Starting Solids! The Ultimate Guide Plus Tips for Your Baby’s Food Journey!

Don't forget to share!

Starting Solids

Starting solids is an exciting milestone for baby and parents, as it marks a new stage in your baby’s development!

Whether your infant has been exclusively nursed or has been introduced to formula, starting solids signifies the beginning of their journey with solid food. It is one that will likely impact their eating habits and food choices throughout their life.

When to Start Solids

When to start solids is a decision that is unique to each family. Timing should depend on your child’s developmental level, your comfort and your pediatrician’s guidance.

In general, most pediatrician’s recommend starting solid foods between 4 and 6 months, and once your baby is showing signs of readiness.

Readiness is determined by your baby’s ability to do the following:

• Sit up unassisted
• Hold their head up independently
• Shows interest in solid food (leaning towards, reaching for or smacking their lips when you are eating, for example)

Speak to your pediatrician for guidance on when may be the right time for your little one to start eating solid food.

If this is your first child or you have no idea where to start, I advise doing some of your own research to increase your comfort level, knowledge of first aid practices, and guidance on how to begin and what can be introduced.

Making the Decision to Start Solids

Our daughter was offered exclusively breastmilk from birth, so I wanted to learn as much as possible about starting solids before we transitioned to that stage.

Based on the guidance of our pediatrician, we chose to continue breastfeeding only until 6 months because she was growing well. She was showing signs of readiness for eating prior to that, however, we opted to start solid foods exactly at 6 months.

Preparing to Start Solid Foods

I began my research by exploring books, websites and other reputable sources about starting solids. Check out my Instagram or Facebook page where I share some of these frequently in posts.

As a child, I was introduced to solid food by eating puréed fruits and vegetables, and always thought this was the sole direction that could be taken with babies.

The purée approach appears to still be the most popular way to start, however, I started reading about another approach that seemed to have gained popularity in recent years.

Baby led weaning (BLW), seems to be very popular in the United Kingdom and has steadily gained popularity North America and around the world more recently. Much of the information I reviewed talks about the perceived benefits for babies and families, which we will discuss further below.

Let’s explore both options, before I discuss which of the two approaches we chose for our family.

Solid Food Approaches

Purées

Purées describe a method of preparing foods for your baby that involves a process of steaming, roasting, boiling or mashing whole fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. to create a purée or paste that is easier and safer for the baby to consume.

Babies who are offered purées are fed the prepared purée by the parent, with little effort on their part, until they are able to feed themselves.

What they are

Traditionally, it has been customary for babies to start solids by eating purées; steamed, roasted boiled vegetables, fruits, meats that are then mashed or blended, and thinned out with water or breast milk.

Homemade or Purchased

Purées can be homemade by preparing whole fruits and vegetables to a consistency that is easy for baby to consume (thinner at a younger age, and thicker as they gain comfort with foods).

You may also choose to opt for store bought purées. This can be a convenient option if you are pressed for time or don’t like to cook. There is a wide range of selection when it comes to store bought purées: jars, pouches, packs in a variety of flavours and consistencies.

How they are Consumed

Babies are commonly spoon fed by the parent or even fed directly from the pouch at first, and can eventually feed themselves once they gain proficiency with cutlery.

The Benefits

Some of the most cited benefits of the puree approach include:

• Food can be easily prepared in advance, frozen and stored for quick access.
• Soft and easy consistency for babies to consume.
• Less perceived risk of choking hazards.
• Large variety of store bought options.

Some popular puréed food options to start solids with include:

• Sweet potato
• Avocado
• Carrots
• Squash
• Peas
• Cereals (rice, oat, whole grain and other varieties)
• Banana
• Pear

Baby Led Weaning (BLW)

 

The premise of baby led weaning is just that, babies are the leaders and determine how much and what they choose to eat from finger foods and bite sized softened foods that are offered by the parent. It is the parent’s job to select the food and offer it to baby, and it is the baby’s role to decide what and how they eat it.

How they Eat

Instead of parents spoon feeding your baby, babies will eat with their hands so that they have the opportunity to manipulate the food. It is really a sensory experience. They can touch, smell and taste their foods in the process.

