How much baby food do you start with

Baby's first foods: How to introduce solids to your baby

Babies are typically ready to start solids between 4 and 6 months, as long as they're showing signs of readiness, such as being able to sit upright with good head control. Talk to your baby's doctor about which foods to introduce first, particularly if you're concerned about a risk for an allergy. In general, infant cereal and pureed, one-ingredient veggies, fruits, and meats are great first foods. Try spoon-feeding or baby-led weaning, and keep up the breast milk or formula until your baby's first birthday.

When do babies start eating baby food?

It depends. As long as your baby shows signs of readiness, your pediatrician will probably give you the go-ahead to start baby food (also called solid food or solids) any time between 4 and 6 months.

Until then, breast milk or formula provides all the calories and nourishment your baby needs. Infants don't yet have the physical skills to swallow solid foods safely, and their digestive system isn't ready for solids until they're at least 4 months old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of your baby's life and introducing solids at 6 months old. The AAP advises breastfeeding until age 1 – and longer if you and your baby want to.

Signs your baby is ready for solids

Your baby will give you clear signs when they're ready. Look for:

Head control. Your baby needs to be able to keep their head in a steady, upright position.
Sitting well when supported. Your baby needs to be able to sit upright in a baby seat or highchair to swallow well.
Losing the "extrusion reflex." Your baby's mouth and tongue develop in sync with their digestive system. To start solids, they should be able to move food to the back of their mouth and swallow it, instead of using their tongue to push food out of their mouth.
Curiosity about food. Your baby may start showing interest in what you're eating, reaching for your food or even opening their mouth if you offer them a spoonful.

Starting solids by 6 months old is important for your baby's oral motor development (the use of their lips, tongue, jaw, teeth, and hard and soft palates). Also, solid foods can provide specific nutrients your baby needs, such as iron and zinc. (These are especially important if your baby has been exclusively breastfed.)

What are the best first baby foods?

Start your baby with any pureed, single-ingredient food. Although it used to be standard for parents to give rice cereal as a first food, that's not necessary. In fact, pediatricians often don't recommend baby rice cereal since it can contain inorganic arsenic, and it's not as nutritious as some other first foods.

Good first baby foods include

pureed squash
applesauce
mashed bananas
mashed avocado
pureed peaches
pureed pears
pureed meats
whole-grain, iron-enriched baby cereal such as oatmeal

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If your baby is breastfed, the AAP suggests meat as a first food because the iron in beef, chicken, and turkey helps to replace iron stores, which start to diminish at about 6 months of age.

How to introduce solids to your baby

The traditional way to start solids is by spoon-feeding your baby cereal or purees, but some parents use a different method called baby-led weaning. Using this method, you put chunks of soft, developmentally appropriate food on the highchair tray or table and let your baby grab the food and feed themself.

Here's how to start spoon-feeding your baby:

For your first few feedings, start with just 1 or 2 teaspoons of pureed solid food or baby cereal about an hour after nursing or bottle-feeding (so your baby isn't too hungry or full).

Use a soft-tipped plastic spoon to feed your baby to avoid injuring their gums. Put a small amount of food on the tip of the spoon and offer it to them. If your baby doesn't seem very interested, just let them smell the food for now and try again another time.

If you're feeding your baby ready-to-eat jars or pouches of baby food, put some into a small dish and feed them from that. (If you dip the feeding spoon into the jar, it's not a good idea to save the leftovers because bacteria from your baby's mouth will now be in the jar. ) Store leftovers in the fridge and throw away any opened baby food jars or pouches within a day or two of opening them.

If you decide to start with cereal, give your baby 1 to 2 teaspoons of diluted infant cereal. Add breast milk or formula to a tiny pinch of cereal. It will be very runny at first, but as your baby starts to eat more solid foods, you can gradually thicken the consistency by using less liquid.

Begin with one daily feeding in the morning whenever your baby isn't too tired, hungry, or cranky. Your baby may not eat much at first, but give them time to get used to the experience. Don't be surprised if your baby is confused or rejects solid food at first. Some babies need practice keeping food in their mouths and swallowing.

