Your Growing Baby
Your Growing Baby
Your Growing Baby
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What to know about starting solids
What to know about
starting solids
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
They're growing so fast
Does your baby need vitamins?
Support your baby’s growth and changing nutritional needs with age-appropriate vitamins.
Starting Solid Foods
Enfamil® Tri-Vi-Sol®*1, 2
Contains Vitamin D (400 IU) and Vitamin A and C
Buy Enfamil Tri-Vi-Sol now
Toddler
Enfamil® Poly-Vi-Sol®*1, 2
Contains Vitamin D (400 IU) and Vitamins A, C,
Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacinamide (B3)
Buy Enfamil Tri-Vi-Sol now
Find Enfamil Vitamins at most pharmacies throughout Canada.
When and how should I introduce solid food to my baby?
Baby solid food chart
Feeding milestones
For more information about your growing baby feeding milestones, read Growing baby milestones.
6 months
Signs of Readiness
Shows interest in food
Sits up in a high chair
Opens mouth wide when offered food on spoon
Foods
Breast milk
Infant formula, cow’s milk based
Pureed
Semi solid
Mashed
Consistency
Liquid intake:
540–1030 mL/day (4–5 feedings/day)Solid food intake:
30–60 mL (2–4 tbsp) per serving
2–3 times a day
Quantity
7–8 months
Shows interest in food
Enjoys holding food
Begins chewing in a circular motion
Signs of Readiness
Breast milk
Infant formula, cow’s milk based
Foods
Crunchy but easy to dissolve
Ground or soft
Mashed with tiny soft lumps
Finely chopped
Consistency
Liquid intake:
470–1090 mL/day
(4–5 servings)
Solid food intake:
30–60 mL (2–4 tbsp)
per serving
Start with 2–3 times per day and increase to 3–4 times per day based on your baby’s appetite
Quantity
9–12 months
Signs of Readiness
Begins to use a sippy cup
Tries to use a spoon
Improved grasp and finger-feeding
Breast milk
Infant formula, cow’s milk based
3.25% cow’s milk*
Foods
Consistency
Bite sized pieces
Increased texture
Coarsely chopped
Finger foods
Quantity
Liquid intake:
Solid food intake:
3 meals & 2 snacks
12–18 months
Begins to use a spoon and fork
Feeds at regular times
Drinks from an open cup with assistance
Signs of Readiness
Breast milk
Infant formula, cow’s milk based
3.25% cow’s milk*
Toddler drink
Foods
Transitions to the family diet
Variety of textures
Bite sized pieces
Finger foods
Consistency
Liquid intake:
500–750 mL/day
(2–3 servings)
Solid food intake:
3 meals & 2 snacks Increase portion sizes as needed based on your baby’s appetite
Quantity
*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
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