When to Introduce Solid Foods and Healthy Snack Ideas
With Josiah King being our first baby, we can’t help but be cautious and overprotective. Before his arrival, we were doing extensive research “literally” on everything. We warned family members that kisses aren’t allowed, no to this, and no to that. I suppose you can say we were THAT kind of parents. The way we see it, it is better to be safe than sorry.
When it comes to feeding him, I faced many challenges right away. He wasn’t latching properly. I ended up with Mastitis twice! My husband wanted me to give up breastfeeding altogether, but I was very adamant about it. Had to consult my OBGYN, doctors, lactation consultants, nurses, and even ask every mom that I know for tips. Months down the line, seeing how healthy our son is, I am convinced that all the pain I went through and sacrifices I have made were all worth it.
Before we even realized it, Josiah’s pediatrician is already briefing us about solid foods! This, of course, warranted a lot of questions on our part. Why is it that some doctors recommend waiting for a baby to turn 6 months, while some are able to start as early as 4 months? That’s because all babies are different. For Josiah, since he is healthy and showing early signs that he is ready for solids, his pediatrician recommended starting a few tastes here and there for fun. Mostly it is a learning experience so he can begin familiarizing himself with different flavor and textures.
Early Signs that Your Baby is Ready for Solid Foods
- Significant Weight Gain
- Drooling a lot
- Sucking on fist
- Smacking lips
- Head Control
- Growing Appetite
- Sitting-up well with support (high-chair)
- Interest in Food (watching what you eat)
- Lost the tongue-thrust reflex (doesn’t spit up or pushes food out)
- Chewing or trying to mimic chewing
One thing that his pediatrician clarified is that just because he is ready for solids, doesn’t mean it can replace breastmilk (or formula) in any way. It still remains the primary source of his nutrition. As far as recommendation goes, she suggests that we introduce vegetables first before fruits and to do it one at a time. This means one “flavor” for 2-3 days before switching to a different type of solid food to find out if there’s an allergic reaction or sensitivities.
When making your own baby food, you have to watch out for the thickness and consistency. When in doubt, or if you don’t have enough time to prep for your little one’s food, there’s ready-made jarred food you can avail on the local grocery stores.
Recommended First Solid Foods
- Cereal (available in oats, rice or whole grain)
- Vegetables (pureed carrots, sweet potato, squash, etc.)
- Fruits (pureed applesauce, pear, banana, etc.)
- Yogurt with Probiotics (available in plain, vanilla, or combination of fruits) *starting at 6 months
*** while cow’s milk has to be ingested after babies turn a year old, yogurt is approved by pediatricians because of the live and active cultures that help digest the lactose.
Once Josiah started eating his first solids, we quickly realized how much he loves his vegetables! I know right? Sometimes he also enjoys fruits. As soon as he turned 5 months old, we also asked his pediatrician which brand she recommends. There was only ONE, and that is Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Yogurt. In fact, YoBaby is the #1 pediatrician recommended yogurt for babies as well as kids.
Despite the recommendation, we still did our own research. We discovered that it was the very first organic baby yogurt, that hit the shelves since 1999. That’s 19 years! No wonder it is long trusted by pediatricians, and most importantly, by MOMS!
Want to know what else we love? Stonyfield Organic YoBaby has BB-12 probiotics! It helps promote happy tummies by promoting beneficial gut bacteria. For the mom and dads who are concerned with polystyrene packaging, I’m delighted to share that the cups are made with plant-based packaging. What about the contents? Because Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Yogurt is certified organic, it means it’s always made without artificial flavors, preservatives, antibiotics, artificial hormones, toxic persistent pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This simples spells out AWESOME in so many words!
Josiah King Celebrating Another Milestone with Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Yogurt
Is your baby starting to teeth? I’m sure he or she is getting fussy. Guess what? Problem fixed! Because the texture of YoBaby is thick and creamy unlike other organic baby yogurts that tend to be runny, you can freeze it with a soft serving spoon (made for babies), or a fresh food feeder with mesh. Dip, Freeze, and Serve! Let your little one enjoy a lick, suck, and taste while soothing their sore gums! Plus the fact that it also helps them learn to self-feed.
Is your little one ready for first foods? If not, don’t fret! Just keep trying and give it time. All babies are different. What technically works for us doesn’t mean will work for you at the same time or manner. Relax and know that you got this!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Yogurt.
Robin Rue
April 19, 2018I did it when my pediatrician told me to and not a moment sooner. I think everyone needs to go by the advice of their doctors when it comes to something like this 🙂
Laura Ashley
April 19, 2018Oh wow, This looks so perfect for my baby. I am having a hard time giving her food. She will love this for sure.
candy
April 19, 2018Six months seems to be the norm for starting to introduce solid food to babies. I think one of mine started at 5 months only at night and that was some cereal added into his routine.
Amber Myers
April 19, 2018What cute photos! This sounds like the perfect yogurt for babies. I remember these days of starting solid foods.
