What tips should I keep in mind?

Start with single-ingredient foods, one at a time, 3-5 days apart Iron-rich foods (fortified cereal, pureed meats) are excellent first foods Solids supplement, not replace, breastmilk or formula for the first year

Solid Food Readiness Calculator

Assess whether your baby is showing signs of readiness for solid foods based on age and developmental milestones.

Age (months)

Good Head Control?

Sits With Support?

Tongue-Thrust Reflex Gone?(Does baby push food out with tongue?)

Shows Interest in Food?(Reaches for food, opens mouth when others eat)

Birth Weight Doubled?

Results

Visualization

How It Works

The AAP recommends starting solids around 6 months, but some babies may be ready as early as 4 months. Look for these developmental signs: good head control, ability to sit with support, loss of tongue-thrust reflex, interest in food, and doubled birth weight. Not medical advice -- discuss with your pediatrician.

The Formula

Score each sign as met/not met (5 signs total)
Age must be 4+ months
All 5 signs + age = Ready

Variables

Head control — Can hold head steady while sitting
Tongue reflex — No longer pushes food out of mouth automatically
4-6 months — AAP recommended age range to introduce solids

Example

5-month-old with all 5 signs met = ready for solids! Start with iron-fortified cereal or pureed vegetables.

Tips

Start with single-ingredient foods, one at a time, 3-5 days apart
Iron-rich foods (fortified cereal, pureed meats) are excellent first foods
Solids supplement, not replace, breastmilk or formula for the first year
Avoid honey until 12 months (botulism risk)
Talk to your pediatrician before starting solids, especially if baby was premature