Transitioning your baby to solids is as intimidating an experience as it is exciting. You get to watch your baby taste new foods for the first time and their reactions will be as cute and hilarious as you’d expect. But there are also a lot of things to know and take into consideration when making the transition. From identifying the signs that indicate your baby is ready to knowing how to safely introduce them to known allergens, there’s a lot to keep in mind.
Baygaga recently had the opportunity to speak with Solid Starts Founder Jenny Best as well as Stanford-trained, double board-certified pediatrician Dr. Rachel Ruiz to learn more about how to properly transition babies to solids. Solid Starts is a completely free First Foods℠ database that provides parents with step-by-step instructions for introducing new foods to babies. Keep reading to hear Best and Ruiz’s expert advice for how to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Alexandra Sakellariou for Babygaga (BG): Solid Starts is a doctor-parent developed platform that provides families with everything they need to know about introducing solids to babies. Can you explain the story of what inspired the creation of Solid Starts? What are some of the database’s goals and where do you hope to take it in the future?
Jenny Best (JB): It all goes back to my firstborn, Charlie, who became a severe picky eater after being exclusively spoon-fed for several months. He hated being fed, and I was too afraid to give him finger foods, so I spoon-fed for way too long. By the time he turned one, he stopped eating altogether and fell below the first percentile in weight. I was devasted.
When my twins came along, I knew I wanted to let them self-feed from day one of starting solid food, but I didn’t feel there were adequate resources to tell me how to do it safely. So I started doing the research myself and eventually assembled a team of pediatricians, dietitians, infant swallowing experts, and feeding specialists to build the resource I needed back when I was a new mom. It’s all well and good to say baby-led weaning is good for development, etc. but the vast majority of dietitians and mom bloggers out there are not qualified to be speaking about the mechanics of swallowing. Which is ultimately what it came down to for me. I needed someone with excellent credentials and experience to say: finger food is not only beneficial for your baby, but safe.
Our free First Foods℠ database is what I needed. The database is live right now and when we are finished, it will house every edible ingredient in the world. There you can look up any food and see if it’s a choking hazard, whether it’s a common allergen, and how to prepare it for the exact age of your baby. But beyond just providing parents with the info they need to feel confident in feeding their babies, we’re challenging the notion that babies have to eat “baby food” and hopefully, expanding people’s cultural horizons as well. To make the database even easier to access, we’re in the process of building the First Foods℠ mobile application. Once released, the app will enable users to track their babies’ food preferences (and sensitivities, if applicable) and tie that data to shopping lists.
(BG): How old should a child be before their parents begin to transition them to solid food? Does it differ depending on the child? Similarly, are there any signs parents should be looking for that indicate their baby is ready for the transition?
(JB): Since every baby is different, we generally look for developmental signs of readiness to assess whether a baby is ready for solid food, though these indicators do tend to show themselves around 6 months of age. They include the ability to sit independently (for a little bit, anyway), good head control, the ability to reach for an object and successfully bring it to their mouth, and interest in eating. Is baby watching you intently when you are eating? Mouthing for food? Reaching for it? Then go for it. Baby is ready.
(BG): How much solid food should parents be giving to their baby at first? How can they gradually increase this while decreasing breastfeeding or formula?
Dr. Rachel Ruiz (RR): One of the beautiful things about letting your baby self-feed is that you don’t need to be measuring tablespoons of this or teaspoons of that. Babies are born with ability to internally regulate hunger and satiety—and the ability to communicate when they are hungry (crying, mouthing, lip smacking, sucking on their hands or fist) or full (turning their head away, closing their mouth, pushing away from the table for example). In fact, babies are more likely to be over-fed when a parent is spoon-feeding them. In general, we suggest serving food family style—letting baby see the food on the table—so they can reach or grunt for more.
Let your baby eat as much or as little as they want; the range of intake can vary dramatically from baby to baby, meal to meal. And know that in the beginning stages of starting solids, little to no consumption of solid food is occurring; baby is exploring different tastes and textures, learning about the layout of their mouth, and practicing chewing. This is a good thing! Focus on the skills of learning to eat in these early days and trust that baby will eat just the right amount and that if for some reason they didn’t get enough at a meal, that they have breast milk or formula as an insurance policy. Over the course of about 6 months, parents will naturally see a decrease in formula or breast milk consumption as solid food intake increases.
(BG): On a similar note, how do parents know their baby is getting enough food?
