How Do I Know When My Baby Is Ready for Solid Foods?
Starting solids is one of those milestones that feels both exciting and intimidating. On one hand, you can’t wait to see your baby’s face as they taste avocado or sweet potato for the first time. On the other, you might be second-guessing yourself, wondering:
“How do I know when my baby is ready for solid foods?”
If you’ve asked yourself this, know that parents everywhere wrestle with the timing question. Some friends may say “start early at 4 months—it helps with sleep!” while others swear by waiting until 6 months or later. Maybe your baby is watching you eat with big, curious eyes, or maybe they don’t seem interested at all yet. Add in worries about choking, food allergies, or whether you’re “doing it right,” and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
But here’s the reassuring truth: your baby will show you when they’re ready. Instead of relying only on age, the most important thing is to look for developmental signs they are ready for solid foods. These cues tell you their body, mouth, and motor skills are prepared for the next step.
And when you tune in to your baby’s signals, the process becomes less about pressure and more about joy—watching your little one learn, practice, and play with food as they begin their eating journey.
Signs Your Baby Is Ready for Solid Foods
Most babies are ready around 6 months, but every baby develops on their own timeline. Instead of using the calendar alone, look for these true readiness cues:
1. Your Baby Can Sit Upright With Minimal Support
Safe swallowing begins with posture. If your baby can sit upright in a high chair or on your lap without slumping forward or leaning to the side, that’s one of the clearest signs they’re ready.
Parent scenario: You place your baby in the high chair, and they stay steady with their head and chest upright, maybe leaning slightly but not collapsing forward. That’s a green light. But if they slide sideways, slump, or need pillows to prop them up, their core muscles aren’t strong enough yet—better to wait another week or two.
2. Strong Head and Neck Control
Head control is essential for safe swallowing. Your baby should be able to hold their head up steadily without wobbling or falling back.
Parent scenario: When you carry your baby upright, do they hold their head steady without bobbing? If yes, they likely have the control needed to manage food in their mouth. If their head still tips forward in the high chair, it’s too soon.
3. Loss of the Tongue-Thrust Reflex
Newborns are born with a reflex that automatically pushes objects out of their mouth with their tongue. This is protective in the early months, but it makes swallowing solids nearly impossible.
By around 4–6 months, this reflex begins to fade.
Parent scenario: If you offer your baby a spoon or teether and they immediately push it out with their tongue, the reflex is still strong. But if they start holding objects or food in their mouth and moving it around, it’s a sign the reflex is diminishing and they’re closer to readiness.
4. Showing Interest in Food
Your baby’s curiosity about what you’re eating is a huge clue.
Look for:
Following food with their eyes
Leaning toward your plate
Reaching out for your spoo
Opening their mouth when food comes near
Parent scenario: You sit down with a snack, and your baby stops what they’re doing just to watch you chew. Maybe they even lunge toward your food. This interest shows they’re not only physically ready, but also mentally engaged with the idea of eating.
✨ Parent Tip:
Once you start noticing a few of these readiness signs, you might be wondering: “Okay, so what do I actually do next?”
That’s exactly why I created my Starting Solids Guide—a step-by-step resource that takes the guesswork out of introducing first foods, safety tips, and making mealtimes positive.
5. Ability to Pick Up and Bring Objects to Their Mouth
Your baby doesn’t need perfect fine motor skills to start solids, but they should be experimenting with hand-to-mouth movement.
At first, they’ll grab toys or spoons with a palmar grasp (whole hand). Later, around 9 months, they’ll refine this into a pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger), which allows for picking up small pieces of food.
Parent scenario: If your baby is happily chewing on teething toys or trying to shove everything into their mouth, it’s a great sign that they’re gearing up for self-feeding.
6. Increased Hunger Beyond Milk Feeds
If your baby suddenly seems less satisfied after full nursing or bottle sessions, or if they want to feed more often than usual, it might be time to add solids.
Parent scenario: You finish a full bottle, but your baby is still fussing and rooting for more. If this happens alongside other readiness signs, it may be a cue that they’re ready for extra nutrition and practice with solids.
7. Doubling Birth Weight
While not the only factor, many babies who have doubled their birth weight are ready to begin solids. This usually happens around 4–6 months.
Parent scenario: If your baby has doubled their weight but can’t sit upright or control their head yet, it’s best to wait. Weight is just one piece of the puzzle—it should be paired with developmental readiness.
8. Ability to Communicate Fullness
Your baby needs to not only start but also stop when they’ve had enough. Look for cues like:
Turning their head away from the spoon\
Closing their mouth when food is offered
Pushing food away with their hands
Parent scenario: You offer another bite of puree, but your baby clamps their lips shut and looks away. That’s their way of saying, “I’m done.” Respecting these signals helps your baby build healthy self-regulation around food.
Common Myths About Readiness Signs
Some behaviors look like signs of readiness—but they aren’t. These false cues can be confusing for parents. Here’s what to watch for:
Myth 1: Drooling Means They’re Hungry for Solids
Truth: Babies drool a lot because of teething and normal oral development, not because they need solids. A drooly 4-month-old may still have weeks to go before their body is ready for food.
Myth 2: Waking More at Night Means They Need Food
Truth: Night waking is common during growth spurts, sleep regressions, or teething. It doesn’t mean your baby needs solids. If they aren’t showing other readiness signs, starting solids won’t fix night wakings.
Myth 3: Bigger Babies Are Automatically Ready Earlier
Truth: Size alone doesn’t equal readiness. Even if your baby is in the 90th percentile for weight, if they can’t sit up or have poor head control, it’s not safe to start solids yet.
Myth 4: Chewing on Toys Means They’re Ready to Chew Food
Truth: Mouthing is an important milestone, but it’s more about exploration than eating. Babies mouth toys long before their digestive and swallowing systems are mature enough for food.
Putting It All Together
You don’t need to see every sign perfectly, but most babies will show a combination of these readiness cues by around 6 months. When your little one can sit upright, hold their head steady, reach for your plate, and mouth toys with purpose—you’ll know they’re ready to start exploring the world of solid foods.
And don’t stress about what other babies are doing. Some may be eager at 5.5 months, while others may need until 7 months. Both are normal.
What matters most is following your baby’s lead and keeping mealtimes safe, positive, and playful.
Remember: Every baby is unique, and sometimes it helps to talk it through with a professional. If you’d like guidance tailored to your child, you can book a consultation with me—I’ll help you feel confident about starting solids in a way that works for your family.