Eventually you can start giving your baby more solid food until they're having a few tablespoons a day, over two feedings. In general, your baby could start with pureed or semi-liquid food, then move on to strained or mashed food, and finally graduate to small pieces of finger foods.

Signs that your baby is full

Your baby's appetite will vary from one feeding to the next, so a strict accounting of how much they've eaten isn't a reliable way to tell when they've had enough. Look for these signs that your baby's probably done:

They lean back in their chair
They turn their head away from food
They start playing with the spoon
They refuse to open up for the next bite (Sometimes a baby will keep their mouth closed because they haven't finished the first mouthful, so give them time to swallow.)

Food allergies and introducing solids

Experts recommend that you introduce one food at a time to your baby, and wait 3 to 5 days before introducing another food, so you can watch for any allergic reactions. It's also a good idea to write down the foods your baby samples. If they have an adverse reaction, a food log will make it easier to pinpoint the cause.

You don't have to hold off on giving allergenic foods such as eggs, peanut butter, or soy. There's no evidence that waiting to introduce certain foods will help your baby avoid allergies. In fact, there's evidence that the opposite is true.

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), incorporating commonly allergenic foods into your baby's diet starting at around 4 to 6 months (and continuing through childhood) may actually help prevent the development of food allergies.

Start with traditional first foods, such as iron-fortified infant cereal, pureed veggies, fruits, and meats. Once you've tried a few of these foods and your baby seems to be tolerating them well, you can introduce more commonly allergenic foods, such as soy, eggs, wheat, fish, and peanut products.

Food manufacturers have products on the market designed to help you incorporate commonly allergenic foods into your child's diet. These stir-in powders and finger foods may contain one commonly allergenic protein or a blend of several.

Special precautions need to be taken with certain babies. If your child falls into any of the following categories, consult with your baby's doctor or an allergist to create a customized feeding plan before adding solids to your baby's diet:

Your baby has a sibling with a peanut allergy.
Your baby has moderate to severe eczema despite following a doctor's treatment plan.
Your baby previously had an immediate allergic reaction to a new food or has been diagnosed with a food allergy.

If your baby is allergic to a new food, you'll see signs of a reaction within a few minutes or hours. Most children with food allergies have mild reactions. If you notice a few hives, a new rash, or diarrhea, call your baby's doctor for advice.

If you notice wheezing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, facial swelling (including the tongue and lips), or more than two body systems affected (such as hives and vomiting), your baby may be having a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Baby food feeding tips

Offer fruits or vegetables in any order. Some parents may tell you to start with vegetables instead of fruits so your infant won't develop a taste for sweets. But babies are born with a preference for sweets, so you don't have to worry about introducing sweet or savory foods in any particular order.
Feed cereal with a spoon only. Unless your baby's doctor asks you to, don't add cereal to a bottle – your baby could choke or end up gaining too much weight.
Encourage adventurous eating. You don't have to stick with bland and boring. See how to make your own baby food and use spices and seasonings to create delicious baby food flavors.
Give new foods time. If your baby turns away from a particular food, don't push. Try again in a few days.
Check for added sugars and too much salt. Check the Nutrition Facts label on canned, frozen, or packaged foods for "Added Sugars. " If there's 1 gram or more listed, give your baby something else. Also look at sodium amounts. Babies shouldn't have no more than 1,200 mg of sodium per day.
Avoid unsafe foods. Don't give your baby foods that could cause choking, such as whole grapes or popcorn. Babies under 1 can't have honey, cow's milk, or soy milk. Also, unpasteurized juices and undercooked fish, meat, eggs, or poultry could be a source of bacteria.
Watch for constipation. Your baby's poop sometimes changes when their diet does. Although it's usually temporary, your baby may have constipation after you introduce solids. If you notice that your baby is having less frequent bowel movements, or that their stools have become hard or dry and seem difficult to pass, let their doctor know. Some doctors recommend adding high-fiber fruits such as pears, prunes, and peaches to a baby's diet, or giving a few ounces of prune, apple, or pear juice every day until bowel movements are back to normal.

