Best solid food for babies, and best age to start solids?

Question

What is the best solid food to begin babies on, and why?

Also what is the best age for babies to begin solid foods, and why?

Scientific evidence is preferred over anecdotal evidence and personal experience, however I won't automatically dismiss those answers. Please provide links to research and/or articles if they are available, or list whatever resource you are using in answering this question. Thanks.

Answer 1

The following organizations ALL recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or any other foods) for the first 6 months of life (not the first 4-6 months):

World Health Organization
UNICEF
US Department of Health & Human Services
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Dietetic Association
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Health Canada

So 6 months is commonly considered the ideal age to start solid foods.

Signs to watch for that indicate baby is developmentally ready for solids include:

- Baby can sit up well without support.
- Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
- Baby is ready and willing to chew.
- Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
- Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.

Starting solids prior to 6 months may put baby at risk for allergies, respiratory illness, diabetes and obesity.

Be sure to read the information at the top link below about the "open gut" because it is very interesting.

BACK TO ADD:
I forgot to say that La Leche League typically suggests starting with bananas, avocados and sweet potatoes as first foods.

Answer 2

A baby's digestive system isn't fully developed until they are around 6 months. Some people say 4-6 months, but we wanted to wait until we were sure our daughter was ready.

Start the baby on rice cereal that is almost soup-like in it's consistency. Mix formula or breastmilk in the cereal until you get it to your desired state. The reasons to start with rice cereal are so that baby can get used to taking food from a spoon, used to swallowing something other than milk, and so that you can control how thin or thick it is.

After 2-3 weeks of cereal (we started with very thin cereal and made it thicker as time went by), we started her on vegetables (sweet potatoes first). We would give her a little of a veggie for lunch... the same veggie for three days (3-5 days is recommended) so that we could see how she reacted to them.

We use Gerber cereal because it's more affordable, easier to find and, seemingly, has better ingredients than we've seen in other cereals. We use Beechnut foods because they have fewer additive ingredients. Where Beechnut chicken and rice contains very basic ingredients that our daughter has sample individually before, Gerber chicken and rice contains items that she hasn't had and probably won't have until she's past one year old.

Our daughter is 8 months old now and is eating at regular times. She eats three meals a day and is eating dinners and mixed veggies and fruits.

I posted an article below that has some signs to watch for to see when your child is ready for solids (age is not the only indicator).

Good luck!

Answer 3

If your baby is going through an 8 ounce bottle of formula or is hungry more often its time to start them on solids. Rice cereal mixed thin and add a little apple sauce or even juice at first to sweeten it a little try only one new food at a time to rule out allergys . #-4 bites at a time is all it will be at first and the baby will make a mess trying to push food in with its fist. Don't try to stop it that is how they learn about food taste and texture. table manners come later. wait till at least 4 months of age before starting solids before this they cant digest very well. wait a while before trying them on baby meats. I always used gerber foods but beechnut is good too. don't contaiminate jars though put a little in a bowl or plate so you can use the whole jar.

Answer 4

Most pediatricians believe eating solid foods should be at 4 months. Some pediatricians will delay till 6 months based on baby's weight or other circumstances.

Babies usually eat rice cereal at first and then gradually move onto other mushy foods like avocado and bananas.

Other research I have found is that you do not need to stick to Gerber foods. Other cultures have their baby eat the same thing as adults such as curry chicken, just blended or grounded for little mouths to handle.

Answer 5

Parenting magazine puts an article about this at least once a year. you can go to their web sight sorry I don't have the exact link info but it was only one or two months back that they went over this. I have had 3 children myself and the veggies like squash and carrots are the best. for fruit go with pears they are less acidic than some of the others. Almost all pediatricians I had told me to start with rice cereal mixed with formula about a tablespoon per serving. Start between 4-6 months of age. personal warning start with only one serving of food a day to start. My daughter had a bad acid diaper rash.she was not ready for solids for another month.

Answer 6

You really should talk to your pediatrician about what's the best age for your baby to start eating solid foods.

