We recently chatted with Diana from Mama's Meals about the process of starting solids with your little ones. Mama’s Meals is an online destination that supports families as they begin their babies on solids and beyond, with a mission to reduce the mental load for parents in feeding their families. Di has created a suite of starting solids resources and she also works with families across New Zealand from baby nutrition, eczema and meal planning. In addition to one-on-one consultations, Di has cultivated an online community at @_mamas_meals where she shares family-friendly recipes, and nutrition tips and connects with parents at all stages of their parenting journey.  

For mothers who are new to learning about the specific nutritional needs of babies as they begin eating solids, how would you suggest they begin their journey?  

Starting solids with your baby can be overwhelming to begin with. So, during those first couple of months, take it slow and remember that babies often “start solids” by simply exploring tastes of foods! It’s normal for very little food to be consumed initially. I also always recommend going with your instinct in terms of what you feel more comfortable starting with, whether that means starting with purees, embracing baby-led weaning or a combination of both – there is no right or wrong way!  

When is the best time to start introducing solids to a baby’s diet?  

There is a lot of conflicting information on this topic and the recommended age has changed a lot over the last few decades - so it is no wonder parents can feel confused by this! The World Health Organisation currently recommends that babies are exclusively breastfed or formula fed until they are 6 months old. However, that does not always mean that all babies are ready for solids once they turn 6 months old. Just like all babies crawl, walk, and talk at different times, the same goes for starting solids! This means that some babies may be ready to start solids prior to 6 months and others once they are just over 6 months old. That’s why I recommend looking for the signs of readiness instead when assessing whether a baby is ready to start their journey.   

What are the signs that a baby is ready to start eating solid foods?   

Once a baby is showing the following 3 signs, it is a good indication that their digestive system is ready to explore the world of food: 

1. Trunk and neck stability
When a baby can sit unassisted for a period of time it indicates that their digestive system is strong enough to digest food, so this is an important one for them to meet. This doesn’t mean that they need to sit for long periods of time on their own. It’s more that when we place them in the highchair, that they aren’t slumped over so that they can safely engage the food! They should also be able to have enough head and neck control to lean towards food or turn away to show they are full. 

2. Loss of tongue thrust reflex
This is where babies push out their tongue when foreign objects comes into their mouth. It is mother nature’s mechanism to keep babies safe from choking. Once babies lose this reflex it indicates that they are now ready to swallow and chew food and will not just push it out of their mouth. 

3. Interest in food
This an important sign for babies to meet but should be seen in conjunction with the other signs above. Interest in food from babies as young as 4 months can sometimes lead to confusion for parents, who may mistake this interest as a sign of readiness. So while showing interest in food is a positive indicator, it should be considered alongside the other signs.

 How can parents ensure that their baby is getting a balanced diet once solids are introduced?

Once babies are 6 months old their nutritional needs can no longer be solely met by breastmilk/formula alone, especially when it comes to iron! So, with that in mind, I recommend parents offer foods that are iron-rich (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs) alongside a variety of whole foods such as vegetables, legumes, healthy fats and fruits.  

 What inspired you start Mama’s Meals?

When my son first started solids, I struggled to find an accessible starting solids resource that wasn’t overwhelming, but still had baby friendly recipes that were made with everyday ingredients. I started to realise that other families were also hungry for this information alongside simple and nutritious recipes that the whole family could enjoy. This eventually led me to studying baby nutrition, creating my starting solids resources and building my online business. It felt like a perfect way to blend my passion for home-cooking and nutrition as well as providing inspiration and support to new mothers and young families.

How does Mama’s Meals work to support new mothers in the community?   

Mama’s Meals supports new mothers from their baby’s first tastes to nourishing their whole family through online guides, recipes, practical nutrition guidance and personalised 1:1 consults. My mission is to give confidence to mothers in how they nourish themselves and their family.   

And... how can people connect and get in touch with you and what you do?

I’d love to connect with you via my Instagram account @mama_meals or through my new recipe newsletter - What's for dinner. You can explore my starting soilds resources and services on my website mamasmeals.co.nz