My little bundle of joy is almost 6 months old and I just remembered the doctor telling me that I should be trying cereal or first baby foods between the ages of 4 and 6 months. Oops! So I frantically ran to the grocery store, bought some rice cereal, and mixed it with formula to “try” what I should have already started. What I quickly realized is little Miss Tawny is NOT ready for foods. This started to alarm me and I decided to do some research about baby food readiness. What I found to be the “norm” boils down to 5 characteristics your infant will display letting you know they are ready to move beyond formula and/or breast milk.
- They stop drooling so much
- They can hold their head steady
- They can open their mouth and close their lips around a spoon
- They can swallow without choking
- They can sit well without assistance/ sit upright well. They may topple over every once in a while but for the most part are able to sit upright on their own.
- They shows an interest in food. They are aware of you eating in front of them and may watch you intently as you eat.
- They imitate eating behaviors such as smacking their lips when they see you eat or pretending to take a bite at the same time you do.
- They are able to eat without spitting the bite out. Once the food has entered their mouth, they are able to swallow it down.
Once your child has mastered these 8 eating solid food characteristics, you can be certain they are ready for solid foods. Here is a video that goes into more detail about the signs your child is ready for baby food.
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