Starting solids
Introducing solids to your baby can be an exciting milestone for both you and your little one. However, it’s sometimes a daunting task, especially for new parents.
Here’s a general guide to starting solids to help build your confidence as you begin this new phase.
When to introduce solids
Experts and the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines recommend introducing solids to your baby when they are around 6 months old.1,2
At this age, your baby’s digestive system is ready to handle solid foods. Your baby also has a greater need for specific nutrients that milk alone may not provide, such as iron.
Signs that your baby is ready for solid foods include:
- Sitting up without head and back support
- Showing an interest in the food the rest of the family is eating
- Keen to explore textured foods without gag reflex reaction
- Being able to pick up and put food in their mouth
- Opening their mouth when you offer them a spoonful of food
Should you keep breastfeeding or formula feeding while introducing solids?
National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines advise you to continue breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby while introducing solids, until at least 12 months of age.1
Breast milk or formula should still be the main source of nutrition for your baby as you introduce solids. You can gradually reduce the amount of milk they consume as they start to eat a wider variety of solid foods. If formula feeding, follow the feeding guide on the can.
By the time your baby is 12 months old, they should be eating around three meals a day, in addition to breast milk or infant formula.3
Introducing water and cow’s milk
Once your baby is 6 months old, you can introduce small amounts of water, on top of their regular formula or breast milk. This is more for practice than for hydration. Offer your baby cooled, boiled water in a cup or sippy cup, rather than a bottle.3
Cow’s milk does not have the right blend of nutrients for babies under 12 months. It cannot be used as a replacement for breast milk or formula until your baby is 12 months.4
From around 8 months onward, you can include cow’s milk as an ingredient with some of the foods you prepare for your little one, and you can offer dairy products such a cheese or yoghurts.4
How to start incorporating solids
into a baby’s feeding routine
Introduce solids to your baby gradually, one food at a time. This can help you discover possible food allergies. Start with foods that are rich in iron, such as iron-fortified rice cereal.
Here are some tips to get started:1,5
- Start with a small amount of smooth food, such as a teaspoonful of rice cereal, and gradually increase the quantity as your baby gets used to eating solids.
- Offer single-ingredient foods, such as finely mashed banana or sweet potato, to help you work out any possible food allergies.
- Avoid adding salt, sugar, honey, or spices to your baby’s food.
- As they adjust to eating solids, offer a variety of flavours and textures, such as mashed, pureed, small chunky and finger foods, to help develop their oral motor skills.
What if your baby has feeding problems?
Babies with feeding problems such as food allergies or lactose intolerance may have trouble tolerating certain solid foods. It’s possible these foods could further impact their condition.1
It’s best to talk with a healthcare professional about what kinds of foods work best for babies who have feeding problems.
Introducing food allergens
It’s always best to check with your healthcare professional before introducing foods that can cause an allergic reaction.
Allergy specialists recommend that you introduce food allergens from around 6 months (not before 4 months) and before 12 months of age. This may decrease the risk of your child developing an allergy to certain foods.5
Try introducing small amounts of food that might cause allergies — such as peanuts, eggs, soy and fish — one at a time. You can start by applying a small quantity on the inner lip to observe possible reactions to that specific food. It’s good to try the new solid foods during the day, rather than at night, so you can watch your child and respond if they have an allergic reaction.5
If your family and baby has a history of food allergies (such as cow’s milk protein allergy), you should be cautious when transitioning to solids and introducing new foods. Talk with your healthcare professional for more advice.
Giving your baby water
1. Infant Feeding Guidelines: information for health workers. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Published 2012. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/infant-feeding-guidelines-information-health-workers
2. Infant and young child feeding. World Health Organization. Published 2021. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding
3. Introducing solids: why, when, what & how. Raising Children Network. Published 2023. Accessed Oct 2024.https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/breastfeeding-bottle-feeding-solids/solids-drinks/introducing-solids
4. Introducing solid foods for babies. Better Health Channel. Published 2021. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/eating-tips-for-babies
5. Infant Feeding and Allergy Prevention. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). Published 2023. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/fast-facts/infant-feeding-and-allergy-prevention
