How best to start your baby on solids!

When will my baby be ready to start solid foods?

When your baby is between 4 and 6 months, they’ll be starting on solid foods.  Keep in mind though, your baby’s digestive system won’t be ready to process solid foods before 4 months of age.

Tell-tale signs your baby is ready to start solid food:

• Your baby will probably be able to sit upright when supported, with good control of the head and neck
• Your baby may show interest in food eaten by others, watching you and your mouth while you are eating
• Your baby may be unsettled after a breast feed or bottle, milk alone may not be sustaining them through the day or night (this may also be due to a growth spurt around 3-4 months of age)
• Your baby may wake at night when they previously slept through
• Your baby may want to put things in their mouth (this can also be a sign of teething!)

When you introduce solid foods to your baby, you’re not just teaching them how to eat and chew food.  The combined chewing and tongue action is an important precursor to speech development and the formation of word sounds.

What first solid food should I start with?

Baby rice is usually a baby’s first taste of solid food because it’s gentle on the stomach and easy to digest.

Our Milk & Vanilla Baby Rice is recommended from 4 months on.  It is made from premium-grade rice, it’s certified organic. Mild flavoured and smooth textured, Baby Rice is perfect for teaching your baby to eat and swallow solid foods. Our Milk & Vanilla Baby Rice contains mineral iron and Vitamin C, it’s gluten free too!

Introduce Milk & Vanilla Baby Rice gradually to your baby’s diet.  Offer the rice cereal between or after a milk feed.  Once your baby is used to Baby Rice, a little mashed banana, pumpkin or avocado can be added to mix things up and introduce new flavours into their diet.  Continue to add new solid foods as your baby gets used to more variety and flavours, and becomes more adventurous.

If your baby rejects the food, try again the next day.  Expect some funny faces and some hesitancy, as this is a new experience for your baby.

If you have any questions about introducing solid foods to your baby you should always talk to your health professional.

Milk & Vanilla Baby Rice

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