What to Expect When Introducing Solids to Your Baby

Adding solid foods into a baby’s diet is exciting for every new parent. You’ll likely be eager to watch your son or daughter try new flavors and textures which will support their growth and development.

You also could experience some resistance for different dishes and a considerable amount of mess.

There are, however, products you will need and tactics you can undertake to simplify mealtimes. Find out what to expect when introducing solids to your baby.

Persevere with Various Foods

Babies tend to pull a funny face when trying foods for the first time. While you might expect a flavor to bring a big smile to their face, they might be unsure about the taste and textures overloading their tongue for the first time.

Persistence is important, as it could take between 15 to 20 times before your young son or daughter enjoys a dish. Even if they don’t seem to initially like a flavor, give it a few more tries.

Messy Mealtimes

Mealtimes will become a whole lot messier once you introduce solids into your baby’s diet. Dishes will not only surround their mouth and nose, but it will end up on their hands, on their clothes, and even on the floor. 

Thankfully, there are many products available that can reduce mess and decrease cleaning time after each meal. For example, you can protect their clothing during each mealtime with weaning bibs for highchairs, which can cover the gap between your baby and the tray table. It is an effective way to keep your baby and the highchair clean. The handy bibs will also allow your baby to have fun when trying new dishes and developing new skills.

Spot the Signs Your Baby is Full

A baby will tell you when they are full or if they don’t like a flavor through their body language. While it is important to persevere to help your baby to enjoy new tastes, you also must spot the signs when they have had enough. For example, they might clench their mouth or turn their head away from the spoon. It will prevent you from wasting time, and it could also stop future food fights from occurring next mealtime.

Don’t Panic at Their Gag Reflex

Every new parent will watch their child like a hawk when introducing solids to monitor for choking, and rightly so. Try not to panic if your baby gags when eating. This can happen when a baby pushes food too far into their mouth or if they have had a large spoonful.

You can prevent your little one from gagging by sitting them in an upright chair and feeding them manageable servings. You also must cut food into tiny pieces that your baby can swallow and always remain by their side during mealtimes.

While mealtimes can require much patience and cleaning, they also can be rather fun when watching your baby try new flavors and textures that will support their overall development.