Introducing Solids 101

I'm so glad solids are going well for you and your baby! Generally, fruits like mango, melon, and kiwi are held off until after your baby has accepted a variety of other foods (as he has!) because these more acidic fruits can sometimes cause stomach upset or diaper rash due to baby's developing digestive tract. But since your baby has already enjoyed a variety of foods, I see no reason to hold off any longer! You may notice seeds from berries or kiwi in your baby's stool, but there is no cause for alarm. Strawberries can be allergenic for some babies, but the recommendations for introducing potentially allergenic foods into your baby's diet have been updated to state there is no strong reason to delay introducing these foods into your baby's diet. If you have a family history of any known food allergies, or you're concerned, it's always best to check with your pediatrician to be sure.

Thank you! I am so excited! I have read so many things that say “8-10” months for tropical fruits but I didn’t believe that too much.

I think he is going to love love love these fruits!

Thanks again!

At 6 months and just starting solids, I recommend introducing a new food every 2-4 days. Not only does this increase exposure to the new food, but it also allows you to detect any potential allergic reactions to the new food before adding another food into the mix. For the first month or so of starting solids, most people are doing just 1 time/day, and advance that to twice a day around 7-8 months, and increase to 3 meals and 1-2 snacks/day by their first birthday. But, it's most important you watch your baby's cues. I remember eating a banana in front of my 7 month old twins and they were squealing they wanted it so badly, I knew it was time to introduce a second meal to the day! Keep in mind you do not want to cut back on how much you're nursing your baby, as milk is still the primary source of calories/nutrients under the age of 1.

Thanks so much !

Hi Lauren,

I'm sure this is frustrating for you! Some babies do just take a little longer to accept solids, so what you're doing is fantastic by providing her a variety of tastes and textures. And, it's great she's feeding herself, chewing, smelling, touching, and tasting as all of that exposure is important. I want you to remember the phrase, "Under 1, just for fun!" This means that under the age of 1, solids are more for exposure and getting your child used to solids and milk is still the primary source of calories and nutrition. After their first birthday, they start to cut back slightly on milk intake, and solids become the primary source of nutrition/calories. So even though you've been doing a couple months of solids and she's not progressing as you'd like, right now it's less about getting entire meals into her tummy as it is about exposure. That being said, it's possible she has some sensory issues going on that are preventing her from fully enjoying and eating solids. It might be worth checking in with Early Intervention to get an eval, but more likely than not she's just taking a little longer to adapt to new foods and textures. I love this resource for more information on feeding/sensory issues: https://yourkidstable.com/baby-wont-eat-solids/

When she's eating and spitting out food, is she doing it and laughing? Looking to you for a reaction? Are you reacting?

Regarding weaning, remember what I said about milk intake not decreasing before they turn 1. So if you're planning on offering less breast milk, you do need to make sure it's being replaced by equal amounts of formula, or cow's milk after her 1st birthday. I look forward to hearing from you to see if I can help tackle this some more.