The Canadian Paediatric Society of Canada Nutrition Committee recommends that "infants should be introduced to nutrient-rich solid foods with particular attention to iron at six months."

Time For Solids?

Most babies will be ready for solids around six months, and definitely NOT before four months.

Talk to your doctor to see if your baby is ready to start solids and look for some of these signs:

• He is able to hold his head up.
• The 'extrusion reflex' has disappeared. This is when your baby automatically pokes out his tongue when something is put in his mouth.
• He shows chewing movements with his mouth and chews on everything such as his hands and toys.
• Not settling after a feeding and seems to want more.
• Watching you eat and even opening his mouth when you do.

Giving Solids Too Early

Offering your baby solids too early can have some negatives effects:

• Increased diarrhea and allergic reaction due to intestinal immaturity which may lead to malnutrition.
• Decreased milk production as solid food displaces breast milk.
• Poor nutrient digestion and absorption.
• Coughing and gagging from force feeding an infant who is unable to convey fullness.
• Choking.

Giving Solids Too Late

Delaying starting solids is not a good idea because:

• Your baby may not grow adequately because exclusive milk feedings no longer provide enough nutrients and energy needed for normal growth and development.
• Your baby may be prone to infections because he is not getting enough iron and energy.
• Your baby needs to learn to chew for healthy jaw development. This helps speech development later on. If you continue to offer only purees past seven to eight months, it can be very difficult to encourage an older child to chew.

The Gag Reflex

At first your baby is likely to 'gag'. This is a reflex reaction which prevents him from choking.

Food catches at the back of his throat causing him to cough back the food. This prevents the food from getting stuck in his throat and blocking his airways. Babies 'gag' a lot at first until they learn to chew food a little more before swallowing.