A Guideline for Introducing Solid Foods (Revised: December 2013)

Birth to 6 Months 6 Months 7 to 8 Months 9 to 12 Months 9 to 12 Months

Breast milk Puréed Foods Lumpy Foods Finger Foods and Family Foods
From birth to 6 months, breast milk is the only When your baby is ready for solid At around 7 months, many Drinking from a Cup At 9 months, many babies are
food your baby needs. You can continue to foods, you can introduce a variety babies are ready for more At around 9 months, many babies ready to join in family meals.
breastfeed your baby up to 24 months and of puréed choices. Iron-fortified textured foods. Even without are ready to start feeding The transition happens slowly as
beyond. baby cereal or pablum and other teeth, babies can learn to ‘gum’ themselves with their hands. you introduce new textures and
iron-rich foods are important first soft foods. Expect this to be very messy! finger foods. When babies chew
Common Questions: foods. well and eat family foods, the
When you feed lumpy foods: Preparing Finger Foods: only ‘baby foods’ they still need
Question 1: Will my baby starve if I feed him Choose from: Pretend to chew to show are infant cereal and breast milk
1. Start with a few pieces of
breast milk only? Iron-fortified baby cereal your baby how it is done. or formula.
soft food where your baby
or pablum Be ready to help if your can reach them.
Answer: Babies are very well nourished on only Beef, chicken, turkey, baby has trouble Baby can now try homogenized
2. Keep feeding with a spoon
breast milk for the first six months. They are lamb, store-bought white swallowing. whole cow’s milk (3.25% M.F.)
and let your baby explore the
healthy and gain enough weight. fish* and salmon, light Remember babies may from a cup, if eating a variety of
finger foods.
canned tuna, pork, and gag as they learn to foods. Other dairy products like
Question 2: When I was a baby, I was eating cooked egg chew. This gagging is not Gradually, offer most foods that the yogurt and cheese are also good
pablum at one month old. Why can’t I give Tofu, well cooked the same as choking. family eats.
choices.
pablum to my baby before six months? legumes such as beans,
lentils, and chickpeas Preparing Lumpy Some ‘popular favourites’ to Some ‘popular favourites’
Answer: Introducing your baby to solids too to try:
early is not something to be proud of. It takes Foods try:
After your baby has started eating Shepherd’s pie
time for a baby or child to reach each stage of iron-rich foods, you can introduce Soft-cooked vegetables like
Use a fork to make simple lumpy broccoli Chili
development. You would not expect your baby other foods like puréed cooked Thick soups
to walk at six months, because you know that vegetables, puréed fruits, yogurt food: Pieces of soft fruits like
1. Start with cooked banana Meatloaf
your baby is not physically ready. The same is and cottage cheese.
vegetables and fruits or Pasta, noodles, and rice Homemade macaroni
true for eating solid foods. Your baby is not
soft, ripe fruit. Soft breads like pita and and cheese
physically ready to digest solid foods. Preparing Puréed Foods 2. Use a fork to mash foods tortillas
It is simple to make puréed foods until they are smooth. Honey should not be fed to
Question 3: Will my baby sleep through the Whole grain crackers
for your baby at home. Babies 3. As your baby learns to infants less than 12 months of
night if I give him a little pablum? Canned beans and lentils
often prefer homemade food. Call chew, make foods age due to a danger of botulism
the Health Unit at 743-1000 for the Pieces of well cooked
Answer: Studies show there is absolutely no lumpier. (type of food poisoning).
fact sheet ‘Making Baby Food’. chicken, eggs or beef (avoid
proof that feeding babies solid foods before six hot dogs)
months will help them sleep through the night. Tofu

For more information about this Factsheet, call the Peterborough County-City Health Unit, Nutrition Promotion Program, at 743-1000.
To register for FREE “Feeding Your Baby” classes, call Peterborough Family Resource Centre at 748-9144.
Questions on healthy eating? Speak to a Registered Dietitian at EatRight Ontario 1-877-5105102 www.Ontario.ca/EatRight.
 Family Meals with Baby – Feeding from Six Months to One Year

Solid Foods…Please Wait! Is Baby Ready for Solid Foods? Ready to Start Feeding Solid Foods… Healthy and Safe Eating
The most important food in your At six months, most babies are ready to Enjoy meals together What you should know about allergies
baby’s first year is breast milk. Breast start eating solid foods. If your baby is A positive attitude helps make an enjoyable meal: Your baby is more likely to have an allergy if one or
feeding can continue for 24 months about that age, look for these signs of Do not rush – stay as relaxed as possible. both parents or brothers or sisters have allergies,
and beyond. readiness for solids: Speak in a pleasant and encouraging voice. asthma or eczema.
Foods that can cause allergies in children include fish,
Keep your baby company instead of
Around six months, your baby will wheat, cow’s milk, whole eggs and nut products.
Sits up in a high chair with or entertaining him. You do not have to delay giving your baby these foods.
show signs that he or she is ready for without support Do not have the television or radio on. These foods can be introduced after six months of age.
solids. If your baby was born Opens mouth when you offer food Let baby sit in a high chair and join others at Wait until your baby is 9 months before you give
prematurely, use his or her corrected from a spoon meals. homogenized cow’s milk and other dairy products.
age.
Keeps mouth open if he wants the Watch for allergic reactions when you offer new foods.
food you offer Feeding solid foods step by step Start with single foods, not mixed. If your baby shows
Keep things simple and start solid
Turns head away if he does not 1. Put baby in a high chair – prop her up with a signs of allergy, this makes it easier to know which food
foods when your baby is ready. is causing the problem.
want something couple of pillows if you need to.
2. Make sure she can sit up straight to help her Give the same food for 3-5 days before you try a new
Closes lips over a spoon to scrape
Your baby may not be hungry for her food. Watch for reactions in your baby, such as hives
off food swallow.
milk feedings which are more or a rash. If you think your baby has an allergy, speak
Keeps food in mouth instead of 3. Sit right in front of her – be face to face. to your doctor.
nutritious than solid foods. Discuss the
squeezing it back out onto his chin 4. Hold the spoonful of food away from her If your baby has been diagnosed with a food or
best time to start your baby on solid
face. other allergy, speak to your health care provider.
foods with a health professional.
Letting Baby Adjust to Solids 5. Wait for her to pay attention and open her (For more information, please refer to Feeding Your Baby
Some babies like a spoon and enjoy solid mouth. resource from Best Start.)
food the first time they try it. Others may 6. Bring the spoon to her open mouth and let
take time to adjust. Follow baby’s lead. her close her mouth over the spoon. Choking
7. Feed her as fast or as slowly as she wants. Never leave your baby along while he is eating. Hard and
Give solid food after breastfeeding. Breast sticky foods can cause choking and should be avoided in
milk is still an important source of nutrition 8. If your baby does not swallow the food, they
may not be ready for solid food yet. Wait a children under four years of age. Some of these foods are
during this time. Watch for and respect nuts, seeds, fish with bones, globs of peanut, nut or seed
your baby’s feeding signals. few days and try again.
butters, raisins, popcorn, ice cubes, chips, gum, cough
9. Let her touch her food – it’s supposed to be
drops, marshmallows, hard candies or jelly beans. Dice
messy! and chop round foods like carrots, grapes and hotdogs or
Helping the Cautious Eater 10. Respect her when she lets you know she is cut lengthwise and then into small pieces. Peanut butter
Baby may be naturally cautious about solid finished – does not open her mouth, turns and nut butters should be spread thinly on crackers or
foods. Keep offering a few bites at meal her head away, or does not acknowledge bread. Parents and caregivers should know how to handle
times and take it slowly. Cautious eaters the food. chocking if it occurs. It is recommended that
need time to get used to the new tastes and 11. Never trick your baby into eating more than parents/caregivers take an infant CPR course.*
textures. Some babies need to taste a new she wants. Respect her limits.
food 10 to 20 times before they will eat it. Fish for Healthy Development
There are many fish that are healthy and safe to eat for the
entire family. Healthy fats in fish help in the normal
development of the brain and eye in young children.
Choose from the many fish that are low in mercury.*
*Speak with a Registered Dietitian about choosing fish wisely. Call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102 or www.Ontario.ca/EatRight. For information on infant CPR courses, call the Family HEALTHline at 743-1000.