🥄 Starting Solids: A Parent’s Guide to Baby’s First Foods

Watching your baby take their first bites is one of those unforgettable milestones—messy, adorable, and full of discovery. But it can also come with plenty of questions. When should you start? What should you offer first? How do you keep it safe and enjoyable? Here’s a simple, evidence‑informed guide to help parents feel confident as they begin this new chapter.

🌱 When Are Babies Ready for Solids?

Most babies show signs of readiness around 6 months, though every child develops at their own pace. Instead of watching the calendar, look for developmental cues such as:

•             Sitting with minimal support

•             Good head and neck control

•             Showing interest in your food

•             Opening their mouth when food approaches

•             Losing the tongue‑thrust reflex (not automatically pushing food out)

These signs tell you your baby is ready to explore—not replace—breast milk or formula, which remain their main source of nutrition through the first year.

🥑 What Should Baby Eat First?

There’s no single “perfect” first food. What matters most is offering nutrient‑dense, simple foods that help babies learn flavors and textures. Many families start with:

🥣 Iron‑rich foods

Iron stores begin to dip around 6 months, so foods like these are great early options:

•             Iron‑fortified infant cereals

•             Pureed meats (chicken, turkey, beef)

•             Mashed beans or lentils

🥕 Vegetables

Mild flavors help babies learn to enjoy veggies early on:

•             Sweet potatoes

•             Carrots

•             Squash

•             Green beans

🍐 Fruits

Soft, naturally sweet, and easy to digest:

•             Pears

•             Apples

•             Bananas

•             Peaches

🥜 Potential allergens

Introducing common allergens early—like peanut, egg, dairy, wheat, and fish—can help reduce the chance of developing allergies later. These should be introduced one at a time and in safe, baby‑friendly forms (e.g., thinned peanut butter, well‑cooked egg). Parents should always follow general safety guidance and talk with their pediatric clinician if they have concerns.

🥄 How to Introduce New Foods

✔️ Start slow

Offer 1–2 teaspoons at first. Babies may only take a few bites—and that’s okay. This stage is about exploration.

✔️ One new food at a time

Wait a couple of days before introducing something new. This helps you notice any reactions.

✔️ Keep textures appropriate

Begin with smooth purees or soft mashed foods. As your baby grows, gradually increase texture to help them learn to chew.

✔️ Follow baby’s cues

If they turn their head, close their mouth, or push food away, they’re telling you they’re done.

🧂 Foods to Avoid in the First Year

Some foods are best saved for later because they pose safety or developmental risks:

•             Honey

•             Whole nuts or large chunks of nut butter

•             Popcorn, whole grapes, hot dog rounds, or other choking hazards

•             Added salt or sugar

•             Cow’s milk as a drink (though yogurt and cheese are fine in small amounts)

🥰 Make It Fun and Stress‑Free

Starting solids is meant to be joyful. Babies learn through play—squishing, smearing, and tasting. Mess is part of the process. Sit together, smile, talk about the food, and let your baby explore at their own pace.

🌟 The Big Picture

Every baby’s feeding journey is unique. Some dive right in; others take their time. What matters most is creating a positive, pressure‑free environment where your child can learn to enjoy food and develop healthy habits.

If you ever have questions about readiness, feeding approaches, or food safety, the team at Beaches Pediatrics is always here to support you.