The baby will eventually utilize cutlery, similar to with the pureed approach, however in the beginning, grasping, holding and eating finger foods should be encouraged. Parents can also preload spoons for baby early on and allow them to practice self-feeding.

Of course, parents should always supervise the baby and be there for support to spoon feed when necessary, but babies are encouraged to get as interactive with their food and lead the process as possible.

What it is

Baby led weaning (BLW) encourages parents to expose babies to foods of varying textures and shapes from the beginning of their solids journey. Rather than starting with only puréed food, babies are exposed to finger foods or food prepared in small bites.

Homemade or Purchased

Similar to the purée approach, you can opt for both homemade or purchased options. With this approach, preparation is the most important consideration. How food is sliced or chopped and it’s consistency are the key to ensuring babies can manage eating without issue or minimize safety concerns.

How they are Prepared

Food should be prepared in such a way that the baby can pick it up with their hands, and manipulate on their own.

Parents are encouraged to give the baby table foods or whatever they are eating, just in smaller and sometimes softer portions. Food can be seasoned as you would normally prepare your own foods, however, it is recommended that salt be omitted for babies for at least the first year.

Minimizing Safety Risks

As I mentioned above, how food is served to your baby is one of the most important factors for minimizing safety and choking hazards in the BLW approach.

During my research I came across some great online guides and websites that provide helpful information on how to prepare and select BLW foods that are safe for baby.

For example, babies should not be given round fruits like grapes or corn kernels, however, grapes can be cut into long thin slices and corn on the cob is an example of a resistive stick that can be given to baby to chew from directly. You can learn more about resistive sticks and food teethers for babies, here.

The Benefits

Some of the most cited benefits of the puree approach include:

• Babies can eat what you’re eating, minimizing the need to buy or prepare different foods for your baby.
• It is believed that BLW promotes less picky eaters, because babies have a choice in what and how much they are eating.
• Believed to reduce over eating.
• It helps to develop the pincer grasp because babies get exposure to using their hands and fingers to pick up and put food in their mouths.
• Encourages a wide variety of food options for your baby.

Some popular pureed food options to start solids with include:

• Stalks of broccoli
• Pieces of softened carrot, potato, squash
• Corn on the cob
• Softened beans, peas
• Mango pits
• Toast
• Shredded meats (chicken, fish, beef, etc.)

Which Approach is Best: Purees vs. BLW

The best approach for starting solids is whichever works for your family! You can experiment with both, or choose the one that best suits your lifestyle.

You can also consult your pediatrician or a dietician for guidance, particularly if your little one has dietary concerns or has had difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.

Some things to consider when making your choice:

• Your baby’s individual development
• Your schedule
• Your budget
• What makes you comfortable – for example, many parents choose purées because of the texture.

How Often and How Much Should Babies Eat Solid Foods?

Now that we have discussed when babies can start solids, and what approach may work for your family, let’s move on to how often babies should consume solid foods.

Remember, at this stage of baby’s development, solid foods are complimentary. Breast milk or formula should remain your baby’s main source of nutrition until they are at least one year old. For this reason, you will continue to feed your baby milk or formula, even after you start solids.

You can adjust the quantity or timing of feeds depending on baby’s fullness and their daily schedule.

How Often

It is recommend that baby can start out with solids once per day initially, and work up to twice a day after they have been exposed to solids for a month or two.

By the time they reach one year, baby can have solids at least 3 times per day.

By 9-12 months, some babies will also enjoy a snack or two in between meals, and in addition to their milk or formula, which should still be continued.

How Much

I’m terms of how much baby should be eating, it is recommended that baby can begin with approximately 2-4tbs of solid food, working up to 4-8tbs by 9 months of age. Several guides on this can be found online, or speak with your pediatrician to discuss your child’s specific needs.

Allow your baby to determine how much they want to eat at each meal, and gradually allow them to increase their intake. It is not recommended to force feed baby or ensure that they finish every bit of food on their plate, if they signal that they are ready to stop.

