Introducing Solids – Setting Our Little Ones Up For Success

Introducing solids to your first born child is a big deal and can sometimes be a little nerve-racking. I believe there are some key ingredients (see what I did there) to help nurture this process and also have fun along the way.

This will be part 1 of our Introducing Solids series where I’ll talk about setting up the foundations for a solid journey with foods, and in the parts to come we will look at a timeline for when, what and how to introduce foods, as well as how to introduce allergens in a safe way.

I remember when Breya started approaching the four month mark and the idea of introducing solids started floating around in my head. The guidelines used to be from six months, but at this time the advice was to start as early as four months, especially if they are showing interest.

Truth be told, one of the main reasons I started early with her was because she was (and still is) a petite little poppet, but in hindsight I should have waited until six months to give her gut and its barrier a little more time to develop. We waited until six months with Harlan, even though he is also on the smaller side, and I have definitely noticed that he has better digestion than she did at his age, and also reacts less to certain foods.

Signs of Readiness

Before you begin feeding your baby solids, it’s important to make sure they are ready. There are some important signs to look out for that will help you to know. I suggest waiting until they are at least six months old and their little guts are ready for a new stimulus.

1. Showing interest in your food: baby will stare at you and your food when you are eating. They might even reach out to grab it!
2. Being able to sit up unassisted. The support through their midline will help them to digest their food properly;
3. Loss of the ‘tongue thrust reflex’;
4. Has developed enough fine motor skills to be able to attempt grasping a spoon and bringing it to their mouth.

It’s important to note that they do not need to be executing all of these perfectly before you start them on solids, but they should at least be sitting up mostly unassisted and looking interested in food.

Monkey See. Monkey Do

What happens BEFORE food starts getting introduced to our little ones is what helps set up the foundation. Our little people are such curious beings and before they can communicate with us using words, they just watch us and take everything in. They watch how we eat, what we eat, how often we eat and even how we prepare what we eat.

You know the saying “monkey see, monkey do?” I believe it’s very relevant here and they will copy what they see us do repeatedly. Dave and I love eating. We make sure we eat organic, flavoursome, home cooked (mostly) meals. So even before I held up that first spoonful of pureed veggies for our kiddos to try, they would constantly see me making and eating wholesome, nutritious food. And it matters. 

Babies and Gut Development

When babies are born, their tiny guts are still developing and this can be further influenced by factors such as the mother’s diet during pregnancy, her microbiome, the mode of birth and whether the baby is breastfed or formula fed. 

Regardless of what your experience has been when it comes to the factors mentioned above, being equipped with knowledge about how and what to give your bub once they start eating solids can be such a powerful and empowering tool for their immune status and wellbeing in general. Giving our little ones what they actually need from a developmental perspective in a way that is also gentle on their developing tummies is a great way to set them up for success. 

Fat is Where it’s At

Fat intake is still a topic of hot debate and I’m sure there are parents out there who feel cautious about including fats in their little one’s nutrition plan. Be rest assured that good quality fats are not the enemy, and are in fact one of the most important nutrients we can give our babies. Our babies’ fast growing brains are made up of 60% fat which is being built by the fat in their diet. Fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are so important for a baby’s developing nervous system, brain development, vision and immune function and protection from allergies. Fats also provide vitamin A, D, E and K which help us absorb all other nutrients better.

Pass the Protein

Protein is a crucial nutrient, especially during times of growth and repair. It’s also a vehicle for zinc uptake which is hugely important for the immune system, gut health and hormone function. My kids love meat! The best and easiest way to give it to them, especially when they are still learning to chew and swallow properly, is through slow cooks.  Please see a couple of recipe links below.

Reconsider Carbs

It baffles me that the standard recommendation for one of the first foods to introduce is rice cereal with ‘fortified’ iron. Just to be clear, fortified means that it’s added because it’s not naturally occurring, so that should be a red flag already. 

The thing is, babies don’t fully start secreting pancreatic amylase until their molar teeth have come through at around 2 years of age. So trying to digest rice cereal at six months can be quite hard for their little tummies to break down. My advice would be to go super slow with the introduction of starchy foods — pumpkin is a great one because its starch content is much lower than other carbohydrate sources. You can also combine it with things such as broth and healthy fats to slow down and ease the digestion process.

Other Key Nutrients Worth Mentioning

Micronutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin d and choline are also very important for a baby’s growth and development. When they hit that six month milestone, the nutrition from mama’s milk or formula is no longer enough to support their growth demands. Iron needs are actually at their highest between 6-24 months and their iron needs per day is more than that of an adult male, so make sure to include them!

Without getting too caught up in exact amounts and how to incorporate these into each meal, I would just be conscious of including foods that contain these nutrients as often as possible.

Nutrient Breakdown