries to, grasp small objects, such as toys or food.
• When eating, your baby transfers food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.

Food Variety, Texture, and Preparation

When preparing your baby to eat solid foods, it is important to pay attention to the texture, variet, and preparation of the foods you will be serving. Do some research and recipes for babies, foods that are allergen-free, and the types of foods to serve babies.

Some great examples of starter foods for babies include:

Food should be mushy, and your baby should be able to squish the food with their fingers. This means that they will be able to easily swallow it.

Some foods to avoid in the early stages of solid foods include:

Jumpstart Your Baby’s Oral Development for Solids

One of the best ways you can prep your baby for solid foods is by giving them a jumpstart on their oral development, as soon as the newborn stage. Mouth exercises that work the tongue, cheek muscles, and jaw are super helpful in making the transition to solid food super easy.

In addition, using oral sensory toys, such as bubbles or teethers, will also give your baby a great foundation for speech skills once they get a little bit older. Tongue cupping and lip rounding are important skills for both eating and speech, and both can be learned through play.

Sensory Bubble Play Skin Happy Botanical Bubbles & Blower Set

This sensory bubble toy gives tons of bubbles without the mess or soapy gooey residue. Perfect for sensory play, learning, bubble therapy, the classroom, birthday parties, special events, and more, this uniquely designed bubble system is non-toxic, calming, and worry-free for parents. Made with plant extracts, coconut oil, and purified water, the skin-happy botanical bubble solution is easy on sensitive skin.

If your toddler loves bubbles, but you hate the mess and constantly dipping a wand into a messy jug, you’ll love how simple, easy, and mess-free this bubble blower is! Simply pour bubble solution into the tray, dip and twirl the blower, and start blowing bubbles!

For babies, incorporating bubbles into tummy time, bouncer time, and other wake-window play will give them a great jumpstart on speech skills, social skills, and more!

Oral Sensory Developmental Toys

Innobaby’s Oral Sensory Development Toys are “training teethers,” which means they’re great for a bunch of different reasons. They:

• Stimulate the muscles of the lips, tongue, and cheeks to improve oral motor skills
• Aids in nursing, eating solid foods, drinking from cups, and speech development
• The light and easy to grip handle also improves hand-eye coordination
• Giving two to baby will allow for bilateral movement and stimulation of both sides of the brain

Innobaby holds its teethers to the very highest standards (Conforms to Toy Safety Standard ASTM F963 and EN71) and uses the highest quality TPE available, because Innobaby wants the best for your baby, just like you! Other teethers may be too small, or break apart easily, but you can trust ours!

For more parenting tips and great family products, visit us at Innobaby.com!