{"id":37733,"date":"2018-05-21T15:17:03","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T15:17:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tiller.cronometerdev.com\/blog\/?p=37733"},"modified":"2025-02-10T13:05:53","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T21:05:53","slug":"introducing-solids-to-babies-6-12-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/introducing-solids-to-babies-6-12-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing Solids To Babies: 6 \u2013 12 months"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"37733\" class=\"elementor elementor-37733\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c4b3a9f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2c4b3a9f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f50c06b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f50c06b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">guest post by susan macfarlane, registered dietitian nutritionist<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12b3b23 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"12b3b23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Introducing solids to your little one can be a time of great excitement and even greater angst.<\/p><p>Nutrition myths and misinformation abound online, and many parents feel pressure to feed their child a \u201cperfect diet\u201d (which, by the way, does not exist). While solids provide an important source of energy and nutrients for your growing baby, they also help your baby to develop their oral motor skills, reduce their risk of allergies, and explore and develop their taste preferences.<\/p><p>To help you make the transition from breast or formula to solid food, I\u2019ve answered the most common questions I receive from clients below.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dff7204 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dff7204\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When is my baby ready for solids?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f51c70e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f51c70e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Solids should be introduced around 6 months of age when your baby shows signs of developmental readiness, including:<\/p><ul><li>Good head control<\/li><li>Able to sit unsupported<\/li><li>Able to show hunger (leans towards food)<\/li><li>Able to show satiety (turns head away from food)<\/li><li>Able to pick up food and put it in the mouth<\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Adding solid foods to your baby\u2019s diet not only ensures energy and nutrient needs are met, it also helps with the skills of chewing and swallowing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38a853a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"38a853a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What foods should I introduce to my baby?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e0928e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e0928e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Regardless of the type of diet your family follows (i.e. vegetarian, vegan, omnivore, etc.) a baby\u2019s first foods should be iron rich to prevent anemia and replenish depleted iron stores. The following table lists both animal and plant-based sources or iron; offer a variety of these foods at least twice per day to your baby.<\/p><table width=\"623\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"3\" width=\"623\"><strong>Plant-based Sources of Iron<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Iron-fortified infant cereal<\/td><td width=\"169\">1 oz.<\/td><td width=\"237\">5.6 \u2013 7 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Extra firm tofu (cooked)<\/td><td width=\"169\">\u00bc block<\/td><td width=\"237\">2.3 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Lentils<\/td><td width=\"169\">\u00bd cup<\/td><td width=\"237\">3.3 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Beans (black)<\/td><td width=\"169\">\u00bd cup<\/td><td width=\"237\">2.0 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Blackstrap molasses<\/td><td width=\"169\">1 tbsp<\/td><td width=\"237\">0.7 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Nut butter (almond)<\/td><td width=\"169\">1 tbsp<\/td><td width=\"237\">0.5 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Seed butter (pumpkin)<\/td><td width=\"169\">1 tbsp<\/td><td width=\"237\">1.8 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"3\" width=\"623\"><strong>Animal-based Sources of Iron<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Beef<\/td><td width=\"169\">2 oz<\/td><td width=\"237\">1.5 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Chicken<\/td><td width=\"169\">2 oz<\/td><td width=\"237\">0.6 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Pork<\/td><td width=\"169\">2 oz<\/td><td width=\"237\">0.5 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Low-mercury fish (salmon)<\/td><td width=\"169\">2 oz<\/td><td width=\"237\">0.6 mg<\/td><\/tr><tr><td width=\"217\">Eggs<\/td><td width=\"169\">1<\/td><td width=\"237\">0.6<\/td><\/tr><tr><td colspan=\"3\" width=\"623\"><p>Source: Dietitians of Canada. (2011). Meeting Your Baby\u2019s Iron Needs (6-12 Months). Available by subscription only.<\/p><p>Iron needs between 7-12 months of age are 11mg per day. Vegetarian and vegan infants may have iron needs up to 80% greater than non-vegetarian infants.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p>Once your baby is accepting a variety of iron-rich foods, you can offer grains, vegetables, fruits, and dairy (avoiding cow\u2019s and goat\u2019s milk until 9 months of age and soy milk until 12 months of age) in any order. Your baby\u2019s food should also be made without added sugar or salt.<\/p><p>When it comes to potential food allergens, including soy, eggs, mustard, peanuts, seafood, tree nuts, and wheat, there is no need to delay introduction beyond 6-9 months. Doing so may actually increase your child\u2019s risk of developing a food allergy by lowering her tolerance to these foods. However, it is recommended to introduce potential food-allergens one at a time, with a two-day observation window to allow for monitoring of potential symptoms.<\/p><p>At 6 months of age, water may be offered in an open cup to infants. If juice is offered, it should be in an open cup, not a sippy cup or bottle, with no more than \u00bd cup being consumed per day.