Also, don't be surprised if your baby's poop changes color and odor when you add solids to their diet. If your baby has been exclusively breastfed up to this point, you'll probably notice a strong odor to their formerly mild-smelling stools as soon as they start eating even tiny amounts of solids. This is normal.

If your baby shies away from new foods, here are a few things you can try:

Test a range of textures. If your baby doesn't like pear puree, try giving them pieces of very ripe pear instead.
In a similar vein, try different cooking methods. If your baby doesn't like steamed veggies, try giving them roasted vegetables.
Serve food at different temperatures. Some babies prefer broccoli cold rather than warm, for example.
Combine the new food with a familiar favorite. If your baby rejects a new food on its own, mix it in with something you know they like.
Add a dipping sauce! Try shredded chicken with applesauce, yogurt with baked apple slices, or hummus with well-cooked pieces of carrot.
Above all, be patient. Sometimes it takes a while for a baby to get used to new flavors and textures, so keep trying and eventually they'll accept the new food.

How many times a day should my baby eat solids?

At first your baby will eat solid food just once a day. By around 6 to 7 months, two meals a day is the norm. Starting around 8 to 9 months, they may be eating solid food three times a day plus a snack. A typical day's diet at 8 months might include a combination of:

Breast milk or iron-fortified formula
Iron-fortified cereal
Vegetables
Fruit
Small amounts of protein, such as eggs, cheese, yogurt, poultry, lentils, tofu, and meat
High-allergy foods, if appropriate

See our age-by-age baby feeding guide for more detail on how much to feed your baby and when.

How much breast milk or formula does my baby need after we introduce solids?

Even after your baby starts solids, breast milk or formula will provide the majority of their calories and nutrition until they're 9 months to 1 year old. Breast milk and formula contain important vitamins, iron, and protein in a form that's easy to digest.

You may notice that as your baby starts to eat more solid foods (around 9 months old), they'll gradually decrease their intake of formula or breast milk. This is normal. Over time, your baby will take fewer bottles with more ounces in each.

Here's how much breast milk or formula babies need after starting solids:

4 to 6 months old: 4 to 6 feedings a day (breastfeeding, or bottles with 4 to 6 ounces)
6 to 8 months old: 3 to 5 feedings a day (breastfeeding, or bottles with 6 to 8 ounces)
8 to 12 months old: 3 to 4 feedings a day (breastfeeding, or bottles with 7 to 8 ounces)

What equipment do I need to introduce solids?

It's helpful to have:

A highchair
Baby bowls and plates
Baby spoons
Bibs
A splat mat on the floor

You may also want to introduce your baby to a sippy cup soon after you start solids.

If you're making your own baby food, you'll need:

A tool to puree the food, like a blender, food processor, or baby food maker

Storage containers for refrigerating and freezing extra portions (Some parents use ice cube trays – or similar devices made just for baby food – to store and freeze individual portions.)

When Can My Baby Start Eating Solid Foods? (for Parents)

A friend just started giving her 3-month-old applesauce and rice cereal. My son is just 2 weeks younger than hers, and I am wondering if I should be introducing solids soon too. When should I start?
– Taylor

Doctors recommend waiting until a baby is about 6 months old to start solid foods. Starting before 4 months is not recommended.

At about 6 months, babies need the added nutrition — such as iron and zinc — that solid foods provide. It’s also the right time to introduce your infant to new tastes and textures.

Some babies may be ready for solids sooner than 6 months, but don't start until your baby is at least 4 months old.

How do you know it’s the right time to start solid foods? Here are some signs that babies are ready:

They have good head and neck control and sit up in a high chair.
They're interested in foods. For example, they may watch others eat, reach for food, and open their mouths when food approaches.
They don’t push food out of their mouths, which is a natural tongue reflex that disappears when they’re between 4–6 months old.
They weigh twice their birth weight, or close to it.

Talk to your doctor about the right time to start solid foods.

How Should I Start Solids?

When the time is right, you can start with a single-grain, iron-fortified baby cereal. Start with 1 or 2 tablespoons of cereal mixed with breast milk, formula, or water. Feed your baby with a small baby spoon. Don’t add cereal or other food to a baby's bottle because it can lead to too much weight gain. Let your baby practice eating from a spoon and learn to stop when full.

