To respect your child’s development, it’s very important to wait until your child is ready before introducing solids. Readiness for solid foods is less about age and more about the child’s abilities. As a general rule of thumb, your baby is ready for solid foods when he or she displays most of the following behaviors. This typically happens around 6 months of age but could be a little earlier or later:

• Baby can sit up well with or without support
• Hold head up unassisted
• Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food out of the mouth
• Growing appetite
• Significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled)
• Interest in food and watching others eating
• Tries to grab food to put in his or her mouth
• Opens mouth when food is coming
• Makes chewing motions
• Can pick up food or small object with thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp)