TikTok, like other social media platforms, can be a great place to share stories and information with others who share similar interests. It’s also a place where experts from a variety of fields share their knowledge.
At the same time, like any social site, it can also draw creators who are overconfident in their opinions, and personal preference can be mixed inextricably with scientific knowledge or medical guidelines.
So, if you’re preparing to introduce your baby to solids and TikTok starts offering lists of the best 10 foods to offer first, should you listen?
TikTok Can Be A Resource, But Shouldn’t Be Your First Resource
Many people on TikTok speak from experience, and most do their best to share information that not only works for them but is up to date with current medical recommendations and safe for their viewers.
You can probably consider advice from many of them equivalent to advice from other moms at daycare or school pickup. That is to say, the intent is probably good, and it worked for them. They may even have their pediatrician’s support and have researched the risks and benefits before trying it themselves.
Still, they are random strangers, and it’s prudent to double-check any advice before taking it. When they’re listing foods they used to introduce solids to their babies, it’s fine to consider these foods as options, as long as you’re making sure that they also meet current guidelines.
Look For Verifiable Sources
Many doctors and nutritionists share information on TikTok.
If someone claims to be a pediatrician, an ER doctor, or a child development expert, you can do a quick search to help determine whether they’re legitimate. Sometimes they’ll include links in their bio. Look for doctors and therapists who are affiliated with legitimate medical clinics or hospitals.
If someone is sharing from a position of medical expertise, their information is generally more reliable. However, information can still be outdated or misunderstood, and if there’s any doubt, you should follow up with your own doctor for the best guidance.
You can also find official TikTok pages from reputable organizations, such as Solid Starts, which sources its information from pediatricians. One big green flag for their advice is the emphasis on these foods as good options, not the only options!
Do Pediatricians Endorse These First Foods?
These videos generally center on baby-led weaning (BLW). That’s the idea that, instead of transitioning your baby from milk to mush, you should follow your baby’s cues to determine when to start solids, then offer regular foods, such as avocado and broccoli.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) neither endorses nor opposes baby-led weaning as opposed to spoon-feeding. Instead, the organization focuses on recommending that parents introduce a variety of flavors and textures, and encourage self-feeding as babies show interest and ability.
An AAP blog post in 2016 acknowledges a study that compared BLW to spoon feeding, and found that choking incidents were actually similar in both, despite some foods being included that are commonly deemed choking hazards.
Your pediatrician might have a position on BLW, or a preference for your child based on individual development and needs, but overall, pediatricians are leaving it to parents to make that decision.
So, Which Foods Should Be First?
Most top-ten lists of first foods on TikTok are fine, as long as they are safe.
Parents are advised to avoid small, round foods, such as grapes or nuts, to reduce the risk of choking. Although parents have previously been advised to delay introducing potentially allergenic foods, such as eggs, wheat, and peanut products, the CDC now recommends introducing them concurrently with other foods. (If a specific allergy is already known or a greater concern, consult your pediatrician first.) It’s also generally recommended to save cow’s milk products for after your baby is 12 months old.
The AAP particularly recommends introducing your baby to a variety of fruits and vegetables following the baby’s cues.
Within that framework, feel free to take advice from TikTok, use it as-is, modify it as you need, or reject it entirely. Just don’t mistake it for a mandate, or think you’ve messed up if your baby’s first ten foods are not the same as any TikTok list.