When your baby gets the hang of eating the first food, introduce others, such as puréed meat, fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, or yogurt. Try one food at a time and wait a few days before trying something else new to make sure your baby doesn't have an allergic reaction.

Foods that are more likely to cause allergies can be among the foods you introduce to your baby. These include peanuts, eggs, cow’s milk, seafood, nuts, wheat, and soy. Waiting to start these foods does not prevent food allergies. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about food allergies, especially if any close family members have allergies, food allergies, or allergy-related conditions, like eczema or asthma.

Infants with severe eczema or egg allergies are more likely to have allergies to peanuts. Talk to your doctor about how and when to introduce these foods to your child.

When starting your baby on solids, avoid:

foods with added sugars and no-calorie sweeteners
high-sodium foods
honey, until after the first birthday. It can cause botulism in babies.
unpasteurized juice, milk, yogurt, or cheese
regular cow's milk or soy drinks before 12 months instead of breast milk or formula. It’s OK to offer pasteurized yogurt and cheese.
foods that may cause choking, such as hot dogs, raw carrots, grapes, popcorn, and nuts

Also, do not give fruit juices to infants younger than 12 months old.

Over the next few months, introduce a variety of foods from all the food groups. If your baby doesn't seem to like something, don’t give up. It can take 8 to 10 tries or more before babies learn to like new foods.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD

Date reviewed: February 2021

Complementary foods - Motherhood in Khabarovsk

Complementary foods, from 3 months before 6 months

When to start feeding

If your baby is breastfeeding, at 6 months he should start receiving the first complementary foods, preferably in the form of vegetable puree. You can use vegetables in any form: fresh or frozen.

If your baby is formula-fed, you can start introducing the first complementary foods as early as four months. It is best to make him a tasty, liquid vegetable puree (cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, potatoes). nine0003

Start by giving your child 1-2 tablespoons of puree, then gradually increase the amount. By nine months, your baby will be eating 3-4 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and you will be able to feed your baby more flavorful vegetables and mixes.

Complementary foods, from 4 months before 6 months

Fruits and berries: when to start giving

At the age of 4 months, the child can already begin to be accustomed to fruits if he is bottle-fed (from 6 months if breast-fed). It is more correct to call this type of product not complementary foods, but vitamin subsidies. Experts believe that it is better to introduce them after vegetable purees, since almost all children are born with a sweet tooth, and it will not be easy to accustom them to vegetables after sweet fruit puree. Others, on the contrary, believe that it is still better to start with fruit purees and juices. nine0003

You can ask a dietitian if you have any questions about the first complementary foods in the Advice section.

Complementary foods, from 6 months before 6 months 25 days

Why we need complementary foods at 6 months

Your child is already developmentally ready to eat food. Now, when the baby is 6 months old, it becomes necessary to introduce complementary foods into the diet. The fact is that the need for energy and nutrients begins to exceed the level at which they were satisfied with breast milk. nine0003

Complementary foods, from 4 months before 7 months

Complementary foods for overweight

Babies who are prone to overweight and constipation should be introduced first with vegetables (zucchini, potatoes are suitable for a start), and then fruit dishes (apple, pear, banana).

Complementary foods, from 6 months before 7 months

Complementary foods: the choice of "bib"

When your baby is 6 months old, you start giving him "solid" food. At the very beginning of this innovation, continue to use terry bibs, but soon a more serious covering layer will be needed for the child's clothing. Your baby will need a large size bib – the bigger the better. It is best to switch to bibs with wide ends that are fastened with Velcro, or use bibs that fit like a poncho - they are very convenient. Try to get bibs that have a color or at least a pattern that is close in hue to most types of baby food like carrot-banana puree, as these food stains don't wash off. nine0003

Complementary foods, from 6 months before ninemonths

Food for small babies

Small children with unstable stools should start with cereal. Start your acquaintance with rice, corn or buckwheat, because these cereals are devoid of gluten.

