Most mothers can tell when the baby is ready to switch to solid food by the growing appetite of their babies. The baby would drink more milk than the usual, and would need more to feel satisfied. Usually, the growth spurt occurs between 3 to 4 months of age. But does that automatically mean that your baby is now ready for solid foods?

Instead of introducing solid foods to your baby’s diet when he undergoes this “growth spurt,” offer more nursing sessions or bottle feedings. Continue to do this and after a week or two, you’ll notice how your baby’s diet returns to normal.

The recommended time for introducing solid foods is at least 6 months of age. Until then, the baby’s main nutrition should be breast milk or formula milk. Keep in mind that introducing solid foods while the baby is not within that age may pose health risks, and could be harmful. It is best to always discuss baby feeding with your pediatrician if you have any concerns.

After a few months of introducing solid foods to your baby’s diet, his daily diet should incorporate an assortment of foods which may include cereal, fruits and vegetables, eggs and fish, milk (breast or formula) and meats.

The World Health Organization recommends mothers to give complementary food to the baby at 6 months of age, as well as breast milk, for 2 to 3 times a day, and increasing to 3 to 4 times a day during the 9th to 11th month of age.

In the end, it is always best to consult your pediatrician about baby feeding. He knows what nutrition your baby would need, and when he would be ready to eat solid foods.

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