<\/p><p>Foods that should not be offered to your baby due to safety concerns include:<\/p><ul><li>Honey (until age 12 months)<\/li><li>Unpasteurized dairy products<\/li><li>Unpasteurized juice<\/li><li>Cold smoked fish<\/li><li>Cold deli salads<\/li><li>Lunch meats not reheated to 74\u00baC<\/li><li>Raw sprouts<\/li><li>Undercooked or raw eggs<\/li><li>Fish high in mercury (shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy, escolar, Albacore tuna)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4f2495 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b4f2495\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How much and how often should I offer solids to my baby?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1eac76c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1eac76c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>While introducing solids, continue breastfeeding your baby until 2 years of age and beyond. Formula-fed babies may wean off formula between 9-12 months, provided they are consuming adequate amounts of solids, including iron-rich foods at least twice per day.<\/p><p>When first introducing solids, offer a small amount (i.e. \u00bd to 2 tsp) with breast or formula feedings, or in between as snacks, totaling 3-5 feeding opportunities per day. Let your baby\u2019s hunger and fullness cues be your guide, recognizing that the amount of food that baby consumes will vary day-to-day.<\/p><p>From 9-12 months of age, increase the frequency and amount of food that is offered (i.e. 2 tbsp to \u00bd cup 4-5 times per day). By age 12 months, your child should be consuming a variety of textures on a regular schedule.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16dab8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16dab8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Texture-modification or baby-led weaning (BLW)?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-025f79a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"025f79a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Traditional advice to parents is to offer pureed, minced, and mashed semi-solids as baby\u2019s first foods. Progression to lumpier textures should occur quickly with baby consuming soft finger foods by no later than 9 months of age.<\/p><p>An alternative, and equally acceptable, approach to offering solids is BLW. In BLW, babies feed themselves from the food you offer using their fingers, and later, cutlery. Acceptable foods to introduce to your baby include:<\/p><ul><li>Fruit<\/li><li>Cooked vegetables<\/li><li>Meat, chicken, low-mercury fish<\/li><li>Well-cooked eggs<\/li><li>Bread\/toast<\/li><li>Rice and pasta<\/li><li>Beans and lentils<\/li><li>Tofu<\/li><\/ul><p>If you choose to follow the principles of BLW, ensure that food is offered safely (as sticks or strips) and that your baby is always sitting upright in her highchair with parental supervision.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1623de3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1623de3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What milks are safe for my baby to consume?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4105e67 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4105e67\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cow\u2019s or fortified goat\u2019s milk should not be offered before 9 months of age as it can displace other iron-rich sources of food. Once your baby is 9 months, whole cow\u2019s or goat\u2019s milk can be used as your baby\u2019s main milk. Do not offer your child more than 3 cups (750 mL) of cow\u2019s or goat\u2019s milk per day.<\/p><p>If you choose to avoid cow\u2019s or goat\u2019s milk, the only suitable replacement is full-fat, fortified soy milk. At 12 months of age, soy milk may be introduced in your child\u2019s diet, provided alternative sources of fat, protein, iron, and B12 are included (for vegan\/vegetarian infants). Other types of plant milks, including rice, coconut, almond (and homemade versions of these) should be avoided as they are too low in fat, calories, and protein.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddf0bc5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ddf0bc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><h2>Does my baby need supplements?<\/h2><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db9ee32 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db9ee32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Babies receiving formula do not require any supplements, while breastfeeding infants need a daily vitamin D supplement of 400 IU. In northern latitudes, such as Canada, continuing a vitamin D supplement of ~600 IU per day is worthwhile given the challenges in meeting vitamin D through diet and sun-exposure.<\/p><p>In addition to vitamin D, breastfeeding vegan infants are advised to take a vitamin B12 supplement (5 mcg per day or 50 mcg once per week). Moms of vegan breastfeeding infants should also ensure that they are supplementing with adequate vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, and DHA.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d2715c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d2715c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>References<\/h2><p>Dietitians of Canada. (2018). Infant Nutrition &#8211; Complementary Feeding Practice Guidance Toolkit. Available through subscription only.<\/p><p>British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority. (2016). Pediatric Nutrition Guidelines (Six Months to Six Years) for Health Professionals. Available from: <a href=\"http:\/\/bccfp.bc.ca\/news\/pediatric-nutrition-guidelines-six-months-to-six-years-for-health-professionals\/\">http:\/\/bccfp.bc.ca\/news\/pediatric-nutrition-guidelines-six-months-to-six-years-for-health-professionals\/<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>guest post by susan macfarlane, registered dietitian nutritionist Introducing solids to your little one can be a time of great excitement and even greater angst. Nutrition myths and misinformation abound online, and many parents feel pressure to feed their child a \u201cperfect diet\u201d (which, by the way, does not exist). While solids provide an important [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37733"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37733\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cronometer.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}