Oh, the messy, sticky, joyous adventure of introducing your baby to solids! Around nine months old, your little food explorer is ready to move from creamy purees and trusty mashes to something with a bit more structure. But before you hand over a cracker and call it a day, let’s talk strategy. This stage is about more than just feeding—it’s a key step in learning, and like any learning journey, it’s equal parts messy and magical.
Why the Move?
First things first: why shift gears? Around eight to nine months, babies are ready to build their oral motor skills and start prepping for the complex art of chewing. This isn’t just about eating safely—it’s about setting the foundation for successful, enjoyable eating! Enter the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding. This internationally renowned framework guides us through feeding milestones with confidence. Meltable solids, in particular, encourage skill-building without overwhelming your baby. Hard munchables, on the other hand, offer exploration and practice without the expectation to chow down (no actual eating, please)!
The 8-Month Prelude: Hard Munchables
Before diving into meltable solids, let’s give a round of applause to the humble hard munchables. These aren’t for eating (yep, you read that right). They’re all about exploration.
Here’s why hard munchables come first:
- Strength-Building: Gnawing on these helps develop jaw strength—important for chewing later.
- Learning about the Gag Reflex: Babies are born with a gag reflex close to the front of their tongue. Hard munchables help it gradually move further back.
- Tongue Development: As babies mouth and munch, they start to learn about moving food around their mouth effectively.
Introduce these champs around eight months to give your baby a solid start.
Hard Munchable Rules to Live By
- Size Matters: Pieces should be about the size of a fat whiteboard Texta—easy to hold and unlikely to break apart.
- Supervise Always: Hard munchables are for practice, not for leaving your baby unattended (ever).
- Stay Calm: Gagging is normal! If (when) it happens, smile and say something like, “Oops, too far back, that was a surprise!” Your calm reaction will help your baby feel safe to try again.
9 Months and Beyond: Meltable Solids
With hard munchables under their belt (well, bib), your baby is ready to graduate to meltable solids. These foods are the safety net of the solids world—sturdy enough to challenge, but quick to dissolve in saliva.
Why Meltable Solids?
- Skill Development: They encourage chewing and tongue movements.
- Confidence Boost: Babies can explore these textures at their own pace.
- Flavour Adventure: Introduce fun new tastes and textures for your baby to enjoy.
Meltable Solids to Try
Here are some ideas to get started:
- Dehydrated Fruits and Veggies: Dried apple crispies or sweet potato chips.
- Arrowroot Biscuits: A classic option that’s baby-friendly.
- Potato Sticks, Yoghurt Buttons and Veggie Chips: Snack aisle favourites.
- Pappadums: Light, crispy, and easy for babies to handle (also my favourite).
- Rice Bubbles: Perfect for small fingers and quick dissolving.
The goal isn’t to achieve perfect chewing straight away—it’s to give your baby plenty of practice. At first, they might just gum the food, but with time, they’ll develop more advanced skills like moving food side to side with their tongue.
A Note on Gagging vs. Choking
It’s important to understand the difference between gagging and choking. Gagging is normal and helps protect your baby as they learn. Choking, on the other hand, is a medical emergency. Stay calm, supervise closely, and know basic first aid, just in case.
The Big Picture
Moving from purees to meltable solids (with a stop at hard munchables) is an exciting milestone. It’s about more than just eating—it’s about building confidence, developing skills, and exploring a world of new textures and flavours. Yes, it’s messy, and yes, it can be nerve-wracking—but it’s also a joyful time to celebrate. So, grab those pappadums and let the fun begin. You’ve got this, and so does your little one.
Bon appétit!