Is Your Baby Ready for Solids? A Guide for Concerned Parents
Feeding Your Baby: More Than Just a Milestone
As both a mother and a speech-language pathologist (SLP), I know firsthand how overwhelming the transition from bottle or breastfeeding to solid foods can be. You want the best for your baby, but the advice online can be confusing, and every baby seems to be on a different timeline.
The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Feeding is not just about eating—it’s a developmental process that includes motor skills, sensory tolerance, and swallowing safety. When done at the right time, feeding can help set your child up for healthy habits and successful communication later in life.
When Should You Start Solid Foods?
Most babies are developmentally ready to start solids between 4 and 6 months of age. However, readiness is based more on developmental signs than age alone. Feeding is a developmental skill just like crawling or talking. It requires coordination between muscles for chewing, swallowing, and breathing—all of which begin developing even in infancy. As pediatric speech therapists, we assess not only communication, but also oral-motor skills, swallowing safety, and sensory readiness.
Look for these cues:
Can your baby hold their head up steadily?
Are they showing interest in your food?
Do they open their mouth when a spoon approaches?
Has the tongue-thrust reflex (pushing food out) decreased?
🚩 If your baby isn’t showing these signs by 6 months, that’s OK—but it might be a good time to consult your pediatrician or a pediatric feeding specialist.
Stages of Solid Food Introduction
We typically recommend the following feeding progression:
Stage 1: 4–6 Months
Babies may be ready to try thin purées, usually starting with single-ingredient foods like pureed veggies or rice cereal.
➡️ Watch for: ability to sit with support, open mouth for a spoon, and diminished tongue-thrust reflex.
Stage 2: 6–9 Months
Move toward thicker textures and begin soft finger foods like bananas, avocado, or well-cooked veggies.
➡️ Encourage baby-led exploration with safe, squishable foods.
Stage 3: 9–12 Months
Babies typically handle a variety of textures—mushy, lumpy, and dissolvable solids—and begin self-feeding. Drinking from an open cup and straw should be introduced around this stage.
12+ Months
Transition away from the bottle to table foods, with meals looking more like the rest of the family’s. Babies should be working toward full independence in eating.
Feeding from a Speech Therapist’s Perspective
SLPs, like myself, are trained to evaluate oral-motor coordination, swallowing function, and feeding safety. Feeding challenges aren’t always obvious—they can show up subtly in how your baby handles certain textures or how often they cough while eating.
We often hear from moms who say:
“My baby gags all the time.”
“He just pushes the food back out.”
“She hates anything that isn’t puréed.”
“He still prefers the bottle at 14 months.”
These are more than picky preferences—they may be signs of an underlying feeding difficulty that deserves attention.
What Is Laryngomalacia—and Why It Matters
One lesser-known condition we look for is laryngomalacia, a softening of the tissues above the vocal cords. It’s one of the most common causes of noisy breathing in infants and can affect feeding and weight gain.
Signs of Laryngomalacia:
High-pitched or squeaky breathing (especially during feeding or sleep)
Frequent gagging or choking with milk
Reflux symptoms (spitting up, arching back)
Poor weight gain
Difficulty coordinating breathing and swallowing
Most cases are mild and improve with age, but moderate to severe cases can affect nutrition and require SLP involvement or a referral to ENT.
Other Red Flags to Watch For
🚩 Here are other signs it may be time to consult an SLP or feeding specialist:
Persistent gagging or choking on solids
Refusing to advance textures
Reliance on purées or bottle past 12–15 months
Arching, irritability, or excessive fussiness during feeding
Poor weight gain or growth curve concerns
Coughing or wet vocal quality after drinking
Difficulty chewing or moving food in the mouth
Pocketing food in cheeks or taking excessively long to eat
You’re Not Failing—Feeding Is Complex
As moms, we often feel pressure to "get it right"—to know exactly when and how to start solids, and to make feeding a beautiful bonding time. But the truth is, many babies struggle with feeding in one way or another, and seeking help early is a sign of strength, not failure.
Feeding and swallowing issues are more common than you might think—and we’re here to help.
How We Can Help
At Mindful Voices Rehab, we provide in-home speech and feeding therapy for infants and toddlers in Orange Park, Fleming Island, and Ponte Vedra, Florida. Our approach is compassionate, evidence-based, and tailored to your family’s unique needs. We can also offer virtual coaching and guidance (*If appropriate).
We come to you—so we can observe your baby’s real feeding environment, coach you in the moment, and give you peace of mind.
Worried about your baby's feeding milestones?
📞 Call us at 305-773-0982
🌐 Visit us at MindfulRehabServices.com
📧 Email: Speech@mindfulrehabservices.com