Some research has indicated that this has been shown to lead to more picky eating, food refusal and poor relationships with food later in life (i.e. eating disorders and obesity).

Restrictions: What Can You Not Feed Your Baby

Babies can eat a wide range of foods that are prepared in a way that is safe for their consumption, with the exception of honey, which shouldn’t be offered to baby until after the 1st year because of the risk of botulism.

Highly processed food should be avoided, as well as unpasteurized dairy products, undercooked eggs, whole nuts, added sugar and salt.

Contrary to popular belief babies can consume pasteurized dairy products made from cow’s milk in the first year, although drinking cow’s milk shouldn’t begin until after their first birthday.

Previously, it was believed that foods that were high risk for allergies should be avoided during an infant’s first year, however, research now indicates that this is not the case. In fact, many pediatricians support exposing babies to allergens early on to determine their reaction. This should be done safely, under your supervision and with allergy medication on hand, in the event of an adverse reaction. Common allergens include: eggs, wheat, dairy, peanuts, soy.

Otherwise, have fun experimenting with different options.

Websites like ‘Solid Starts‘ is a great place to help you determine at what stage babies can be offered different foods and how they should be offered at each stage. We found their database extremely helpful during our first year.

How to Start Solid Foods

Choose a day and time when baby is awake and alert. If the first go isn’t a success, don’t be discouraged, and try again later or the following day.

Prepare food in advance, and get any tools you need ready and have them close by. Place your baby in their highchair (it is great to practice this before their first meal if possible to help determine their readiness to sit and hold their head up).

Pediatricians recommend exposing babies to a new food one at a time in order to test for reactions. When starting out, you should offer the same food a few days in a row before starting a new food. Once you have determined baby’s response to various foods, you can offer them in conjunction with others.

Finally, depending on your approach, just jump in! Have fun with it, keep calm if your baby doesn’t love it at first. remember to take lots of pictures!

Our Journey with Starting Solid Foods

We began our solid foods journey with mainly purees, and a few BLW style finger foods. Some of the first things we tried were whole grain cereals, sweet potato, avocado, carrot, banana and pear. We tried to have fun with it and follow our daughter’s lead.

We stuck with fruit, vegetables, egg, some dairy and whole grain for the first 3 months. Around the 9 month mark added meats (chicken, fish, beef) and pretty much everything else. We avoid sugar, sweets and junk food of course.

At about 8 months old she seemed to gravitate towards baby led weaning. She preferred finger foods over purees, only wanted to use her hands to eat or self-feed with her silicone spoon. She hated being spoon fed by us.

Around this time, we started serving her mainly finger foods. We would at times add in some softer purees and foods as dips. She also began really enjoying yogurt and softer cheeses with her meals.

Snacks were added in around the 9 months mark. She enjoys fruit and vegetables, crackers, yogurt and other organic baby snacks.

Some days are messier than others, but I always try to remain calm and relaxed around her while she’s eating, and simply enjoy the journey!

Raising a Healthy Eater

Now that my daughter is over a year old, we have had the opportunity to experiment with both food approaches. We have tried out different devices and products, and gotten a feel for what she does and doesn’t enjoy.

For the most part she is a great eater! She is very adventurous and likes trying different tastes and textures. She is mastering self-feeding, opting to use her hands some days or her cutlery on others.

I have compiled the most helpful information based on our experience over the six plus months into tips for you!

Tips for Success when Starting Solids!

 

1. DO explore different food choices so that your baby gets a variety of colours, textures and flavours from early on.

 

Exposure to a variety of foods encourages your baby to experiment with new flavours, shapes and tastes. This allows them to diversify their preferences, and hopefully will limit pickiness in the future.

We made it our goal to try to explore as many foods as possible within our daughter’s first year. The more foods they are exposed to within their first year, the better, and the more likely they will develop a palate for a variety of different foods later in life!

2. DO try to eat when baby is eating so that they can model you and interact with the family during meal times.

 

Try to normalize eating and food time habits by sharing meals with your infant. The more your baby is exposed to you and others in your household during mealtimes the better!

