These days, there are a lot of options when it comes to starting your baby on solid foods. Advice swirls around topics such as purees, baby-led feeding, utensils, timing, food allergens, and more. For first-time parents, all this advice might just make the whole milestone feel stressful and confusing.
So, if you’re stuck wondering where to start, don’t worry! Here’s a guide to help you navigate new feedings. A safe and convenient way to kickstart your little one’s first foray into solids is with spoon feeding. This method is great, because it helps babies develop eating skills while giving them time to adjust to new foods in their routine.
What is spoon-feeding?
Spoon-feeding is a great way to support motor skill development, as well as to introduce new textures. This method allows baby to safely practice chewing—a process they’ll need to master before graduating to more advanced solid foods.[MR1]
Try these simple spoon-feeding tips:
- Use a soft, rubber-tipped spoon.
- Keep food cool (not cold) or warm (not hot).
- Guide the spoon to your child’s mouth with both your hand and theirs on the handle.
- Allow them to play with the feeding spoon or another spoon, including the handle.
You can view more spoon-feeding tips here.
Above all, be sure to practice responsive feeding.
Responsive feeding means when you offer food, recognize and respond to baby's hunger and fullness cues—letting them decide how much to eat. This fosters self-regulation, trust, and a positive relationship with food.
There are a few cues that can help you determine baby’s needs:
Signs of hunger:
- Crying or fussing
- Reaching for spoon
- Opening mouth
Signs of fullness:
- Turning away from spoon
- Clenching mouth shut
- Spitting out food
You can learn more about responsive feeding here.
Starting solids can feel overwhelming. Gerber® is here to help with the nutritious infant cereals and purees babies love, in the grab-and-go packaging parents need so you can navigate your little one’s feeding journey wherever family life takes you.
