A Big Milestone for Your Little One
Starting solids is one of the most exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking) milestones for parents. One day, your baby is solely relying on milk, and the next, you’re wondering if they’re ready for baby’s first foods.
Will they like avocado? Should you try purees or baby-led weaning? What if they make a huge mess (spoiler: they will!)?
If you’re feeling excited but unsure, don’t worry—you’re not alone! This beginner’s guide will walk you through when and how to introduce solid foods, what to expect, and how to make the process fun and stress-free for both you and your baby.
1. When Is Your Baby Ready for Solid Foods?
Every baby is different, but most are ready to start solids around 6 months old. Here are some key signs of readiness:
✔️ Sitting up with little or no support
✔️ Good head and neck control
✔️ Showing interest in food (reaching, grabbing, or watching you eat)
✔️ Losing the tongue-thrust reflex (so they don’t automatically push food out of their mouth)
If your baby checks these boxes, they might be ready to explore their first tastes of solid food!
📌 Pro Tip: Always check with your pediatrician before introducing new foods, especially if your baby was born prematurely or has health concerns.
2. What Should You Start With?
The best first foods for babies are soft, easy-to-digest, and packed with nutrients.
Great First Food Options:
🥑 Avocado – Creamy, nutrient-rich, and easy to mash
🍠 Sweet Potato – Naturally sweet and packed with vitamins
🍎 Applesauce – A gentle introduction to fruit
🥦 Steamed Broccoli – Perfect for baby-led weaning
🍚 Iron-Fortified Oatmeal or Rice Cereal – A traditional starter
Texture Tip: Start with smooth purees and gradually move to mashed, soft chunks, and finger foods as your baby develops chewing skills.
3. Purees or Baby-Led Weaning? Which Method Is Best?
There are two common ways to introduce solid foods:
🥄 Traditional Spoon-Feeding (Purees)
✔️ Parents control portion sizes
✔️ Great for introducing a variety of flavors
✔️ Works well if your baby prefers smooth textures
How to do it: Use a soft, baby-friendly spoon (like the Little Grubbers 3-in-1 Baby Spoon™) to gently offer small amounts of puree.
✋ Baby-Led Weaning (BLW)
✔️ Encourages self-feeding
✔️ Helps babies develop chewing & motor skills
✔️ Lets baby explore textures on their own
How to do it: Offer soft, graspable pieces of food (like steamed carrot sticks or banana chunks) and let your baby pick them up and explore.
📌 Pro Tip: You don’t have to choose just one! Many parents combine purees and finger foods to let their baby explore different textures.
4. How Often Should Babies Eat Solids?
At first, your baby will only eat a few teaspoons once a day—that’s completely normal!
Here’s a simple schedule to follow:
🔹 6-7 months: Start with one meal per day (after a milk feeding)
🔹 8-9 months: Increase to two meals per day
🔹 10-12 months: Offer three small meals per day
Milk Still Matters! At this stage, breast milk or formula should still be the primary source of nutrition, with solids as a fun introduction to eating.
5. What About Allergies?
Introducing allergenic foods early (around 6 months) may help reduce the risk of allergies later on.
🌰 Common allergenic foods to introduce carefully:
🥜 Peanut butter (thinned with water or breast milk)
🥚 Scrambled eggs
🐟 Flaked fish
🍞 Wheat products
Try one new food at a time, waiting 3-5 days before adding another, so you can watch for reactions like rashes, vomiting, or swelling.
📌 Pro Tip: If your family has a history of food allergies, consult your pediatrician before introducing allergenic foods.
6. Making Mealtime Stress-Free and Fun
✔️ Let Your Baby Take the Lead – Follow their hunger and fullness cues. If they turn away, they may be done!
✔️ Expect (and Embrace) the Mess – Babies learn by touching, squishing, and exploring food. A good bib and a grippy, easy-to-hold spoon can help!
✔️ Make It a Social Experience – Eat together as a family so your baby can watch and learn from you.
✔️ Be Patient – Some babies take to solids quickly, while others need time. Keep offering new foods, even if they reject them at first!
7. Final Thoughts: Enjoy the Journey!
Starting solids is a huge step in your baby’s development, and it should be fun, messy, and full of exploration! By following your baby’s cues, offering a variety of flavors, and keeping mealtime stress-free, you’ll set them up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.
💡 Want to make self-feeding easier? Check out the Little Grubbers 3-in-1 Baby Spoon™, designed to help babies grip, scoop, and self-feed with confidence!
What’s Your Baby’s Favorite First Food?
Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear about your baby’s first food experience. 😊🍽✨