Complementary foods, from 3 months before ninemonths

Rules for the introduction of complementary foods

The introduction of complementary foods should be started with monocomponent meals (containing only one type of vegetable, fruit or cereal). This is the only way to track the reaction of the baby to a particular product. When the baby has mastered a sufficient number of products, you can start cooking or buying multi-component mixtures. This will increase the nutritional value of the dishes and provide the little one with a rich palette of flavors. Later, you can mix dissimilar foods (vegetables, side dishes and meat) in one dish. nine0003

During the weaning period, babies still need a lot of milk. The fact that the child has already tasted "real food" does not mean that he no longer needs milk. All experts agree that it is better to continue breast milk for at least a year. Do not forget that your baby is still a baby.

You can ask a free-of-charge question about the rules for the introduction of complementary foods to a pediatric nutritionist in the Advice section.

nine0002 Complementary foods, from 6 months before 1 year

General principles of healthy eating

During the introduction of complementary foods, and until at least two years of age, a child's diet should not be too low in fat (as this may reduce energy intake) or too high in fat (as this may reduce micronutrient density). A reasonable amount of fat intake is considered to provide about 30–40% of total energy intake. nine0003

Sugar added to food should be limited to about 10% of the total energy intake, as high intake may impair micronutrient status.

Complementary foods, from 6 months before 1 year

How to Increase Iron Absorption While Weaning

When you switch to meat in your complementary foods, you should be aware of the absorption of iron. There are two types of iron: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is found in meat products and is highly bioavailable. Non-heme iron is found in plant foods. And if you add a little meat to the dish with vegetables, then the bioavailability of the iron contained in the dish with vegetables can be significantly improved. This is due to the fact that meat and fish contain heme iron. nine0003

One study of 7-month-old infants found a 50% increase in the absorption of non-heme iron from vegetables after adding meat to a meal.

As for fish, fish also contains heme iron and therefore has a positive effect on iron status. It is believed that fish also contains the “meat factor”, which has a beneficial effect on the absorption of non-heme iron.

Only small amounts of meat are needed to improve iron status, and meat should be introduced into the diet gradually from about 6 months of age. Eating large amounts of meat early can lead to high protein intake, which can have negative consequences. nine0003

Meat and fish can be replaced with a cheaper product: liver. Mashed liver is thus a good complementary food after about 6 months.

Complementary foods, from 3 months before 1 year

Cow's milk during weaning

The World Health Organization does not recommend cow's milk for drinking before 9 months of age. However, it can be used in small quantities in the preparation of complementary foods from 6 months of age.

Infants who are not breastfed or fed commercially available iron-fortified infant formula should receive homemade cow's milk formula along with an iron supplement. nine0003

Complementary foods, from 6 months before 1 year

Complementary foods: what vegetables contain many important vitamins

Dark green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and kale contain many important vitamins and minerals, including calcium and iron. By six months, the iron stores in the child's body are depleted, in addition, children who are just starting to walk often suffer from iron deficiency. Vitamin C is present in almost all vegetables, promotes the absorption of iron. nine0003

Red and orange vegetables such as carrots are rich in carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body.

Complementary foods, from 4 months before 1 year

How much milk to give when introducing complementary foods

Babies still need a lot of milk. The fact that the child has already tasted "real food" does not mean that he no longer needs milk. All experts agree that it is better to continue breast milk for at least a year. Do not forget that your baby is still a baby. nine0003

Complementary foods, from 6 months before 1 year

Baby puree recipe step by step

If you want to make your own puree for your baby, then you should adhere to the following rules:

1. Peel vegetables or fruits, removing all bones or hard parts. If you are going to cook meat, carefully remove the fat and veins, and bones from the fish. Then cut the food into pieces. nine0003

2. When the food is butchered, place it in a saucepan or steam bath. Fruits and vegetables should be cooked for at least 20 minutes until they are completely soft.

3. Now the finished ingredients need to be soaked in puree. Use a hand or electric mixer or blender for this. You can rub the products through a sieve by hand, but this requires more effort and time.

