As your baby grows, one of the big milestones as a new family will be the introduction of solid food. This can be a really fun adventure, but can also create concerns, such as about choking – and it can be messy, too!
You may have lots of questions such as: “When is my baby ready for solids?” or “Should I do purees or baby-led weaning?” – and that is completely natural!
To give you an idea of what to expect, we chatted with our expert Maggie Towe, who holds a Master of Science and is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist as well as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She will answer all of the above questions and more.
Maggie is the Berlin-based owner of Towe Nutrition, offering nutrition and lactation services to families in Berlin and worldwide. She is passionate about providing individualized breastfeeding and nutrition support convenient for families - either in their own homes or virtually.
Her passion for breastfeeding and nutrition support started with her education as a American Registered Dietitian and evolved as she breastfed her own two girls, became a lactation consultant and worked as a pediatric dietitian in a newborn intensive care unit. Originally from the U.S., Maggie has worked with families for over 15 years and has called Berlin home for the past 12 years.
At what age may your baby be ready for solids? What are some of the signs to look for and some of the prerequisites before you can introduce solids?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the introduction of complementary foods at 6 months as this is when the infant’s need for energy and nutrients begins to exceed what can be provided by breast milk alone.
At Towe Nutrition, I recommend looking for the three signs that your baby is ready to start solids:
Your baby can sit independently
Your baby can bring toys to their mouth with their hands
When you offer food, your baby is able to move it from the front of their mouth to the back and swallow.
All babies meet these milestones at different times, but most are ready around 6 months. (If you had your baby early, it may be that your baby needs more time.)
Be cautious of introducing solid foods earlier than six months as this can displace the nutrients your baby needs to get from breastmilk. But also keep in mind that if we wait too long to introduce solids, we may miss a critical window of development.
What are the different options of introducing solids? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
There are three main options families choose to introduce solids:
Baby-Led Weaning
Spoon feeding
Combination approach
With baby-led weaning (BLW), infants are exposed to a wide variety of flavors and textures as they eat the same foods as the family (but modified for safety). This fosters an independence in self-feeding, motor control and a healthy relationship with food.
However, baby-led weaning can be a messy affair! I also always recommend families take a First Aid/CPR class and sit next to their babies while feeding, so they know what to do in the event of a choking incident.
In contrast, spoon feeding can be time consuming as families typically prepare special foods for babies, often only single foods in pureed form, which are fed to the baby by a caregiver from a spoon. In this way, babies do not develop self-feeding skills, but families have more control over how much the baby is eating.
The most common approach is a combination of baby-led weaning and spoon feeding: Families can offer a mixture of pureed or mashed foods alongside finger foods. In this way, the baby will learn self-feeding skills while parents also are able to spoon feed the smooth foods that are trickier for the baby to load onto a spoon.
What are good first foods to introduce to your baby?
I always emphasize the importance of protein foods that are high in iron and zinc to help with brain development. These foods include meats, fish, beans, tofu, and iron fortified cereals.
I recommend families offer infants the food they are eating, but modified for safety: Young babies and children should not have added salt or sugar, so remove your baby’s portion before salting. Then you can modify the food for safety by mashing or pureeing as needed.
Overall, babies should be exposed to all food groups, including protein foods, grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy and fats.
Are there certain foods that small babies cannot eat yet? If so, what are they and why should they not be given until later?
Yes, there are two: Babies under age one should not be offered honey as there is a risk of botulism spores in honey. After age one, children have a more mature digestive system and the risk of a serious illness due to botulism infection is lower.
Babies under age one should also not receive cow’s milk as a drink. It is okay for them to have dairy in the form of cheese and yogurt, as well as added to foods like mashed potatoes, but pure cow’s milk as a substitute for breastmilk or formula can be harmful for babies under age one.
Anything else that families need to know?
Introduction of solids is a fun time for families to try new foods together. Food is fun and social, so I encourage families to eat together and be good role models for their children trying new foods and exploring textures.
It can take as many as 15 times before a child accepts a new food, so just keep the experience positive and continue to offer - even if your child spits the food out or throws it on the floor!
Our job as parents is to offer the place and food and the child decides how much (if any) to eat, with the goal to raise independent, healthy eaters.
What other support can you give to new or expecting parents in Berlin?
My biggest goal is to help families achieve their breastfeeding goals, whether that is for a couple days or a couple of years, combination feeding, pumping or weaning.
To that end, I offer prenatal breastfeeding education classes to help families understand what to expect when their little one arrives. Once the baby is there, I offer in-home visits to help with nipple and supply concerns, pumping, plugged ducts, bottle feeding, introduction to solids and much more. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, I am an expert in breastfeeding and can offer a deep investigation into challenges families may encounter: I help with positioning the baby and latching for breastfeeding, sore or damaged nipples, sleepy babies and low weight gain, low milk supply, pumping, returning to work, bottle feeding, postpartum nutrition and much more.
Since many families living in Berlin don’t have extended family support, I offer my services in-home to help reduce the need to travel to an office, which can be stressful for new families. If you don’t live in Berlin or would prefer a virtual consultation, I offer those, too!
Thanks, Maggie!
If you have any further questions or need support with introducing solids, reach out to Maggie via her website: https://www.towenutrition.com/
