Introducing solids doesn't improve baby sleep

Are you wondering how to start solids in a way that is best for your baby’s health and immune system? You’ll find there is a huge amount of advice if you search online, which can make you feel under a lot of pressure! The Possums approach to starting solids is simple and relaxed.

• Despite what you might hear, solids in your baby’s tummy doesn’t improve sleep. So there is no need to rush when you start them. You don’t need to start solids before six months if your baby is breastfed. In The Possums Sleep Program, you can find out about solids, hunger and your baby's sleep

  • If your baby is breastfed

  • If your baby is less than six months

  • If your baby is between six and 12 months.

Other things to consider about when you might introduce solids

• In practice, families find their little one might be reaching out with great interest for the food on other people’s cutlery or plates earlier than six months. Parents often start allowing their baby tastes of appropriate foods from their own meals or snacks when they think their baby is ready, because of this interest, typically from five months or so, choosing food suitable for a baby. You can find out about food safety here.

• Some families like to start formula fed babies on solids from about four months of age, because formula fed babies aren’t exposed to the same wide range of food proteins from early on, which occurs with breast milk. Being exposed from early on to a wide range of food proteins through the breast milk helps protect babies from developing allergies.

• You don't need to wait until your baby can sit up alone. You also don't need to wait until your baby doesn't push her tongue forward - although that may also be a sign that she isn't interested, of course!

Applying the Possums approach, we think of starting solids as an extension of sensory motor exploration. Starting solids is an opportunity for play with taste and texture which doesn't require a high chair, and happens without worrying about how much solid food travels into that little gastrointestinal tract. Her nutritional needs (and so much else) are still being met by milk.

Recommended resources

Starting solids in a way that's easy and enjoyable - for both you and your baby

What's the difference between gagging and choking?

Things to avoid with infants and foods

Iron rich foods for your baby

Acknowledgements

I'm grateful to Professor Sophie Havighurst, Ros June, and Caroline Ma at Mindful, The University of Melbourne, for their feedback on the articles and videos in Little people + food.

Selected references

Borowitz SM. First bites - why, when, and what solid foods to feed infants. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2021;9:654171.