Getting Solid - How Do You Start Solid Foods With Baby?
There are many questions when introducing your baby to solid foods. Allergens? Types to try? Do I need to puree everything? Can I just give them what I’m eating?
With all of the information out there, it can feel a little overwhelming where to start. Hopefully we can help give you a bit of a jumping off point when thinking about introducing solid foods into your baby’s diet.
Should solid foods replace my breastmilk/formula feeding all together?
Eventually, yes, but not until baby is old enough. When you first start introducing solid foods, they will be a supplement to milk or formula. As your baby grows, eventually you will notice a shift in this - formula or nursing will become supplemental to solid foods. Eventually, when you and your baby are ready, you will transition to solid foods only.
What if my baby doesn’t seem interested in eating solid foods?
When deciding to introduce solid foods, it’s best to let your baby lead. There is a whole practice around this called “baby led weaning”, where babies make the decisions around the foods they want to eat when it’s time. If you attempt to introduce solid foods into your baby’s diet and they seem disinterested, unsure what to do, or mainly just play in or with whatever you give them, that’s okay! Although they may not have eaten the food offered, they were still exposed to a new food. Try again in a few days to a few weeks and see if they’re more interested in eating the solid foods.
What about allergens? Aren’t there things that babies shouldn’t eat?
There absolutely are things that babies shouldn’t eat until they’re a little older. It’s best to start with bland solid foods like toast, bananas, and potatoes. As your baby gets a taste for these items, you can start introducing more flavorful foods, such as peas, carrots, apples, etc. Whether you decide to use pureed baby food or start right away on full solids, you’ll want to discuss your plan with a medical professional around allergens and how to best wean your baby from milk.
What if I don’t want to wean my baby at all?
That is your choice, and if that’s what’s best for you and your family that is great. There are plenty of toddlers who are still milk fed from the breast and are completely healthy and happy for it. Of course, it becomes a supplement rather than a main food source, and eventually your child may decide it’s time to stop altogether.
Often, the end of your nursing journey can leave you wrestling with emotions you weren’t expecting - loss, grief, sadness, joy, relief, pride. All of these are normal to cycle through as you finish feeding your baby at the nipple or from the bottle. If you find yourself struggling with any of these emotions, or if you have more questions about transitioning from milk to solids, make sure you check in with your doctor, midwife, doula, or other medical professional.
