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feeding solids
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This page has some basic information about starting your baby on solids
together with links to some online guides. If you have concerns about any
feeding issues, consult your local GP,
Child Health Nurse or seek advice from the contacts listed in our
getting more help section at
the bottom of the page.
when to start feeding solids
There are a number of signs that your baby will give you when they are ready
to start solids - such as showing an interest in food, chewing when you eat
in front of them and the disappearance of the 'extrusion reflex'. This reflex causes
babies to put their tongue forward and upwards when feeding, as if sucking, and prevents
baby from taking food from a spoon. Current research indicates that, ideally, babies should be breastfed exclusively for the
first six months before introducing solids. There have also been indications that starting babies on solids at too young an age can
lead to food intolerances - usually caused because the baby's gut is not mature enough to digest certain foods.
For further advice, speak to your child health nurse or GP.
| Lunchbox Tips |
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| The Importance of Child Nutrition |
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| Introducing Solids |
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| Successful Solids |
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| Do you have a fussy eater? |
feeding tips- start with rice cereal, mixed as directed on the packet. Once your baby has been eating this satisfactorily for a couple of weeks, you can start to introduce other foods
- introduce foods one at a time wait a couple of days before introducing another one so that you can isolate any adverse reactions
- start with vegetables, sweeter tasting fruits tend to be favoured over vegetables if fruits are introduced first
- never leave your baby alone with food - babies can choke on food and drink
- don't add extra salt or sugar - a baby's taste is more sensitive than an adult's and salt and sugar are not required. Salt in excess can be harmful.
- don't offer fried foods
foods to avoid
The following foods are best avoided until your child is older (some because they are physically difficult for a baby to eat and
could cause a choking hazard and others because early exposure has been found to potentially cause allergies and intolerances:
- small hard foods which could pose a choking hazard - nuts, uncooked hard vegetables & fruits (eg, carrots, apples)
- cows milk as the main milk drink until 1 year old (more info from Heinz's 'For Baby' website) (once introduced, use full cream milk, not skim milk)
- soy milk as the main milk drink
- honey until 1 year old
- egg white until 1 year old
- nuts, or even crunchy peanut butter, until 5 years old
- popcorn & corn chips - choking hazard
- sausages with skins on - choking hazard
foods allergies & intolerances
For more information on what causes, how to avoid and the signs of food allergies & intolerances, see the online guides below
(we hope to expand this section with details of local support services at a later date when time allows):
- Allergen Information Cards from Food Standards Australia
- Food Allergy & Intolerance article from the Golden Circle baby website (AUS site)
- Fed Up With Food Additives (AUS site)
- Recipes from Allergy Block (AUS site)
- Food Allergies from keepkidshealthy.com (US site)
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| Eczema - Food for Thought |
soy & infants
If you would like to read more about soy in infant diets, see these two websites for a range of viewpoints:
- The Soy Story and the Facts Behind It - (AUS site)
- Soy Online Service - (NZ site)
online guides for parents
Here are some guides to feeding solids to your baby:
- Starting solids Parenting & Child Health section of the Child & Youth Health website, CYH, South Australia
- a number of online articles from Queensland Health
- feeding guide from Baby World (UK site)
- series of articles from Ask Dr Sears (US website)
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| Successful Solids |
getting more help & support groups
If you are facing problems trying to introduce or feed solids to your child, and wish to seek advice. The following organisations
can assist, support or provide further information. Click on links porvided below for local contact details or to find local
accredited practitioners. A good book can also be a valuable source of information - see our feeding products page or
visit your local bookshop or library. Local parenting clinics may also offer advice on feeding issues.
- child health parenting telephone helplines
- Dietitians Association of Australia
- Nutrition Australia
There are additional sources of feeding helplines and support groups on our helplines & support organisations pages.
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