Guide to Starting Baby on Solid Foods

February 20, 2020

A Printable Guide to Starting Baby on Solid Foods:

The American Academy of Pediatrics says you should start your child on solids between 4 and 6 months. Here are some things you should know plus a printable food guide for baby's first year.

It's important to remember that this should not replace breast milk or formula. Solids should be a used as a complement to breast-feeding or formula feeding as they provide the nutrients your newborn needs.

Wondering if your baby is ready to start solids? Here are some things you can look for:

• Your baby can sit with support and has good head control
• Baby still seems hungry after a full feeding of milk
• Your baby doesn’t just spit out the food and can easily move food into throat
• Baby is showing a desire for food by looking intently at you while eating or opening their mouth when food is near

If your answer is yes to these questions, you should ask your pediatrician if they agree it’s time to add solids to baby’s diet.

Be Prepared:

As a parent, you know life is a just a little easier when you are prepared and feeding time is no different! The following products will help prepare you and your little one for this new and exciting milestone.

• Highchair with a broad, stable base. Make sure to buckle the safety straps!
• An easy to wipe-clean bib that covers your baby’s front and shoulders. Bibs that include a pocket to catch food from landing on baby’s legs is a plus!
• Soft-tip spoons that are easy on baby’s gums.
• Reusable baby food containers for the DIY baby food parents.

Bazzle Baby Product Spotlight:

The Bazzle Baby GoBib is the perfect feeding accessory and a must-have for messy mealtimes! This innovative bib has a built-in pocket to catch food & easily folds all the mess into a ball for easy clean-up.

• Adjustable velcro to grow with baby
• Soak proof and easy to wipe clean
• Large pocket to catch mess
• Folds into itself for easy clean-up & portability
• Clips or hangs on stroller, diaper bag or lunchbox
• Machine washable

Getting Started:

• Continue to give baby up to 32 ounces or breastmilk or formula a day for the first 12 months.
• Start with simple single-ingredient foods that contain no sugar or salt and make sure it is pureed to where it is thin & can flow off spoon.
• Wait at least 3 days after starting a new food to introduce any new foods to see if your baby has a reaction so you can single those out.
• Slowly start to introduce stage 2 and then 3 baby foods within the first month so you are increasing the pureed consistency to get them ready to transition into finger foods.
• Baby foods are best tolerated about an hour after breastmilk or formula feeding.
• Be relaxed and enjoy yourself.

Foods to Avoid:

• Honey: might contain spores that can cause a serious illness known as infant botulism
• Cow’s milk: doesn’t meet an infant’s nutritional needs and isn’t a good source of iron which can increase the risk of iron deficiency.

Get ready for some messy fun! You are taking the steps to build a lifetime of healthy, happy eating!

Printable Baby Food Guide for First 12 Months: Printable Baby Food Guide

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