The Vine Preschool recommends introducing solids no later than 6 months of age.
According to current research regarding babies and their readiness to eat table food many would suggest that you start at the age of four months old.
Here at The Vine Preschool we definitely think that you need to start introducing solids no later than six months of age. The reason for that is because you really need your child to start experiencing different textures and develop their sense of palate and preferences early on.
We also recommend that you try a variety of foods; however, we suggest that you start with one food item at a time.
What if my child doesn’t seem to like it at all?
If they don’t show a desire for that particular food item, research also recommends that you need to try a food item at least seven times before deciding that your child completely does not like the food item.
By the age of six months your baby can also start with our food that we provide for breakfast and lunch as indicated on our monthly menu. We also recommend that you are careful when you use pouches with a variety of different food items such as the fruits, veggies and whole grains that baby food companies mix together because children can still show allergic reactions or food aversions.
At that point it’s hard to identify what the allergen is for that particular child.
Introducing solids using table foods at home
I would definitely recommend that small pieces of food items (that your baby can pick up) that parents eat for dinner, are offered. The small pieces should be easily picked up by your little one so that they can put into their mouth successfully.
This will give them the ability to manipulate the food, try it out, and it will help develop their fine motor skills as well as develop his taste palette.
Suggested Foods that can be easily picked up and gummed/chewed:
Some food items that they can try and pick up independently would be very soft boiled white or sweet potatoes that could easily be chewed once placed into the mouth but firm enough to pick up. Small pieces of green beans, asparagus very very finely cut, soft carrots and very very soft broccoli are excellent items to try and pick up independently.
We find their children at this age really do love tomato sauce and cheesy items so pasta noodles would be fine as long as they are soft enough to chew but firm enough to pick up on their own.
Please do not worry about messy foods because even if there’s a little bit of sauce on it or a little bit of melted cheese on it babies who are ready for solids usually enjoy that!
Even pieces of bagel and cream cheese, pieces of bread, cheese toast, grilled cheese, or pizza or all fun foods for them to try.
Some children respond very well to the introduction of meats but some children do not like it at all. This will depend on your child but starting with food items like meatballs, meatloaf or shredded pieces of baked chicken are great meat choices to try first.
We also recommend that you introduce the sippy cup at six months of age as well. We will periodically offer the child water through the sippy cup several times a day to get the child used to using a sippy cup.
I would definitely recommend that small pieces of food items (that your baby can pick up) that parents eat for dinner, are offered. The small pieces should be easily picked up by your little one so that they can put into their mouth successfully.
This will give them the ability to manipulate the food, try it out, and it will help develop their fine motor skills as well as develop his taste palette.
Suggested Foods that can be easily picked up and gummed/chewed:
Some food items that they can try and pick up independently would be very soft boiled white or sweet potatoes that could easily be chewed once placed into the mouth but firm enough to pick up. Small pieces of green beans, asparagus very very finely cut, soft carrots and very very soft broccoli are excellent items to try and pick up independently.
We find their children at this age really do love tomato sauce and cheesy items so pasta noodles would be fine as long as they are soft enough to chew but firm enough to pick up on their own.
Please do not worry about messy foods because even if there’s a little bit of sauce on it or a little bit of melted cheese on it babies who are ready for solids usually enjoy that!
Even pieces of bagel and cream cheese, pieces of bread, cheese toast, grilled cheese, or pizza or all fun foods for them to try.
Some children respond very well to the introduction of meats but some children do not like it at all. This will depend on your child but starting with food items like meatballs, meatloaf or shredded pieces of baked chicken are great meat choices to try first.
We also recommend that you introduce the sippy cup at six months of age as well. We will periodically offer the child water through the sippy cup several times a day to get the child used to using a sippy cup.
I found this article to be very beneficial: Baby food revolution: New rules for feeding your baby
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