This is a great opportunity for them to have a chance to pick up on table habits, such as the proper use of cutlery, how to chew, and other table etiquette.

Remember, children learn by modeling, and you are the best model they have!

3. DO experiment with a variety of flavours and seasoning.

Don’t be afraid to use seasoning and a variety of flavours in their food. My daughter loves different flavours, from curries to garlic, to warm spices and other strong flavoured foods.

The only way you will learn their preferences is to experiment, so have fun and don’t be afraid to try new things.

The only things that should be avoided during the first year or two are salt, unpasteurized dairy and added sugar. The recommendation for sugar is to try to feed baby natural sugars (like those in fruits) or other snacks or foods with no more than 1 gram of added sugar.

4. DO allow babies to play with their food.

Starting solids can get really messy! In fact, meal time throughout infancy and toddlerhood is messy, and that isn’t a bad thing. Little ones need time and freedom to touch, smell, taste, squish, grab and play with their food in order to learn about it. Eating at this age should really be a sensory experience.

I was often reminded that eating from 6-12 months really isn’t about nourishment, but is instead about experimenting with food in order to help your baby to learn how to eat. So, let them have fun with it! Learn to tolerate mess and enjoy making memories!

5. DO stay calm during feeding time.

It’s easy to get frustrated when you baby isn’t eating as you think they should or is making a big mess. At the end of the day remember that they are learning.

One thing that I have been reminded of many times during my daughter’s first year is that little ones feed off of your energy. If they see you upset or sense your frustration, it can make the situation worse. So try to stay calm and positive during meal time, as much as possible.

6. DO have allergy medication on hand, just in case.

Keep your home and diaper bag stocked with allergy medication in case your baby has an adverse reaction to a food. It is always better to be prepared. Contact your pediatrician or local hospital for assistance in the event of an adverse reaction.

7. DO always supervise your child while eating.

Even as your little one’s eating skills develop, be sure to ALWAYS supervise your little one when they are consuming food.

Try to avoid having your child eating while moving, playing or talking to minimize risks.

8. DO choose products and gadgets that benefit your little one’s development and make the journey easier.

It’s easy to get caught up and buy a bunch of products when your infant first starts eating solids. I will be honest with you, half of them you probably don’t need, but some may be very helpful.

Take some time to learn what works best for your family and what you and baby prefer. I have shared some of our favourites below.

9. DON’T panic as soon as you see baby gagging or coughing while eating.

 

Take the time to learn safety practices regarding eating and choking prior to starting solids. You will often encounter a baby who gags, coughs or spits out food. This is usually due to their reflexes and them learning to eat rather than them choking, but it is important that you know the difference.

There are many in person or online courses that teach food safety and first aid and can offer great warning signs and how to respond if and when your baby is showing signs of choking.

10. DON’T be discouraged or give up on certain foods.

 

Your baby may not like every food you feed them, especially at first. Don’t let this discourage you or make you stop giving them certain foods when they first start out.

Research indicates that it sometimes takes over 10 offerings of a certain food for babies to tolerate them. So offer them the same foods on different days and in different ways, for example, you may offer sweet potato mashed, cubed, baked as tots or in air fried.

Our Favourite Products for Starting Solids

*In this post I share affiliate links to products that we use in our home. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It is how I keep this site running, and provide you with informative posts and recommendations. You can read my full disclosure here.

Initially, I was overwhelmed by the amount of different products on the market for solids. I wasn’t sure what we actually needed, and what was unnecessary.

After purchasing some basics, and others along the way. Some were a great help, almost vital for us, while others have barely been out of the cupboard once.

Below, I share some of my top recommendations for products that we used from 6 to 12 months, and beyond. I have included the brands that we have used, but you may opt for another that works best for your family.

High Chair

Our model is the Graco DLX 6-in-1 Highchair which can be converted into a booster seat or toddler chair when your infant is older. It has various height settings that we find very useful. It is great for traveling because you can opt to bring along the entire unit, which folds, or remove the top portion which can attach to any chair.

I like it because it can be use from infancy into childhood, and has an adjustable seat which can recline or sit straight. It also has an adjustable foot rest which is important for your growing little one.

