Introducing solid foods is an exciting milestone in your baby's development. This transition complements breastmilk or formula, which remains your baby's primary source of nutrition throughout the first year. With the right approach, you can help your baby develop healthy eating habits and explore new tastes and textures safely.

When to Start Solids

Most health organizations recommend introducing solid foods around 6 months of age. Look for these developmental signs of readiness:

• Head control - Baby can hold their head steady in an upright position
• Sitting ability - Baby can sit with minimal support
• Diminished tongue-thrust reflex - Baby no longer automatically pushes food out with their tongue
• Interest in food - Baby watches others eat, opens mouth when food approaches, or reaches for food
• Hand-mouth coordination - Baby can bring objects to their mouth
• Weight - Baby has doubled their birth weight (typically around 13 pounds)

First Foods: What to Offer

The traditional approach begins with single-ingredient purees, while newer approaches might include appropriate finger foods from the start:

• Iron-rich foods - Prioritize these since iron stores from birth deplete around 6 months:
  • Iron-fortified infant cereals
  • Pureed meat or poultry
  • Mashed cooked egg yolk
  • Pureed beans or lentils
• Vegetables - Consider starting with less sweet options:
  • Avocado
  • Sweet potato
  • Peas
  • Carrots
  • Squash
• Fruits - Easy to digest options include:
  • Banana
  • Applesauce
  • Pear
  • Peach

The First Feeding: How to Start

Setting up for success makes those initial feedings more enjoyable:

• Timing - Choose a time when:
  • Baby is alert but not too hungry or tired
  • You're not rushed
  • Baby has had a small breastmilk or formula feed (completely hungry babies may get frustrated)
• Position - Ensure baby is:
  • Sitting upright in a highchair or supported seat
  • Facing forward
  • At table height if possible
• Utensils - Use:
  • Soft-tipped spoons designed for babies
  • Small, shallow bowls
  • Bibs with catch pockets
• Amount - Start with:
  • 1-2 teaspoons of food
  • Just one new food at a time
• Approach - Keep it positive:
  • Maintain eye contact
  • Smile and use encouraging language
  • Allow baby to touch and explore food
  • Don't force feeding if baby shows disinterest

Food Progression and Schedule

A general timeline for introducing textures and increasing variety:

• 6 months (beginning)
  • Consistency: Thin, smooth purees
  • Frequency: Once daily, 1-2 tablespoons
  • Focus: Single-ingredient foods, waiting 3-5 days between new foods to watch for reactions
• 6-7 months
  • Consistency: Thicker purees, very soft mashed foods
  • Frequency: 1-2 times daily, 2-4 tablespoons per meal
  • Focus: Expanding variety of single foods
• 7-8 months
  • Consistency: Mashed foods with soft lumps, soft finger foods
  • Frequency: 2-3 times daily, 4-6 tablespoons per meal
  • Focus: Introducing simple combinations of previously tolerated foods
• 8-10 months
  • Consistency: Ground or finely chopped foods, more finger foods
  • Frequency: 3 meals daily plus snacks, increasing portions
  • Focus: More complex textures and food combinations
• 10-12 months
  • Consistency: Chopped table foods, appropriate finger foods
  • Frequency: 3 meals daily plus 1-2 snacks
  • Focus: Moving toward family foods with modifications as needed

Foods to Avoid in the First Year

Certain foods pose safety or nutritional concerns for babies:

• Honey - Risk of infant botulism before 12 months
• Cow's milk as a beverage - Can cause intestinal bleeding and doesn't meet nutritional needs (though yogurt and cheese are typically fine after 6 months)
• Unpasteurized foods - Including raw milk products and certain soft cheeses
• High-mercury fish - Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish
• High-choking-risk foods -
  • Whole nuts and seeds
  • Popcorn
  • Raw hard vegetables
  • Whole grapes and cherry tomatoes (can be quartered)
  • Hot dogs/sausages (can be cut into small pieces)
  • Sticky nut butters in large amounts
  • Hard candies and cough drops
• Added salt and sugar - Babies' kidneys can't handle much sodium, and early sugar exposure may shape later preferences

Allergen Introduction

Current research supports early introduction of potential allergens to reduce allergy risk:

• Common food allergens to introduce one at a time:
  • Eggs (well-cooked)
  • Peanut products (thinned smooth peanut butter or peanut powder)
  • Tree nuts (as butter or finely ground)
  • Soy
  • Dairy (yogurt, cheese)
  • Wheat
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Sesame
• Timing - Current guidelines suggest introducing allergens as early as 4-6 months for high-risk infants
• Method - Start with a small amount (¼ teaspoon) in the morning, and gradually increase if no reaction occurs
• Observation period - Watch for signs of reaction for 2-3 days before introducing another allergen
• High-risk babies - Consult your pediatrician before introducing allergens if your baby has severe eczema or an existing food allergy

Responsive Feeding Practices

Building healthy eating patterns through attunement to your baby's cues:

• Recognize hunger and fullness - Watch for cues:
  • Hunger: Opening mouth, leaning forward, excitement at sight of food
  • Fullness: Turning away, closing mouth, playing with food, decreased interest
• Follow your baby's lead - Respect when they want more or are finished
• Division of responsibility - Parents decide what, when, and where to offer foods; baby decides whether and how much to eat
• Avoid pressure - Don't coax, bribe, or use distractions to get your baby to eat more
• Make mealtimes pleasant - Maintain a positive atmosphere without screens or major distractions

Self-Feeding Skills

Supporting your baby's growing independence with food:

• Pre-feeding skills (4-6 months) -
  • Reaching for spoons
  • Bringing hands to mouth
  • Mouthing objects
• Early self-feeding (6-8 months) -
  • Palmar grasp (whole hand) to pick up food
  • Hand-to-mouth coordination
  • Munching motion with jaw
  • Appropriate first finger foods: soft fruit strips, cooked vegetable sticks, toast fingers, well-cooked pasta
• Developing skills (8-10 months) -
  • Pincer grasp development (thumb and forefinger)
  • Improved hand-eye coordination
  • Interest in utensils
  • Good foods for practice: small soft cubes of fruit, peas, small pasta shapes, shredded meat
• Advanced skills (10-12 months) -
  • Refined pincer grasp
  • Beginning to use spoon (with assistance)
  • Drinking from a cup (with help)
  • More varied textures and self-feeding opportunities

Food Preparation and Storage

Practical tips for preparing baby food efficiently and safely:

• Homemade purees -
  • Steam or bake vegetables and fruits to preserve nutrients
  • Puree using a blender, food processor, or immersion blender
  • Add liquid (water, breastmilk, or formula) to achieve desired consistency
• Batch cooking -
  • Prepare large batches and freeze in ice cube trays or small containers
  • Once frozen, transfer cubes to labeled freezer bags
  • Thaw in refrigerator overnight or using warm water bath
• Food safety -
  • Refrigerate prepared baby food for up to 48 hours
  • Freeze homemade baby food for 1-3 months
  • Never refreeze thawed baby food
  • Discard any food that has been in contact with baby's saliva
• Commercial baby foods -
  • Check expiration dates
  • Look for options without added salt, sugar, or fillers
  • Follow package instructions for storage after opening

When to Be Concerned

Consult your pediatrician if you notice:

• Persistent gagging or choking beyond the initial introduction period
• Signs of allergic reaction (rash, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of face or lips, difficulty breathing)
• Consistent refusal of solid foods beyond 8 months
• Difficulty progressing to textured foods by 9-10 months
• Poor growth or weight gain despite adequate food intake
• Significant constipation or changes in stool patterns