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    • ezpz oral development tools in sage green / silicone teethers for motor skill development

      Pre-Feeding + Oral Care

      For Baby-Led Weaning

    • The Happy Mat in Blush by ezpz / Self-Suctioning Silicone Plate & Placemat

      Placemats, Plates + Bowls

      The Original Silicone Mat

    • Cups, Straws + Utensils

      Sized for Development

    • Feeding Accessories

      Popsicles, Bibs, Cutters, Lids, Cleaning and More

    • Shop All

      Expertly Designed Products for Milestone Development

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    • Pre-feeding set by ezpz in sage green includes the tiny pops and oral development tools (silicone teethers)#color_sage

      0-6 Months

      Pre-Feeding & Oral Care

    • First Foods Set in Pewter by ezpz / Silicone Spoon, Cup & Suctioning Bowl for Infants

      6-12 Months

      Tiny Collection

    • Mini Feeding Set in Blush by ezpz / Silicone Plate, Fork & Spoon for Toddlers

      12-24 Months

      Mini Collection

    • ezpz Happy Feeding Set in Sage / Silicone, Self-Suctioning Plate, Silicone Cup and Straw, Training Utensils for Toddlers #color_sage

      2-5 Years

      Happy Collection

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  • GiftingGifting
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    • Build Your Own Box

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    • ezpz Gift Guide

      Our favorite ideas for baby showers, birthdays, and more.

    • ezpz Developmental Utensil Set in Sage #color_sage

      Compare

      See how ezpz products are designed by age and stage.

  • Feeding TipsFeeding Tips
    • Baby-Led Weaning

      Discover best practices and the products we recommend.

    • Made for Milestones

      Read about age-specific goals for oral care, pre-feeding + mealtime.

    • Mealtime Advice

      Get professional tips from our in-house Pediatric Feeding Specialist.

    • See All Categories

      Explore fun feeding challenges, crafting, recipes, and more.

  • AboutAbout
    • Expertly Designed

      Our lines are created for ages + stages by an in-house specialist.

    • Awards + Reviews

      Check out our accolades and over 20K five-star reviews!

    • Press + Features

      The industry is raving about our innovative products.

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    Starting Solids: Signs of Readiness

    By Dawn Winkelmann, M.S, CCC-SLP
    Speech Language Pathologist & Feeding Specialist for ezpz

    Meet Ms. Dawn See All Articles
    Starting Solids: Signs of Readiness

    Getting ready to start solids? Here are the six signs of readiness to watch for, which will ensure that your baby’s transition to solids is safe and developmentally appropriate.

    1. Baby is 6 Months of Age

    From birth to about six months, babies are exclusively fed breast milk or formula. At six months, they start showing the developmental skills to make first foods safe and successful. However, this timing can be slightly more complex for babies born prematurely.

    If your baby was born early (before 38-40 weeks gestation), their readiness for solids should be based on their adjusted age rather than their chronological age. To calculate adjusted age, subtract the number of weeks your baby was born early from their actual age.

    For example, a 6-month-old baby born 4 weeks early has an adjusted age of 5 months. Waiting another month (until their adjusted age is 6 months) allows them to be more developmentally ready—likely more active, interested, and willing to eat than they would have been a month earlier. Patience is especially important with preemies as they catch up developmentally!

    2. Baby Shows Interest in Objects and Food

    Your baby should show interest in objects in their environment and the food you’re eating. If you notice your baby trying to grab food off your plate or watching intently as you eat, these are promising signs they’re ready to explore solids. 

    Practice: Once a week, have your baby sit on your lap while you eat. Observe their interest in your food—this can help you assess this sign of readiness.

    3. Baby is Reaching for Objects

    A baby that is ready for solids will reach for objects such as toys, teethers, toothbrushes, and breast milk popsicles, which showcases curiosity and hand-eye coordination. This desire to reach and explore their immediate environment prepares them for holding and eating food.

    Practice: When you place your baby in tummy time observe whether they reach for objects.