 

Silicone Bibs

Silicone bibs are essential in my opinion. They help to catch all the little bits that fall out of your baby’s mouth or plate, and minimize cleaning. They are easy to wash and store.

Cutlery

Baby cutlery is recommended regardless of which approach you choose to experiment with. Although your little one likely won’t use them correctly for some time, introducing them to cutlery early on can help them to practice their pincer grasp. It assists with mouth mapping, and encourages them to learn the proper use for these devices sooner.

At 6 months, we introduced a silicone set to our daughter. When she was closer to 12 months, we opted for a metal and silicone set.

Suction Divider Plates (BPA free)

There are many varieties of plates and bowls available. We preferred bpa free divider plates with suction. Babies love to lift up their plates and explore them while eating. The suction made these a lot easier to minimize some of the mess and chaos during meal times. Here are a couple that we experimented with:

 

Snack Bowls and Cups

When my daughter reached about 10 months old and started enjoying snacks in between meals, these snack bowls and cups became so important in our house.

She is a very independent eater, so we found these covered versions helpful to place her snacks in and allow her to take what she liked, without creating a huge mess.

Silicone Open-Face Cup

From 6 months old you can introduce a drinking cup to your baby to help them start to learn the mechanics of drinking from an open face cup.

The general recommendation is that by 12 months your baby should be transitioned away from drinking from a bottle, and introduced to other types of cups (open face, sippy cups, etc.). Introducing different cups from the 6 month mark is encouraged, as it helps them to gain the skills required during the 6-9 months period, when it is believed it is easier than after the 12 month mark.

Baby Food Steamer and Blender

This is not a necessity but has definitely made home preparation of foods much quicker and easier in our household.

We use the Beaba Babycook Express steamer and blender in one, which steams then purees foods in one device in a short period of time. Now that we rarely make purees, the machine is still helpful to quickly steam fruits and veggies for quick meals.

It is great for making batches of baby food, which can then be stored and frozen for quick access.

 

Silicone Feeder

These silicone feeders are great for starting solids, especially fruits and veggies, before your baby has mastered grasping and holding them on their own.

Our daughter enjoyed eating soft fruit in these, and they put our mind at ease that she wouldn’t break off too large of a piece or swallow a big chunk.

They are particularly helpful for fruit with small seeds, such as guava or soursop, which she really enjoys.

Infant and Toddler Cups

We introduced various cups to our daughter after 6 months to help her gain skills and practice using different types.

These were particularly great for excursions and travelling to help her avoid spills. We tried drinking cups with straws, 360 cups and cups with spouts.

Here are some of our favourites:

Where We Are Now with Solid Foods

Currently, at just over a year old, my daughter eats like a pro. She still loves self feeding with her hands, but gets better at using her cutlery every day. Her preferences include fruits and vegetables, beans of any kind, soup and rice dishes.

 

She loves chicken, fish, plain Greek yogurt and has recently become a fan of grilled cheese made with wholegrain bread.

She is always up for trying something new when we go out to eat. Indian seems to be her favourite so far!

My hope is that she continues to explore and try different foods as she grows.

Disclaimer

I am not a Dietician or Pediatrician, just a Mama who has done her personal research and wishes to share my experience of what worked for our family.

I encourage you to do your own research. Speak with professionals and seek guidance to determine what might work best for you.

Final Thoughts

Starting solids with your baby can be both a fun and overwhelming time. I hope that this post has given you some insight into what starting solids entails. Remember, the goal is to help them gaining the skills required to self-feed and develop a lifelong love of eating.

As a Psychotherapist, I give a lot of thought to how early exposure to new things will later impact us. Overall, I encourage you to remain calm and positive. Try to have fun with your little one’s solids journey in an effort to help them build a positive relationship with food.

I Would Love to Connect With You

I would love to hear about your experience with starting solids with your baby. Share any tips, suggestions or experiences in the comments for other Mamas, or feel free to leave any questions! You can also connect with me here.

Be sure to check out my other posts related to pregnancy, babies, motherhood and self-care, here.

Don't forget to share!