Starting solids is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with a surprising amount of work. It is not as simple as placing food in front of your baby and watching them eat.
There are decisions to research, allergens to understand, schedules to adjust, and a whole new layer of cleanup to manage.
As a Seattle postpartum therapist, a big part of my work is helping parents navigate the stress of starting solids. So many parents are caught off guard and do not expect this milestone to be as complex as it is. Here are some of the biggest questions I hear and tips to help you get through it.
When Do Babies Start Eating Solid Food?
Figuring out the best time to start solids can feel confusing because there is not one exact age that works for every baby, and there is a lot of misleading information online.
Rather than trying to figure this out on your own, talk to your pediatrician. Your baby’s readiness depends on their medical history and meeting developmental milestones.
Most of the time, pediatricians want to see that your baby can sit with support, maintain good head control, shows interest in food, and can bring objects toward their mouth. This often happens around 6 months, although every baby develops differently.
Baby-Led Weaning, Purées, or Both?
When parents research how to start feeding baby solids, they often encounter strong opinions about baby-led weaning versus purées. It can feel like you need to choose the best approach, but I encourage parents to learn about both and find a balance.
Consider your routines and whether preparing food in a baby-led weaning style is realistic. You may be able to do this on weekends when you are off work, but not during the week. Baby-led weaning may work well at home, while purées or pouches may be easier when you are traveling, out for the day, or do not have access to a kitchen.
Also consider your level of anxiety around gagging and choking. Many of the women in my practice who experience postpartum anxiety are very anxious about choking. For these women, a purée-based approach may feel safest at first. If that is you, start with purées. You do not need to make an already stressful situation more stressful by choosing a
How Many Times a Day Should I Introduce Solids to My Baby?
I see so many women put pressure on themselves to offer three meals and two snacks a day immediately after hearing that their baby is ready for solids. If you can do this, great. Most families cannot. It is okay to start slowly.
If you can only offer solid food at dinner for the first week, that is okay. You can build from there.
Also lean on the resources you already have. If your child attends daycare, ask whether they provide food and can feed your baby during the day. You can be specific about which foods you are comfortable with them offering. If you do not want them to introduce allergens, let them know.
How Do I Introduce Food Allergens to a Baby?
Introducing allergens is one of the most stressful parts of starting solids for some parents, especially those with a family history of food allergies. Some parents are so worried about a reaction that they offer a new allergen in the parking lot of an emergency room. This is more common than you might think.
The tricky part about food allergy reactions is that they do not always happen on the first introduction, and it is not realistic to introduce every allergen in an emergency room parking lot. The risk of allergic reaction also varies based on your child’s medical history.
I encourage parents to talk to their pediatrician about their child’s food allergy risk and the signs that a reaction is happening. Once you understand your child’s risk, you can make a thoughtful plan to introduce allergens. Having the facts can help you feel more prepared.
How Does Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Change When Baby Starts Solids?
For parents who breastfeed or chestfeed, a big concern is how starting solids will change milk supply or feeding frequency. The good news is that this usually happens slowly.
At first, babies get very little solid food in their bodies, so milk intake often stays the same. As they get better at eating, it will vary by baby. Some babies love solids and start drinking less milk. Others continue to prefer breastmilk or formula as their primary source.
Follow your baby’s lead.
Seattle-Area Resources to Help Parents with Starting Solids
- Tiny and Mighty Bites Staring Solids Group: led by feeding therapist Suzie Driscoll out of Edmonds, WA. It’s a two-week group class to learn all about starting solids along with other babies/parents in the same phase.
- Infant Pre-Feeding Class at Thrive Lactation: led by infant Feeding Specialist, Kim Kanzler, SLP. This class covers early play that supports feeding skills, signs of feeding readiness, early steps in the introduction of foods and recommended supplies for infant feeding. This is in Issaquah.
- Feeding Consultation for Caregivers: Seattle occupational therapist Hannah Michlmayr of Nosh and Nourish offers consultations to help parents make decisions about feeding and problem-solve challenges they are facing
- Solid Starts is great for baby led weaning because it has pictures of the way foods should look when they are safely prepared for baby based on age (since it changes). It takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out if you’re preparing this correctly.
- Seattle Children’s has resources on baby readiness for solids, foods to potentially avoid, and advice on preventing food allergies.
About the Author
Dr. Julie Franks (she/her) is a Seattle postpartum therapist and founder of Nurturing the Sisterhood, a perinatal mental health practice offering prenatal counseling, postpartum therapy, and perinatal support to women across Washington. With both clinical expertise and lived experience in infertility, postpartum anxiety, birth trauma, and working motherhood, she helps clients navigate the mental load and identity shifts that come with pregnancy, postpartum, and the early years of motherhood. No woman should have to face this season alone.
Comments