Rice cereal is considered the best food to start out with on a baby. Although it can cause constipation. After rice they usually get oatmeal. My son preferred oatmeal. Its also suggested that you start with vegetables so they don't get addicted to the sweetness of fruits. My son still prefers the vegetables. We use Beech-nut and Earth's Best. In the book Baby Bargains they get the best scores for taste and quality. Just don't give them the meat in a jar (not the pureed kind that's okay) like the hot dog looking one's. They're gross.

Answer 7

Doctors suggest starting a baby on solid foods sometime between 4 and 7 months of age. Some babies are ready for solids as early as 3 months, but it's not recommended; the earlier a baby gets started on solids, the more likely that she'll be prone to food allergies later on.

At the beginning, solid foods will just be a supplement to your child's primary source of nutrition -- breast milk or formula. So there's no need to worry if you haven't gotten your baby started on solids yet or if he's not eating as much solid food as you'd like.
Since your baby will still be getting regular feedings of breast milk or formula, solid foods are just "extras" for now. Keep this time fun and relaxed. After all, you now have the privilege of introducing your baby to the rewards of enjoying good food -- rewards she'll hopefully enjoy for the rest of her life.
It's best to start with rice cereal for your baby's first taste of solids. Here's how to give your baby his first taste of rice cereal:

Sit your baby upright, either in an infant seat or propped in a highchair with towels, blankets, and bibs. If she seems a bit scared by the experience, you can try moving her onto your lap.

Give your baby something to hold, such as a baby spoon or a soft bread crust. This will give her something to focus on, which might free you to get a spoonful of something into her mouth.

Place a baby spoon (or a small coffee spoon if the baby spoon seems too large), with about 1/4 teaspoon of rice cereal on it, close to your baby's lips. Give her a minute to smell and taste it. Don't be concerned if this first taste is rejected. Just wait a minute and try again. Expect that most of the food on the spoon will wind up on your baby's chin or bib. Once her face and bib is covered in food, don't forget to take some adorable pictures to record the milestone!

Finish your baby's feeding with breast milk or formula to satisfy her hunger. Fight the urge to put food into your baby's bottle. He needs to make the connection that tasty foods are to be eaten sitting up and from a spoon. This early experience will help lay the foundation for good eating habits throughout her life.
Favorite First Foods

Bananas

Applesauce

Peaches

Pears

Carrots

Squash

Sweet Potatoes

Always wait several days after feeding your baby a new food so that you can pinpoint any allergic reactions he may have. If you suspect your child is showing signs of a food allergy, speak to your doctor right away.

Answer 8

With my baby boy I started him on cereal when he turned 4 months old; it's the best time to do it, 'cause your baby's system is not ready yet, before that time. After two weeks on cereal I gave him veggies and fruits; the first time I gave him carrots and apple, not together, one at lunch and the other in the afternoon. Try carrots, squash, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes; fruits try, apples, white grapes, peaches, banana, prunes and pears; watch out with the pears, prunes since this could make babies get some dirty pampers with #2 really fast; bananas and apples can get babies constipated; don't feed them the same all the time; one day a green veggie, the other a yellow one.
Mine hates green veggies, but you must give it to them no matter what, is for their own health and well.

Answer 9

It depends on the child as to when to start feeding solid foods. I started feeding my daughter solid foods at 3 months because the bottle wasn't enough and she would not eat the cereal and fruit. Ask yourself these questions. Does your child drink an eight ounce bottle in one feeding? Does he/she cry after he/she drinks the bottle? If the answer to those questions are yes then it is time to start feeding the solid foods. Start with a little rice cereal (it is easier than oatmeal for the baby to digest ) do not put

Answer 10

I'd say 6-8mos because many probies before that don't understand the concept and get frustrated. I tried my son at 5 1/2 months and he was not ready but at 6 1/2 months he did great. You can try when the baby shows signs of readiness and if he doesn't like it just wait a few weeks and try again. NO rush he has his whole life to eat.