The moment finally arrives when your little one brightens up at the sprinkly pink doughnut between your fingers!
At about four to six months old, your child may have developed an array display of emotions that might have fascinated you into recording every moment!
They would’ve been fairly expressive which can make mealtimes especially entertaining.
Watch as their stubby little palms widen and clutches closed repeatedly, squirming and whining for your attention. You jerk your hand a little further away and have a good laugh as they wrestle you over the sugary goodness.
Now, what could possibly have them this transfixed?
Probably your slice of snack in your hands. Or basically, anything remotely edible, really.
So begins, a newfound parental concern of yet another phase of babyhood: Transitioning to solid foods!
And then in stroll the questions;
Is this it? Has the time finally come for the little one wean away from breastmilk or their formula?
Here are 7 signs your baby is solid food ready!
#1 The 6-month mark!
Some babies may show signs of readiness by the age of four months old.
However, it is highly recommended by experts such as the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics, for babies to be kept on their milk-only diet for the first six months of their lives.
This includes both breast and formula-fed babies.
There are many reasons for this with the primary factors being:
- It ensures your baby’s digestive system matures accordingly. If you introduced solids a little earlier than should, you’ll most likely find your child going through digestive issues like diarrhoea, constipation, and trapped winds.
- For greater protection from a wide range of diseases such as respiratory tract and ear infections, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and iron deficiency anemia.
At 6 Months Old…
Your child is a bundle of curiosity as they maneuver about on all fours.
They squeal with delight at things they are fascinated by-which is basically everything and anything around their range of sight and even hearing.
Maybe they come crawling to you at the sound of the packet of crackers you were ripping open, or pout and wail as you quickly pull the bowl of hot porridge away from them.
Six months in is the best period to wean your child from their milk-exclusive diet and encourage them to explore their growing senses, especially through foods!
#2 They have their heads in the game!
Quite literally though, around the six-month mark, your baby will not only be sitting up on their own but they also have solid control over their head and necks.
No longer are they in need of help with propping themselves up and taking a good, fiercely curious look around!
They are instead, whipping their heads back and forth at the movements around them or craning their neck for a better look at your breakfast.
#3 They Have Their Eyes on the Prize
With a notable development of cognitive and motor skills, you will notice your child’s gaze fixated on the array of foods spread on the table during mealtimes.
Their eyes will be gleaming with fierce curiosity, their sight never leaving the stack of pancakes at the center of the table. They are now attracted to the foods you feast before them!
A common amusing tendency to watch out for is their gaze as they follow your hand bring the slice of pizza to your mouth for a bite- and then comes a cute moment when they mimic your munching.
Sometimes, your baby may have developed preferences and dislikes for the foods they’ve tasted. They may reject the breast or usual bottles, and instead are reaching for the edibles before them.
This is a process also known as baby-led weaning!
#4 A Knack for Coordination
Once the little one is holding themselves upright all on their own, you’ll soon be enjoying delightful attempts at coordination and dexterity as they navigate through their curiosities!
This is a period where your child explores the realm of textures, scents, taste, colours- everything within their sight that appeals to their piqued senses.
Food becomes one of their top curiosities because it fits all of the above criteria!
They are actively crawling about and marveling over the variety of food you lay before them before bringing them to their mouths.
After the earlier phase of merely watching their parents munch of delicious goodness, now they are cleverly reaching out for your spoonful of ice cream!
Mealtimes now continue to grow especially eventful as you gradually introduce them to the different types of solids.
#5 Your Baby is Grasping!
When your baby’s hand-eye coordination improves, they will have firmer grips on the things they manage to successfully reach for!
And of course, the tendency of the bringing everything in their now more nuanced grasp to their mouths for a good taste.
One strong indicator that your child is ready for chunkier solids is when they now have the foundations of the pincer grasp, typically occurring between 7 to 12-month-olds.
During this period, they may have developed an inferior form of the pincer grasp that typically requires more strength and coordination when picking up objects between their thumb and pointer fingers.
You’ll come to notice that now, they are picking up their cereal between their thumb and forefinger with care as they take a munch.
#6 No more tongue-thrust reflex!
The tongue-thrust reflex is what happens after the baby’s tongue is ‘touched or depressed’ in any way.
The reflex is an involuntary reaction from a baby that pushes out food they could yet swallow- a crucial trait for survival in their first few months as a newborn.
During the early stages of infancy, your child will have an involuntary reflex of thrusting their tongue out when touched or fed with a spoon, or fed semi-solid foods they are not yet ready to chew or ingest.
This habit tends to ease up around their 6-month mark and they are now ready to give porridge or puree-like foods.
Here’s a way to test your little one’s tongue-thrust reflex:
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- They no longer push out the spoon when you feed them.
- Instead, they accept the portion of semi-solids by attempting to
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This is a sign that your child is now ready for semi-solids!
Do take note that it’s most advised to move on to more solid, pieces of food once your child has developed a stronger pincer grasp and munches!
This is especially noticeable in 9 to 10-month-old babies!
#7 The Ability to Chew
Finally, is the ability to chew.
This may be a tad tricky to observe.
However, once you’ve verified your little one’s tongue-thrust reflex has faded and starts displaying finer motor skills, especially at the sight of mealtimes- you’re good to go!
Most children develop a full set of teeth by the age of 3.
For babies below 12 months of age, you would commonly find their first front teeth developing.
They chew their food through their gums at the back, while their front teeth help them crunch and break down the solids.
However picky your little doe-eyed angle might be…
Always keep in mind that all babies essentially develop at their own pace. Some take longer for the tongue-thrust habit to fade, while some are just as eager a foodie as their parents!
Regardless, if you are remotely concerned that your child may not be showing the above signs past the supposed period- always consult your paediatrician!
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