Within the first year of life, there’s going to be a lot of things that you and your new baby are learning together. One of the biggest things is eating solid foods. 

For first-time parents, starting to feed your baby solid foods can be a little scary, as accidents like choking might be looming in the back of your mind. But just as you can use a baby monitor to make sure your little one is safe while sleeping, there are things you can do to keep your little one safe when eating solid foods.

To help you learn what these things are, here are three tips to help you as you start feeding your baby solid foods. 

Don’t Start Too Soon

The very first way to keep your baby safe as you begin to feed them solid foods is to not start too soon. 

According to Kim Conte, a contributor to What To Expect, experts say that you should really wait until your baby is closer to six months old before you even start thinking about giving solid foods. You’ll need to make sure that your baby can hold his or her head up on their own and has gotten over the stage where they try to push everyone out of their mouth. 

If you do start to introduce solid foods too soon, you can run into issues like digestive problems, food aversions, and increased likelihood of obesity in the future. 

Make Eating Solids Fun

Starting to eat solid foods is a big deal for little babies, especially if they’ve been eyeing what you’ve been eating for a while. So to help them develop good habits, it’s wise to do what you can to make eating fun.

First off, Jennifer White, a contributor to VeryWellFamily.com, recommends that you let your baby get used to sitting in their high chair, wearing a bib, and playing with a plastic fork or spoon for a few days before you actually give them solids to eat. Then once you do start giving solids, let them play with their food too, even though it can make a mess. This can help them be happy and curious about eating, which can make them better eaters as they learn. 

Introduce One Food At A Time

As you’re trying to decide what foods to feed your baby, Amy Gorin, a contributor to Parents.com, advises that you give only one food at a time when you’re starting out.

At first, you don’t know if your baby has food allergies or sensitivities. By introducing just one food at a time, you can keep an eye on them to see if they show signs of an allergic reaction. Then, you’ll better be able to pinpoint exactly what they ate that caused the reaction. 

If you’re planning to start giving your baby solid foods soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you and your little one through this process. 

Anna Jones
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