age when baby can have food
Most babies this age are introduced to solid foods. Experts recommend gradually starting solid foods when a baby is about 6 months old, depending on the baby's readiness and nutritional needs. Be sure to check with your doctor before giving any solid foods. Have your baby sit supported in your lap or in an upright infant seat. Infants who sit well, usually around 6 months, can be placed in a high chair with a safety strap. Most babies' first food is a little iron-fortified infant single-grain cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. Place the spoon near your baby's lips, and let the baby smell and taste. However, until 12 months, your baby still needs to get the bulk of her nutrition from formula or breast milk. This means her intake should remain the same no matter what table food she eats, around 24 to 32 ounces a day. After 12 months, you can switch your baby to drinking whole milk; initially she should get as much as her breast milk or formula. Q: My baby is almost 1 year and doesn't want to eat baby food anymore -- she only wants table food. Is this okay? A: It’s fine if your baby has given up on pureed food and only wants what you're eating, as long as you make sure she can't choke on it. 1ST FOODS®. 17 products. Gerber knows that it’s a special time when your baby tries a new fruit or vegetable. GERBER® 1ST FOODS® pureed baby food is made with gentle ingredients that are ideal for your baby’s first tastes and have smooth textures for babies learning how to eat. Your child is likely ready to try solids when he: 1  Can hold head up and sit upright in highchair. 2  Shows significant weight gain (doubled birth weight) and weighs at least 13 pounds. 3  Can close mouth around a spoon.  Can move food from front to back of mouth. Prior to about four to six months of age, babies cannot control their reflexes well enough to eat solid foods. Somewhere between four and six months of age, most babies will be able to control their reflexes enough to eat solids. Solid foods, such as infant cereal and baby food, are the first real foods a baby will eat. Also, you don't have to introduce foods to your child in any special order. If you want to give your baby a taste of tofu at age 6 months, go ahead, even though it's not listed on our chart until age 8 months. And while cereal is a traditional first food in the United States, it's fine to start with mashed fruits or vegetables instead. Continue to introduce new foods one at a time, and keep a chart of any reactions your baby has. If your little one shows signs of food allergies such as vomiting, diarrhea or rashes, discontinue the food and let her pediatrician know. Eating by herself is a big step, and stage 2 is when it can start happening. Being able to sit well in a high chair is also a sign that a baby may be ready for thicker foods.. Most babies show signs of readiness for thicker foods at 6 to 8 months of age. Choose the Right Stage 2 Foods. Until now, you've probably fed your baby cereal, veggies and fruit purees.
6 to 8 months of age