When to start introducing semi-solid & solid food (signs & indicators) to an infant?

• Can sit with little or with no support, and able to control his/her head 

• Showing interest in the food parents are eating 

• Gets hungry fast (e.g: soon after breast feeding or after frequent breastfeedings). 

• Try to grab food from hand/ opening mouth when parents eat 

• Can control his/her tongue better 

• Likes to put things into the mouth often 

• Begins to develop teeth 

• Starts to make chewing motions or up-down munching movements

How to start introducing semi-solid & solid food?

•  Introduce only 1 new food at a time (e.g: blended plain rice porridge). Once infant gets used to it then may introduce the second type of food from other food groups. 

• Food taste and texture must be suitable and right for infant’s stage of development 

• Apply the 4 Day Rule – wait for 4 days after introducing the new food. This will help to determine either the infants likes the food or may also help to detect allergy. 

• Feeds as soon as the infant gets hungry before loses his/her appetite. 

• Depending on infant’s ability and age, small cube/size of food can be put in his/her hand 

• Starts with only a small amount of food and gradually increase as the infant gets older. 

• Parents must not feed an infant with distraction such as noise, TV, toys, friends, etc for an infant to enjoy a meal and eat well. 

• Infants must be introduced to different types of suitable food only once at a time by applying the 4 Day Rule. 

• Once the infant has been introduced to the suitable and relevant food types, starts serving the combination in a single meal. 

• Mix different food together in 1 meal when first introduce semi-solid food to an infant.

• Give small size dice-cut solid food, nuts, grains, or seeds to infant at all 

• Force fed or over fed infant with food. Stop feeding when the infant starts to turn his/her head away from food or shows disinterest in the food.