Is my baby ready for solid foods?

During the first few months of their lives, breast milk or formula provide all the nutrition most babies need. But around the halfway point of their first year, it’s time to consider solid foods.

“We start to introduce whether a child requires it or not,” says Beny Rub, MD, a pediatrician in Aventura, Florida. “If we do not give complementary nutrition, then the child does not develop or grow.”

Those initial feeding experiences can help shape kids’ eating habits for life. And while every baby is different, there are some general guidelines caregivers should be aware of. Here’s the lowdown on introducing solids, including tips for when and what to eat, the latest research on allergies, and strategies to make mealtime a more enjoyable experience for everyone.