(RR): Generally speaking, babies are getting enough to eat when they are able to sustain consistent periods of being content, alert, and playful; urinating several times a day; pooping daily or every few days; energetically exploring their environment; learning new skills; and steadily growing. Babies are incredibly good at regulating their appetites and communicating cues that they are hungry or full. As long as you are offering your baby solid food two to three times a day (and after 12 months old, moving to three meals + two snacks a day) and continuing to offer breastmilk or formula feeds, your baby should be getting enough to eat.
(BG): What are the best types of foods to introduce to a baby that’s just beginning solids? On the other hand, what are some foods you wouldn’t recommend babies try until a bit later, and why is it that?
(JB): The best foods for babies starting solids are those that are big enough for a young baby to pick up independently (such as a whole banana), that are either soft and squishable or extremely resistive and act like teethers (such as a mango pit or a spare rib with most of the meat cut off), and low-choking risk (so foods that are not hard, round or really challenging to chew). Some of our other favorite first finger foods include avocado and Greek yogurt. Most importantly, they are something you and your family are eating.
Foods you want to absolutely avoid include fish high in mercury like tuna, swordfish, foods high in sodium like soy sauce and fish sauce, foods and condiments with added sugars like ketchup, and foods that carry a bigger risk of harmful bacterial, such as raw milk cheeses. And of course no honey, which can increase the risk of infant botulism.
Foods you will need to modify to make them safe include raw fruits like chunks of apple, raw, hard veggies like carrots, whole peanuts and nuts, and firm foods that have a round or cylindrical shape to them like grapes, blueberries, or chickpeas. To minimize the risk, all you need to do is change the shape: cut grapes into quarters, grind peanuts and nuts, or cook or grate hard foods like carrots, and flatten blueberries into a disc shape.
(BG): There is a growing body of evidence that suggests introducing potentially allergenic foods to babies, such has peanuts, fish, and eggs, can reduce the risk of allergies. When you do recommend parents introduce potentially allergenic foods to their babies, and what’s the best way to go about this?
(JB): The general guidance from the allergy and pediatrics communities today is that there is no need to delay the introduction of common food allergens when starting solids. This is a huge shift, from say, 20 years ago when parents were advised to hold off on the introduction of common allergens such as cow's milk, egg, and nuts. Since then, some landmark studies have shown that introducing certain allergens (specifically peanuts and eggs) between 4 and 6 months of age can significantly reduce the risk of developing food allergies, especially if your baby is at increased risk due to severe eczema or another pre-existing food allergy.
We generally suggest that parents focus on eggs, peanut, dairy, and tree nuts and not worry too much about fish and shellfish since there is no conclusive evidence on the preventative effect of introducing seafood early on. But when you are ready, start small, such as ¼ of teaspoon of peanut butter mixed into applesauce, water, or even pancake batter (to reduce the choking risk) and work your way up. We feel it is important not to over-medicalize infant feeding, with the understanding that the vast majority of babies will do very well with allergen introduction. That said, our guides do include detailed allergen introduction schedules for those who feel more comfortable with a prescriptive approach to allergen introduction.
(BG): Some parents report that baby-led weaning is a promising way to transition their baby on to solids. Can you explain what this entails and the benefits or drawbacks of this method? What’s your advice for parents who want to take this route?
(RR): It’s very promising and I think, in time, we may see the end of exclusive spoon-feeding altogether. Self-feeding babies tend to develop fine motor skills more quickly and advance through necessary oral-motor milestones as well—which we feel makes them safer eaters in the short and long term. Babies who start with finger food are learning to move food around in their mouth, to chew, and to swallow really well.
Whereas spoon-fed babies are using a suck-to-swallow motion with purées, which isn’t preparing the baby adequately for safe eating. What’s more, babies who are trusted to self-feed are generally happier eaters, too. They like feeling like they are in control—they get the opportunity to smash, squish and explore their food and they feel a part of the family table. It is our professional opinion that when you put all these things together you get a much happier, skilled, and safer eater.
(JB): If you want to start solids with finger food, the best thing you can do is to read up on how to do it safely so you feel comfortable. Our website offers a ton of free info on the safe introduction of finger foods.
Critics of baby-led weaning often say it’s a gateway to choking, yet research has actually found no increased risk. Baby-led weaning is also very messy but when addressing this concern with families, we highlight its long-term dividends—a messy eater today will become a fully independent eater tomorrow.
