I am often asked when can solids begin? Or, when can a baby drink from an open cup? So for your reading pleasure, here are my recommendations for solids, finger foods and open cup drinking.
Solids can commence from 4 months (corrected age- 16 weeks). I prefer to start with home cooked food and leave the processed foods on the shelf for the time being. Waiting till 6 months is not preferred as it has shown more difficulties with digestion.
Drinking from an open cup can start at any age as a baby is capable of sipping and lapping very early in life. I commence the process by offering some cool boiled water from a teaspoon and slowly progress to an open cup. A baby as young as 3 months can drink from a small open cup. I had to demonstrate this to a Mother who had a 10 week old who refused to drink from a bottle. Mum had to go back to work and had to wean the baby from breast onto a bottle but baby wasn't having any of it. I showed her how to reduce the stress by initially offering the baby milk from a teaspoon. Bub slowly began to drink/lap it up and after a week the baby was offered the milk from a small open cup and drank it easily. Babies need to suck too, but in some instances the need is to get food into the baby and the only way for some is to drink from an open cup or spoon. Remember, never force.
Most babies are capable of chewing from about 6 months on. They can handle finger foods any time from then on too. You do not need to wait till 9 months to start. Some babies will gag more than others, while some babies will not handle lumps of any sort till much later. Gagging is a normal part of learning how to handle lumps in the mouth, so stay calm and watch. I recommend you offer some finger foods before you offer the mashed foods so that if baby tends to gag and vomit, all is not 'lost'. Soft cooked foods as finger food; carrot, broccoli, potato, toast, and some fruits are good beginner foods. Do not leave your baby alone with food.
Try not to hold back from giving finger foods because you are scared your baby will choke! Allow your baby to have a go!
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