Starting Solids

Starting solids is a BIG deal!

Starting solids can be scary and intimidating, especially for first time parents. Here are some tips and tricks that can relieve some of that worry while also supporting your child's growth and development! 

Before offering solid foods, make sure that your child can sit without support and they have appropriate head/trunk control needed for safe swallowing. 

Start with sensory food play! This can be very messy so be prepared but it is a great way to incorporate tactile touch and exploratory play with foods. This can be done with various purées and other taste safe/age appropriate foods, like resistive foods!

Resistive foods such as large/long thick carrots or celery sticks, cleaned off ribs bones, well done steak strips, etc, are great ways to let your child explore their mouth and experience new flavors. Resistive foods just mean that your child will not be able to break pieces off while exploring them.

Know the difference!

Lastly, before beginning solids, know the difference between gagging/coughing and choking. If your child is coughing and making noises then they are NOT choking. If you notice them turning red/purple and are unable to make coughing noises then is the time to intervene. Gagging is a normal response to a new food taste or texture, continue to offer a variety of foods and let your child experience all the new sensory input!