Tammy
April 19, 2018I have a new grandchild so these would be perfect for her. Thanks for sharing
Tasheena
April 19, 2018I love Stonyfield yogurt. I’m so happy that they have a line for babies as well. Such a wonderful brand.
Jeanette
April 19, 2018We use the exact same yogurt when our kiddo was a baby. That stuff is not only delicious that it is healthy for them. My son loved it and it made it very easy to get them to solid food after this transition.
Missi
April 19, 2018Oh my goodness! What a beautiful baby! And site 🙂 My kids are much older but this is wonderful information.
bonjourchiara
April 19, 2018your baby is the cutest! x
Cheryl @ o the places we go
April 19, 2018oh, my. He’s adorable! We totally agree – starting kids with yogurt, especially Stonyfield, is a great idea.
eileen
April 19, 2018These are some great tips for solid food. I can imagine it could be quite the struggle in the change.
Young not Dumb
April 19, 2018Great guide for newbie parents and those transitioning onto weening!
Holly
April 19, 2018These are great tips. Thank you so much for this information. That is so helpful.
Anonymous
April 19, 2018Great snacks ideas! I find it both healthy and easy to make and use! Awesome!
Megan
April 19, 2018This’ll be super useful for my friends who are soon to be new parents! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Jane
April 19, 2018I have a small baby too ad he started eating solid around 9 months. He’s now 1.3 yr and still eating puree. I am trying to give him food with texture and hes not liking it
Jane @ Financial Freedom | Mindful Living
Anonymous
April 19, 2018All my friends are having babies in this age group. I will surely recommend this post to them
Finitha Jose
April 19, 2018All my friends are having babies around this age group. I will recommend this post to them
cortney
April 19, 2018My first little guy was inhaling solids at 5 months, my second spat EVERYTHING out until about 9 months when he started to catch on,,, now he also inhales his solids. Both of them LOVE yogurt, I like to buy the plain variety and blend up my own fresh fruits to add in!
peter
April 19, 2018I love this post. There is always the great debate on when kids should be starting food. We started after six months, lots of fruits and such. Eggs at a year and the rest is history
Sim @ sim's life
April 19, 2018I was always confused about the whole 4 or 6 months start… but really it did come down to how baby responded and my daughter Liv was started on more than milk just before she was 6 months. Yoghurts are a great way to introduce new tastes xx Sim
Kristy Bullard
April 19, 2018Your son is so cute! I miss my kids being that little. They also loved yogurt when they could start solid foods. They still love it!
Gladys parker
April 19, 2018How cute he is! What we feed our babies (grandbabies) is so important. Stoneyfield
having been made for 19 years and being recommended by pediatricians says a lot to me. Feeding is one of the main things we do to assure our children grow up to be healthy adults.
Sarah Bailey
April 19, 2018This is such an informative post for those who are looking to introduce solids into their child’s diet. Thank you.
Elizabeth O
April 19, 2018This was a wonderful post with a lot of great advice for parents who want to know when to start weaning and what to give their baby. Your little one is just adorable and it looks like he really enjoyed his yogurt.
Pat
April 19, 2018You’ve got some great ideas here about what babies should eat and when. Thanks. YoBaby sounds like a wonderful food for them.
Lisa Favre
April 19, 2018My little one started teething right at 6 months so the doc gave us the go-ahead for solids. We went for bananas!! YoBaby is definitely something I would have been willing to try though.
Heather
April 19, 2018I remember those sweet firsts! It’s good you’ve done your research so you know when your baby is ready. He looks to be loving it!
Luci
April 19, 2018I don’t have any kids, but I believe my niece and nephews first solid food was carrots or green beans. My oldest nephew ate so many his nose turned orange.
Heather
April 20, 2018I miss this age so much! Enjoy it, they grow up super fast! My girls actually love this yogurt (even at 5, 8 and 12)!
Hằng Nguyễn
April 20, 2018This post about solid foods for babies is really helpful, My sister has a newborn baby, I think this would be the information she needs.
Rhian westbury
April 20, 2018I never realised how tough it was knowing the right time to switch up to solid foods with a kid, such a minefield x
K Figuracion
April 20, 2018I salute you for being a very hands-on mommy. Truly, it’s better to be safe than sorry most especially when it comes to our little ones.
AnnMarie John
April 20, 2018They usually show us whenever they’re ready for something new. I think this is a great guide for parents who are wondering when to start introducing solids to their little ones.
Kasey
April 20, 2018I LOVE yobaby! You’re little one is so so precious! 🙂
Jyoti Babel
April 20, 2018This is such a common question for new mums. Have been through and am glad its over. Yoghurt is a great food for babies. So, you covered some great tips here.
Marysa
April 20, 2018My kids were so different – one was ready for foods early, and the other really wasn’t into solid foods for quite some time. We went through so much Stonyfield Farm yogurt when the kids were little (and still do!).
