Do you have questions about how, what and when to feed your baby?
For the first six months the only food your baby needs is breastmilk. The “Feeding Your Baby Guide” offers helpful tips on growth spurts, length of feeds and the amount of breastmilk your baby will take.
When your baby is around six months old, and showing signs of readiness, you can start to offer solids. The traditional approach to starting your baby on solid foods is to offer pureed or mashed foods from a spoon and gradually progress to lumpier textures and finger foods. Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a different approach that allows your baby to feed himself soft-cooked cut up finger foods right away. There is not enough evidence to recommended one approach for starting solid foods over another. There are important things to know about each method. If you would like to try baby-led weaning, don’t feel like you need to feed everything in this way. You don’t have to choose one feeding approach over another. You can use a combination of both methods in a way that feels comfortable for both of you.
Common questions parents have include:
- How do I tell if my baby is ready for solids?
- How do I introduce my baby to new foods?
- What is baby led weaning?
- What foods do I feed my baby first?
- What kind of textures can I start with?
- When do I add new foods?
- How do I make my own baby food?
- How do I help my baby become a healthy eater?
- How do I keep my baby’s food safe?
Feeding your baby should be a fun and enjoyable time together!
The links below offer the what, when and how of starting solids at around 6 months; up to what to feed your baby at 12 months.
Resources:
Should I Use Baby-Led Weaning to Start My Baby on Solids
Videos on Infant Feeding:
Parent-Child Feeding Relationship
Infant Feeding Concerns
Infant Food Choices
Starting Baby on Solid Foods
Starting Baby on Solid Foods – Full Video
Last updated: July 2020