Introducing solid food to your baby
As your baby starts solids, you need to ensure that they are getting all the nutrients they need.
Did you know that solids are “extras”?
As your baby transitions to solid foods, they’ll still get most of their nutrients from breast milk or formula. Think of solids not only as extra nutrition, but also as an opportunity for them to experience new textures and flavours, while practicing the oral motor skills necessary for spoon-feeding.
How to introduce solid food to a baby?
If you’re formula feeding, consider switching at six months to a next stage formula, such as Enfamil A+® 2, that is designed to help nourish your baby’s growing brain and body. Enfamil A+ 2 has a nutritional blend that helps support growing babies, age-appropriate levels of protein, calcium, iron, and DHA; a type of Omega-3 fat that is a building block of the brain.
When can babies eat solid foods?
The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends starting solids when your baby is around 6 months old. Here are developmental cues: Can your baby hold their head up? Do they watch you eat or eye your food as it moves from your spoon to your mouth? If you answer yes, then your baby might be ready to try solids.
How often should I introduce new foods?
The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends waiting a few days before introducing each new food so that if your baby has an adverse reaction, such as an upset tummy, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash, you can more easily pinpoint the culprit. An easy way to track is to keep a food diary, updated every time you add a new food. You can also use the diary to note what your baby likes and dislikes.
Concerned about choking hazards?
Your baby’s first “solids” will be nearly liquid, but as the weeks and months pass, you’ll start to offer them more chunky meals. To keep your baby from choking, avoid nuts, raw carrots, string cheese, popcorn, marshmallows, hard, sticky, or round candy, raisins and other small dried fruit, hot dogs and grapes (unless they’re seedless and cut into quarters). Also, always keep a watchful eye on your baby during meals, and don’t let them eat in a moving car.
Starting solids
Baby solid food chart:
* Health Canada,The Canadian Paediatric Society, The Dietitians of Canada and the Breastfeeding Committee For Canada recommends not introducing pasteurized whole cow’s (3.25%) until at least 9–12 months of age.
Remember: The amount and type of food your baby or toddler eats will vary. Your baby or toddler will refuse the bottle when they are no longer hungry. This is only a guide. See sample menus here.
They’re growing so fast
Give your baby the vitamins they need. Support your baby’s growth and changing nutritional needs with age-appropriate vitamins.
Enfamil® Poly-Vi-Sol®
Contains vitamin D (400 IU) PLUS
vitamins A, C, Thiamine (B1),
Riboflavin (B2), Niacinamide (B3)
Find Enfamil Vitamins at most pharmacies throughout Canada.
* Ask your baby’s doctor if Tri-Vi-Sol or Poly-Vi-Sol is right for him.
1 First Nations, Inuit and Metis Health Committee and The Canadian Pediatric Society.
Vitamin D Supplementation: Recommendations for Canadian Mothers and Infants.
Pediat Child Health 2007 (reaffirmed Oct 2010); 12(7):583-9.
2 Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for calcium and vitamin D. November 2010.
