Determining Baby's Readiness for Solids

Human milk is nature’s complete food for at least the first six months in a healthy, full-term infant. After that point, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization believe solids may help meet baby’s growing needs for iron, protein, and calories. Baby’s readiness for solids usually become apparent when they have:

  • the ability to sit upright
  • a decrease in the tongue-thrusting reflex
  • an ability to use eye-hand coordination to pick up food
  • an intense interest in watching others eat
  • a readiness to chew
  • an increased demand to breastfeed, unrelated to illness, teething pain, or a change in routine that lasts over 4-5 days (eliminating possible growth spurt periods)

In one study, (Naylor and Morrow 2001), 4 biological systems in the mother and baby were measured to determine readiness for solids. These included:

  1. the baby’s immune system
  2. the baby’s gastrointestinal development
  3. the baby’s oral-motor development, and
  4. the effects of breastfeeding on the mother’s fertility.

Their findings indicate that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months:

  • Gives baby the needed immunological protection at a vulnerable age
  • Provides all nutrients necessary for normal growth and development
  • Allows baby to mature until able to manage solids and semi-solids (an oral-motor perspective)
  • Delays return of fertility, since frequency of breastfeeding determines onset of fertility

As a result of this last study, Naylor and Morrow believe developmental readiness to introduce solids was determined to be most appropriate at 6 to 8 months of age.