feeding solid foods 

By age 4 to 6 months, most babies reach a point in their development when they can benefit from having foods other than breastmilk or infant formula added to their diets.

readiness for solid foods

During the first 4 to 6 months, a baby requires only breastmilk or iron-fortified infant formula. Babies’ swallowing and digestive systems are not developmentally ready to handle solid foods until they are between 4 to 6 months of age. During this period the baby’s tongue no longer pushes most solid objects out of the mouth. A baby’s weight or age alone does not determine his or her readiness for solid foods. Each baby develops at a different rate. Babies begin to show their desire for food by opening their mouths and leaning forward. Babies are mature enough to begin learning to eat from a spoon when they can:

• hold their necks steady and sit with support
• draw in their lower lips as a spoon is removed from their mouths
• keep food in their mouths and swallow it rather than push it back out on their chins.

Babies show disinterest or fullness by:

• leaning back
• turning away
• pushing the food out of their mouths
• sealing their lips together
• playing with the food
• pushing the bottle or spoon away

Source: Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (usda.gov)

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