Baby Foods,  Parenting

When to Introduce Solids and Semi Solids Food to Baby

Breastfeeding is always the primary diet of the newborn. At least for the first six months, the mothers should breastfeed their babies. They should ensure that your baby is taking sufficient quantity of the breastfeeding as the same contains all the nutrients and vitals which are essential for the baby in his/her first few months exclusively from the breastfeeding.

Solids and Semi solids food should be introduced to the baby after 6 months of age. We have brought this video for new parents explaining the signs baby shows that he is ready for the solids and rule parents need to follow while introducing new food to the baby. Hope you will benefit from the information which we brought to you via this video.

Here is more on the solids and semi-solids to baby:

In case you baby is not having to breastfeed due to any reason, you should consult your health professional to prescribe formula milk for your baby which doesn’t substitute but provides not all but most of the mother’s milk nutrients to the baby.

Always follow 3 days rule while introducing new food to the baby. If you are introducing a new food today, offer the same food to baby for the next 2 more days and similarly after 3 days introduce new food and continue for the next 2 days. This rule helps to monitor whether the baby is allergic to any particular food. If you are introducing a variety of foods the same day then it becomes difficult to check which food is causing allergy to the baby. Continue to feed if the baby is not showing any adverse effect and discontinue to feed if the baby is showing any kind of allergy symptoms and try again after some weeks. 

Following allergy symptoms baby might show on the introduction of a new food item:

  • Skin Rashes
  • Vomiting
  • Crying after Feedings
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Swelling on Face and Lips
  • Hives
  • Trouble Breathing
  • Sore, Red or Itchy Eyes
  • Runny Nose

Avoid those foods completely till baby gets older if after trying, again and again, the baby is unable to digest. Follow 3 days rule till baby gets older until the age of 9-10 months as you would have tried almost all foods with this rule and you can offer a variety of food at one time to your baby now.

Avoid following foods completely till baby gets one year old as a baby immature digestive system is unable to digest these foods and baby may get allergic if these foods introduced before one year of baby’s age:

  • Cow’s milk
  • Nuts and Peanut Butter
  • Shellfish and Fish
  • Egg whites
  • Honey
  • Salt & Sugar
  • Chocolates
  • Seafood
  • Berries
  • Citrus Fruits
  • Grapes
  • Candy or Jellies
  • Soy


Precautions while introducing solids and semi-solids to baby:

  • Seek medical advice if the baby is showing allergy symptoms after discontinuing the food item which caused allergy.
  • Feed that food to the baby with caution which is having a history of family allergic reactions as chances are there that baby may get allergic to those foods but not certainly.
  • Discuss with your baby’s doctor about foods to be offered to the baby.
  • Read the product label carefully which you are going to use in your baby’s food.

References & Sources

  • Queensland Health, Australia
  • Auckland District Health Board
  • UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, California
  • World Health Organization
  • The Lancet Global Health, ScienceDirect

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