(BG): While some parents prefer to make their own baby food, especially because it lets them see directly what their babies are eating, some families don’t have the time and instead rely on store-bought baby food. When shopping for baby food in stores, what should parents be looking for in terms of ingredients or otherwise? How can they know they’re making a healthy decision for their child?
(JB): Babies grow at an astounding rate in the first couple of years of life. The nutrients we like to see parents focus on the most include iron, vitamins A, D, and E, calcium, fiber, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc. These are critical. Foods with these ingredients will have 4 or 5 stars in our free First Foods℠ database.
Unfortunately, few store-bought baby foods offer adequate amounts of these nutrients alone because the purées are often fruit-based. And honestly, some nut butter mixed into yogurt is far more nutritious than any pouch or jar of baby food on the market can be. But here’s the thing: there is no need to make a separate meal for your baby. As long as meat, fish and poultry are cooked thoroughly, baby can eat modified versions of what you are eating.
(BG): Some babies gag when trying new food. Though this is a normal response, it can be confused with choking, which is a major concern because parents need to react in the moment if their child is indeed choking on food. How can parents tell the difference between gagging and choking? What are the signs?
(RR): True choking is when the airway is obstructed, and your baby is having trouble breathing. Signs of a baby choking can include an inability to cry, difficulty breathing, skin tugging into the chest, a look of terror, high-pitched sounds, or a change in skin color.
Gagging, however, is a natural, protective reflex that results in the contraction of the back of the throat. It is a natural function and protects us from choking. When this happens, it’s important to let your baby work the food forward on their own and to refrain from sticking your finger in your baby’s mouth, which can push the object further down your baby’s throat.
Importantly, the gag reflex of a 6- to 10-month-old baby is much more sensitive than that of an adult. Because it is so sensitive, a baby’s gag reflex is triggered easily. Which means your baby is going to gag—a lot—when starting solids.
(BG): Related to the previous question, what should parents do if they notice their child choking? What steps should they take?
(RR): First, ensure that baby is actually choking. If baby is coughing, let them cough it out. Never place your finger in your child’s mouth as you can accidentally make the situation worse and push the food particle even further down, worsening the obstruction. If you suspect your baby is choking, immediately administer infant choking first aid with alternating back blows and chest thrusts and call 911 on speakerphone so your hands are free. If another person is present, one person should immediately perform choking first aid while the other calls emergency services.
(BG): Similarly, what are some preventative steps parents should take to reduce the likelihood of their baby choking on food, and in addition, to prepare themselves for how to respond in the event that this happens?
(RR): It’s important to create a peaceful eating environment free from sudden noises or distractions (turn the tv off, etc.), have baby sitting upright in a supported highchair, with their hips flexed with feet firmly planted on a footrest. Also learn what foods are common choking hazards and how to modify them. For young eaters, avoid giving small, hard round objects (hard carrots cut in coin shapes, sausages, candy, whole nuts, seeds, whole grapes, cherry tomatoes). Babies, especially mobile ones with a pincer grasp will put almost anything in their mouths including non-food objects like stickers, small toys, plastic pieces, and hair ties.
If you’ve never taken a first-aid training course, now is a good time. Lastly, never, ever leave your baby unattended while eating and stay within an arm’s reach at all times.
(BG): Preventing picky eating starts from an early age. If a child is showing a distaste for a certain food upon trying it for the first time, how do you recommend parents handle it? Should they introduce the food again after some time?
(JB): If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again in a no-pressure, creative way. While most young babies 6 to 12 months of age who are trusted to self-feed will taste just about anything, toddlers 12 months and up are much more wary and start to develop food preferences in a more pronounced way. This is where choices are key: presenting the same food two different ways (so for example, some flaked salmon with butter alongside a salmon fish cake) or even different shapes (a big roasted carrot vs. some smaller pieces). Babies like choices and to be in control just as much as we do.
(BG): What’s your best piece of advice to parents beginning their baby on the transition to solid food? What should they keep in mind?
(JB): Get out of the way. Your baby was born knowing how to eat. They have reflexes to help them learn to chew and swallow, as well as reflexes to protect them from choking. Trust that your baby will eat just the right amount of food for their body and expect that baby can handle and enjoy a wide variety of savory, complex flavors. Like many things in parenting, when we trust our children to learn through hands on exploration, they excel.
Thank you so much to Jenny Best and Dr. Ruiz for speaking to Babygaga. To learn more about Solid Starts and to access free resources to help you transition your baby to solids, be sure to check out their website.