    4. Baby is Grasping Objects

    A baby who can grasp objects—like toys or utensils—is developing the hand coordination needed to hold food. This ability is a key pre-feeding skill that sets the stage for self-feeding development. Delay solids if baby is not grasping and mouthing (sucking, licking and exploring objects with their mouth). Grasping and mouthing toys is an important first step to swallowing foods safely. Clinically, I find that if parents start solids without baby having this critical skill, gagging, choking and food refusal is common.

    Practice: Offer baby multiple opportunities to practice these skills by offering safe objects like a silicone spoon or a lightweight oral development tool. 

    5.  Baby has Head Control when Chewing Objects

    Your baby should be able to hold their head up independently without wobbling. This is an essential skill for safe swallowing and reducing the risk of choking.  Baby should want to munch (up-and-down chewing) toys and objects. Be sure to wait to introduce foods if you have not observed this adorable munch pattern.

    Practice: Find opportunities throughout the day to observe your baby’s ability to chew on an object while maintaining steady head control. This can be during tummy time or when seated in a supported highchair. Taking time to rehearse this skill with safe silicone objects allows your baby to practice chewing and develop oral motor skills without the pressure of food.

    6. Baby is Sitting Up

    Your baby should be able to sit up with minimal or no support before starting solids. While a few rolled-up towels for positioning and stability are okay in the early stages, sitting independently ensures that your baby can engage with food safely. Sitting up regulates their interest in food, reduces fatigue, and enhances their ability to consume food effectively.

    Practice: Begin by having your baby sit in a highchair for short, 5-minute increments under direct adult supervision. Gradually increase the time as they become more comfortable, making each session fun and positive. This approach helps avoid crying or negative associations with the highchair and food, setting the stage for enjoyable mealtimes.

    Feeding therapists and other medical professionals agree that it’s best to wait to start solids until your baby is showing all six signs of readiness. We hope these tips make starting solids ezpz! 

    • Throwing at Mealtime

    • Three Ways to Use Purees When Starting Solids

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    Pre-feeding set by ezpz in sage green includes the tiny pops and oral development tools (silicone teethers)#color_sage

    Pre-Feeding Set
    3+ Months

    Sale price$32.99 Regular price $33.98
    • Sage
    • Blush
    • Pewter
    • Indigo
    ezpz Baby-Led Weaning Food Cutters in Sage Green / 6 months and 9 months feeding milestones #color_sage

    Baby-Led Weaning Food Cutters
    6+ Months

    $9.99
    • Sage
    • Pewter
    • Blush
    • Indigo
    First Foods Set in Limited Edition Confetti by ezpz / The Original All-In-One Silicone Plates & Placemats that Stick to the Table#color_confetti

    First Foods Set
    6+ Months

    Sale price$37.49 Regular price $44.47
    • Confetti
    • Pewter
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    • Sage
    • Indigo
    • Coral
    +2
    The Tiny Cup in Pewter by ezpz / Open-Top, Silicone Drinking Cup for Babies #color_pewter

    Baby-Led™ Tiny Cup
    4+ Months

    $11.49
    • Pewter
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    The Tiny Spoon in Blush by ezpz / Small, Sensory Silicone Spoon for Babies #color_blush

    Baby-Led™ Tiny Spoons
    6+ Months

    $15.99
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    • Sage
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    • Indigo
    • Coral
    • Blue
    The Tiny Bowl in Sage by ezpz / Silicone Bowl for Babies that Fits on High Chairs #color_sage

    Tiny Bowl
    6+ Months

    $16.99
    • Sage
    • Pewter
    • Blush
    • Indigo
    • Coral
    • Blue

    Speech Language Pathologist & Feeding Specialist for ezpz

    Dawn Winkelmann, M.S, CCC-SLP

    Dawn Winkelmann (M.S, CCC-SLP) is ezpz’s Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and Feeding Specialist. She teaches parents and medical professionals how to start babies on solids safely and encourage toddlers to overcome picky eating tendencies. She is also the designer of our award-winning feeding and oral care products!

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