The foods in the shops say "from 4 months"..... Oh no the very next shelf items are labeled "from 6 months". Nanny Sheila says "a little won't do him any harm, I gave Jane baby rice at 10 weeks old". Uncle Jeremy says "proper food will get her sleeping through the night" Who do you believe? The thing is every baby is ready to start solids at different times: for some that is 6.5 months of age, for others it's nearer 8 months of age. It's very rare that ALL the signs of readiness appear in any baby before 6 months of age. That's all well and good, but WHAT are these signs of readiness? There are 3 signs of readiness to look out for;
Your child needs to be able to stay in a seated position and hold their head steady without any support or help from an adult.
Your child can pick up items and get them to their mouth accurately and pretty consistently.
Your child has lost their tongue thrust reflex. A reflex they are born with which is just one change in their mouth during their first year.
If your baby sits on the floor without support and can keep their head steady with a straight spine and neck you can confidently tick this requirement off of the list. That straigh spine and neck indicates a straight path for food from their mouth to their stomach, potentially reducing the risk of choking. Often babies who still need support to sit will also have a curved neck and spine while their muscles are strengthening and developing. | 2. Hand to mouth co-ordination Purposeful moving of objects (and foods) accurately to their mouth is a developmental milestone. This action is accurate and consistent. Your baby is not getting things to their mouth by luck and they do not miss their mouth. Items are picked straight up by your baby and conveyed straight to your baby's mouth. | 3. Tongue thrust Your baby is born with a tongue thrust reflex. It's a protective reflex that prevents choking from anything that accidentally enters your baby's mouth Losing this reflex accompanies mouth developments including an increase in tongue mobility which helps your baby move food from the front of their mouth, where they enter, to the back of their mouth, to be swallowed. The roof of your babies mouth and their jaw mobility both change about this time too. |
If you'd like to learn more about you baby's readiness for starting solids and some ways to support their development and relationship with food book on to the 90 minute workshop below.
If you'd like to book a 121 session tailored to your family and your baby's needs please feel free to contact me by using this link:
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