How to Tell if your Baby is Ready for Solid Food

Babies are not machines, but all too often, we treat them as if they are. We find ourselves feeling like our babies need to sit up at five months, crawl at eight months, and walk at twelve months-- as if our children are cars in need of predictable 3,000-mile oil changes. A child's biology isn't that simple, so questions like when to start feeding him solid foods are often complicated to answer. There isn't one specific time to give your baby solid food, because his readiness depends on his individual pattern of development, which is as unique to him as his own fingerprint.

To determine when your baby will be ready to start solids, here are some of the factors you should consider.

Is your baby between four and seven months old?

No baby is developmentally ready for solid food before this point. Some time between four and seven months, a baby will develop the coordination necessary to move food using his tongue and to swallow solids correctly. Babies in this age group who show other signs of readiness are generally old enough to begin eating solids.

Can your baby control his head?

A baby isn't developmentally ready for solid foods until he can hold his head upright with strength and coordination. If his head still seems "floppy" or his movements seem to be largely unintentional, he isn't yet ready for solid food.

Can your baby sit up with support?

Most babies begin sitting with some support at around four and a half to five months of age. At this point, they can sit well in a high chair, Bumbo chair, or similar infant seat. This is one of the signs that your baby has the developmental skills necessary to begin eating some solid foods.

Does your baby "ask" for solids?

Babies who are ready to begin eating solids may begin showing an interest in grown-up food. They might try to grab a piece of bread from Mom's hand or may open their mouths when they see other people eating. This is a clear developmental sign that your baby is getting close to being ready to eat solid foods.

Is your baby big enough?

Babies should not eat solid foods until they have attained a weight of at least double their birth weight. A baby born weighing seven pounds, one ounce, for example, should weigh at least fourteen pounds and two ounces before he begins eating solids. Most babies weigh twice their birth weight by four months of age.

Does her pediatrician approve?

In general, you don't need the go-ahead from your doctor to begin introducing solid foods to a baby who shows all the signs of readiness. However, if your baby has a developmental delay, neurological disorder, or other special needs-- or if she was born preterm-- check with your pediatrician before starting solids. Your baby's doctor can help you to decide the best time to introduce solid foods under your baby's individual circumstances.