By the time Baby has been nuzzling close to Mama and enjoying her warmth, safety and breast milk for 6 months, it is just about time to embark on the new adventure of eating solids.

Especially with the first baby, there are a lot of questions when it comes to knowing the perfect time to begin feeding solids. According to Ellen Lechtenberg, registered dietitian and international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), babies are more likely to thrive when they are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. But from that age on, there are signs that Baby is ready to sample a few spoonfuls of mush or pureed produce:

• Baby is able to hold his head up without support.
• Baby can sit up.
• Baby shows interest at mealtime or reaches for food.
• Baby has lost the tongue thrusting reflex.
• Baby is showing hunger cues during the day despite frequent breastfeeding.

Lechtenberg recommends offering one food type at a time, and waiting a week before introducing another new menu item in order to identify any food allergies as they arise. She also suggests keeping the portions small to begin with, such as one or two tablespoons of food once or twice a day.

"Keep in mind that your baby may take this entire amount or only a part of it," Lechtenberg says. "Both are acceptable volumes. The solids are not meant as a meal and shouldn't be forced."

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