02/05/2026
Starting solids isn’t just about age and it’s not only about ability.
Eating is a physically and neurologically demanding skill.
Before a spoon ever reaches their mouth, babies are developing the foundational skills that make feeding possible: reaching, bringing hands to mouth, exploring objects, and building the postural strength needed to sit and engage.
Prefeeding skills are not a checklist or a pass/fail test. They are information. They help us understand what a child’s body is ready for so we can meet them where they are.
For many babies, these skills emerge naturally and strengthen over time. But some children may need more support due to developmental differences, medical conditions, muscle tone variations, or early injuries and that does not mean they aren’t ready to begin learning about food.
At the same time, when a child is not yet showing these foundational abilities, we may be asking too much of them to sit in a highchair and self-feed independently. When expectations exceed ability, feeding can quickly become stressful for both the child and the caregiver.
The goal is not to rush solids.
The goal is to support readiness.
When we honor development instead of timelines, we create safer, more positive feeding experiences — and we build trust at the table from the very beginning.