4. Divide baby food into small, sterile containers with tight lids. Be sure to clearly label them with the date and time of preparation. It is best not to store baby food for more than 48 hours, so do not prepare meals in large portions. nine0003

Complementary foods, from 6 months before 1 year

Ready-made baby food: what the label says

When choosing baby food, do not forget to read the label. The list of ingredients will tell you exactly what foods and additives were used in the preparation of the meal. Products are listed in descending order. The name itself may be a clue. For example, if a jar says "Beef with vegetables", it means that it contains more meat than "vegetables with beef". nine0003

Baby food manufacturers must adhere to strict limits on additives. Do not use artificial colors, preservatives or artificial sweeteners. There are laws limiting the amount of salt. Most baby food contains no salt at all. Sugar is often added to improve the taste. Beware of foods containing various forms of sugar - sucrose, glucose, glucose syrup, fruit juice, dextrose, and maltodextrin (excluding fructose). Modified corn flour does not add any nutrients. nine0003

Vitamins are often added to baby food to compensate for what is lost during cooking and sterilization. The iron contained in tasty children's food prevents anemia.

Complementary foods, from 6 months before 1 year

Which fruit puree to prefer

Fruits from the store cannot boast of chemical purity and vitamin richness. Therefore, it is preferable to give ready-made puree for baby food. Because they use proven fruits grown without the use of agricultural chemicals - fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, the technology of their manufacture provides for rapid heat treatment, which retains most of the valuable nutrients. nine0003

If you have your own garden with "tested" pure fruits or berries, you can make your own puree.

From 4 to 6 months

Breast milk is the best food for your baby.
It is very important that the baby consumes breast milk for as long as possible.

The right age to start complementary foods

It is recommended to start introducing complementary foods into the baby's diet no earlier than 4 months, but no later than 6 months*. At this age, the baby is in the active phase of development and reacts with curiosity to everything new! Some babies at 4 to 5 months of age can no longer satisfy their appetite with breast milk alone and need complementary foods for healthy growth. Other children have enough breast milk, and they are ready for the introduction of complementary foods only after 6 months. The decision to start complementary foods should always be made according to your baby's development. Do you feel like your baby is not getting enough breast milk? Does your baby hold his head on his own, show interest in new foods or a spoon? Then it's time to start feeding. If in doubt, consult your pediatrician. nine0003

If your baby spits out the first spoonfuls of puree, be patient. After all, he must first learn to swallow it. Start with a few scoops and give your child time to get used to the new form of feeding.

*Recommendation of the Nutrition Committee of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN)

Why is complementary food so important for the baby?

After 4-6 months of life, only mother's milk or milk formulas are not enough to supply the child's body with all the nutrients and necessary energy. In addition, the transition to solid food trains the muscles of the mouth. And finally, with the introduction of complementary foods, the child will get acquainted with the variety of taste directions, which is also important for his development. nine0003

When to start complementary foods?

Gradually replace one breastfeed with complementary foods. First for lunch, then for dinner and finally for lunch. The mouse eats breakfast with the usual dairy food.

Starting complementary foods with HiPP products is easy. The first spoons will be vegetable or fruit purees HiPP:

First step: lunch

We recommend that you start complementary foods at lunchtime with HiPP vegetable puree (for example, "Zucchini. My first puree", "Cauliflower. My first puree" or "Broccoli .My first puree"). Then, for satiety, feed your baby as always: breast or bottle. The amount of vegetable puree can be increased daily by 1 spoon. Be patient if your baby does not immediately love vegetables. Try repeating the vegetable puree in the following days. Next week, you can expand your diet with other varieties of HiPP vegetables (for example, "Carrots. My first puree" or "Potatoes. My first puree"). nine0003

If your baby tolerates vegetables well, in the third week you can introduce grain porridge into the diet, and as a dessert, offer a few spoons of fruit puree enriched with vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to better absorb iron in the body.

Once your baby starts eating a whole serving of mashed potatoes for lunch, you can eliminate breast milk or formula during that meal.

Tip: Reheat as much puree as needed for feeding. Store leftover puree in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. Use the contents of the opened jar within a day. nine0003

Important! If you are using a microwave oven, please remove the lid before reheating puree. Stir after heating. To prevent damage to the jar, please use only a plastic spoon. Always check food temperature before feeding.