Breastfeeding & Beyond
~
Dr Melody Jackson

(02) 8883 2091

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  • More
    • Home
    • About
    • Services
      • Antenatal Support
      • Breastfeeding
      • Induced Lactation
      • Maternal Mental Health
      • Infant Weight Gain
      • Tongue and Oral Ties
      • Unsettled Infant
      • Infant Sleep Concerns
      • Starting Solids
      • Weaning
      • Well Baby Checks
      • Allergies & Intolerances
      • Contraception
    • Public Speaking
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Affiliates
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us

(02) 8883 2091

Breastfeeding & Beyond
~
Dr Melody Jackson
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Antenatal Support
    • Breastfeeding
    • Induced Lactation
    • Maternal Mental Health
    • Infant Weight Gain
    • Tongue and Oral Ties
    • Unsettled Infant
    • Infant Sleep Concerns
    • Starting Solids
    • Weaning
    • Well Baby Checks
    • Allergies & Intolerances
    • Contraception
  • Public Speaking
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Affiliates
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us

Starting Solids

Not sure when or how to start solids?

When is your baby ready to start solids?

  • Baby can sit up well without support
  • Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue
  • Baby is ready and willing to chew
  • Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
  • Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth

This is usually at around six months, and solids should not be started before four months of age.


What should I start feeding my baby?

When your infant is ready, at around 6 months, but not before 4 months, start to introduce a variety of solid foods, starting with iron rich foods, while continuing breastfeeding.

All infants should be given allergenic solid foods including peanut butter, cooked egg and dairy and wheat products in the first year of life. This includes infants at high risk of allergy.


I highly recommend this article about the division of responsibility in feeding. In summary, you choose what your child eats, and your child gets to decide how much. You can find it here.


Recommended Websites and Apps:

One Handed Cooks

Ellen Stater Institute

Cooking Light

Phillips Avent Easy Weaning App

My Kid Licks the Bowl

Healthy Little Foodies


The following references provide more information:

Australian Breastfeeding Association: Confused about introducing solids?

KellyMom: Is baby ready for solid foods?

ASCIA Guidelines: Infant Feeding and Allergy Prevention


Breastfeeding & Beyond

107/9 Norbrik Drive Bella Vista, NSW 2153 AU

Phone: (02) 8883 2091

 “I acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of this land and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded. I especially ACKNOWLEDGE the Dharug people, on whose land my practice is on.

May we all walk together for an Australia grounded in inclusion, equity and healing.”


A note on the term ‘woman’: we offer care that is inclusive. Not all people that will benefit from our support identify with female pronouns. We honour and respect all experiences as valid, and seek to provide gender inclusive care. 

you are welcome here, you are safe here.


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