How many times should I feed my 5 month old solids each day when she is interested?

What the evidence says

In Canada, health experts recommend starting solid foods at around 6 months, not sooner than 4 months. At 5 months, being interested in food is not enough on its own. Your baby also needs good head and neck control, the ability to sit with support, and to have mostly lost the reflex that pushes food back out of the mouth.

Once your baby is truly ready and you begin solids, Canadian dietitians suggest starting slowly. Offer iron-rich foods, like meat, fish, tofu, or iron-fortified cereal, about two times a day at first, such as at breakfast and lunch. Just 1 to 2 teaspoons at a time is plenty to begin with.

As your baby gets more comfortable eating and shows more appetite for food, you can gradually work up to three to five times a day. There's no fixed number that fits every baby. It depends on her cues, her appetite, and how she is growing. By 9 to 11 months, most babies are eating solids four to five times a day.

Breast milk or formula should still be the main source of nutrition through this whole stage. Solid foods add nutrients, especially iron, but they don't replace milk feeds yet. Let your baby's hunger and fullness cues guide how much and how often, rather than sticking to a strict number.

If your 5-month-old is showing real interest but you're not sure she has all the readiness signs, it's worth checking with your doctor or a public health nurse before starting. Waiting a few extra weeks until closer to 6 months is generally recommended and won't cause any harm.