LavandaMichelle
April 20, 2018These are some awesome ideas and tips. I followed the rules of the doctor and everything worked out. My daughter started to dislike the wet food very quickly after! Thanks for sharing.
stephanie parrell
April 20, 2018Great healthy snack ideas. I think introducing your kids to this stuff over sweets is a great way to get them on the right path when it comes to eating.
Bella at Dear mummy blog
April 20, 2018Great information and I remember when we started solids for the first time and used a little mesh feeder. Yoghurts are a good choice x
chubskulit rose
April 20, 2018Awe, such a handsome young fella you are raising. This reminds me of when my kids where this age.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All
April 20, 2018We always started with cereal in the formula, that’s how my Mom started us on food as well. We always kept doctor’s suggestions in mind, back then they recommended waiting on yogurt for quite some time.
Linda Hobbis
April 20, 2018It’s a shocker that they can start having solids at 4 months, isn’t it. Yoghurt is always a great standby – but I don’t miss all that pureeing of fruit!!!
Sara Welch
April 20, 2018It feels like every milestone with children comes up fast! When they start eating solid foods, it’s a fun adventure and you never know what they’ll take a liking to.
Bohemian Babushka
April 20, 2018After 3 children & 6 grandchildren, this was the first time BB read the “early signs” of a babies food readiness! Very interesting and makes perfect sense. In Babushka’s Cuban American culture, the day they turn 6 months is when you start giving them solids and at 1 year candy. LOL Our priorities. Gracias for the interesting read. BB2U
Katriza
April 20, 2018I love this yogurt! I have super picky eaters and this is one is always a winner with my kids!
Jennifer Prince
April 20, 2018Oh gosh! What a cutie pie baby, and I love that LOVE cutting board. So fun! And great tips on solid foods.
Tomi C
April 20, 2018I waited and waited before introducing them to solid foods. It was tough given a grandmother and great grandmother who were always itching to put a little cereal in our babies’ tummies. I wasn’t in a rush. I followed doctor’s orders.
Marissa Zurfluh
April 20, 2018These are some really great tips. Making a smooth and proper transition is so important to babies health!
Preet
April 20, 2018Stonyfield yogurt sounds so good, my friend’s son is turning 6 months and he loves eating yogurt, I will recommend this to her. Love the pictures, your son is so adorable.
Rika
April 20, 2018He is so adorable! I always choose organic products for my kids. They love yogurt!
Anonymous
April 20, 2018This is something I have never even thought of! I am going to keep this resource for when I have kids.
Kate Andrews
April 20, 2018I never even thought of this! I am definitely hanging on to this for when I have children. Thank you!
Regine L.
April 21, 2018Thank you for the great advice and tips! This is very helpful. This would be perfect for new moms.
Rosey
April 21, 2018My niece eats this yogurt. She loves it. I like the Stonyfield for adults too. I agree that not all babies are the same when it comes to their palette. We just keep trying until we find things that are good for them that they love. 🙂
Anosa
April 21, 2018I can’t believe Joshua is already ready for solids, I remember when you announced the pregnancy, wow time flies and glad he’s enjoying his food
What Corinne Did
April 21, 2018I am so unfamiliar with all of this. Probably due to the fact that i did not have babies! but great tips to know when they are ready for solid food!
Lynne Harper
April 21, 2018This was one of my favourite stages. Weaning is so exciting. Even if its solids/baby led weaning. I can’t believe your buba is 6 months already its flown in
Vanessa Palma
April 21, 2018These are all great tips. The one about starting with yogurt is a new one for me.
Garf
April 21, 2018I am not a mother yet but hopefully soon, I will be. Thanks for these tips.
Acupofassamtea
April 22, 2018Such a lovely post for parents who wants to introduce kids to solid food. My kids are grown ups now, but this post reminds me of those days.
Flyingkids
April 22, 2018While 6 months is the standard, some babies are ready for solids in as early as 4/5 months old. These are great tips and info about introducing solid food to babies.
Alison Rost
April 22, 2018It’s scary to try new things with your baby if you’re a first time parent so a guide like this will definitely help! It’s nice to know the signs because your baby will definitely tel you when she or he is ready. Great tips!
Jem
April 23, 2018We waited until 6 months with our little boy and did BLW, which was messy and fun.
Jennifer Mitchell
April 23, 2018This looks like the perfect way to start introducing solid foods. My kids really loved yogurt!
kim
April 23, 2018These are such great tips! And I’ve always been a huge fan of Stonyfield!
Lynnette Marte
April 24, 2018omg your baby is soo cute! Happy 6 months!
Oyinkan Ogunleye
April 24, 2018Yayyyy 6 months! Time flies! I remember when you were pregnant LOL!
Toughcookiemommy
April 28, 2018He’s getting so big and I’m sure he loved trying this yogurt for the first time. It’s so important to give our kids good foods like this one.