How to start your baby on solid foods including readiness signs, first foods to try, allergen introduction timelines, feeding schedules, choking hazard awareness, and equipment you will need.
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Signs of Readiness
Confirm the baby can sit upright with minimal support
Good head and neck control is essential to prevent choking. The baby should be able to sit in a high chair without slumping to one side. Most babies achieve this between 5-6 months.
Watch for the tongue thrust reflex to disappear
Babies are born with a reflex that pushes foreign objects out of the mouth. When this fades (usually around 4-6 months), the baby can move food to the back of the mouth for swallowing. Test by offering a tiny amount of puree on a spoon.
Look for interest in food — reaching, staring, or opening mouth when you eat
Curiosity about food is a strong readiness sign but should not be the only factor. Wait until the baby shows at least 3 of the readiness signs. Starting too early (before 4 months) is linked to higher obesity risk later.
Confirm with your pediatrician that the baby is ready at the 6-month visit
Your pediatrician will assess growth, development, and feeding patterns. Most major pediatric organizations recommend starting solids around 6 months, though some babies are ready between 4 and 6 months with medical guidance.
First Foods (Weeks 1-4)
Start with single-ingredient purees offered one at a time
Begin with 1-2 tablespoons of one food for 3-5 days before introducing the next. This spacing helps you identify any allergic reactions. Sweet potato, avocado, banana, and peas are good first options with mild flavors.
Offer iron-rich foods early since iron stores from birth deplete around 6 months
Iron-fortified infant cereal, pureed meat, lentils, and beans are all good sources. Babies need about 11 mg of iron per day from 6-12 months — that's more than an adult male. Pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources to boost absorption by 2-3 times.
Keep breast milk or formula as the primary nutrition source
Solids are a complement, not a replacement, for the first few months. Continue offering breast milk or formula before solids until around 9 months, then gradually shift to offering solids first. Aim for 24-32 ounces of formula or 4-6 nursing sessions per day.
Offer water in a small open cup starting with meals
A few sips of water (1-2 ounces) with meals is enough at 6 months. Use a small open cup or straw cup to practice. Babies do not need juice — it adds sugar without nutritional benefit. Water should not replace milk feeds.
Allergen Introduction (Weeks 2-8)
Introduce peanut protein early, between 6-8 months
Research shows that early peanut introduction reduces allergy risk by up to 80%. Mix 2 teaspoons of smooth peanut butter with breast milk, formula, or pureed fruit. Never give whole peanuts to babies — they're a choking hazard until age 4+.
Introduce egg, dairy, wheat, soy, and fish within the first 2 months of starting solids
Offer each allergen separately and wait 2-3 days between new ones. Give a small amount first (about 1/4 teaspoon), then increase over 3 exposures if no reaction occurs. Serve allergens 2-3 times per week to maintain tolerance.
Know the signs of an allergic reaction and have a plan
Mild reactions include hives, rash, or vomiting within 2 hours of eating. Severe reactions (anaphylaxis) involve difficulty breathing, facial swelling, or throat tightness and require calling 911 immediately. Most reactions appear within 30 minutes.
Introduce tree nuts and shellfish between 6-12 months
Tree nut butters (almond, cashew) can be thinned and mixed into purees just like peanut butter. For shellfish, finely minced or pureed shrimp is a good starting point. These are among the top 9 allergens and should not be delayed.
Feeding Schedule Progression
Start with 1 meal per day for the first 2-4 weeks
Pick a time when the baby is alert and not overly hungry — mid-morning works well for many families. Keep early meals to 5-10 minutes. Stop when the baby turns their head away, closes their mouth, or pushes the spoon away.
Increase to 2 meals per day by month 7-8
Add a second meal at a different time of day, such as lunch if you started with breakfast. Each meal should be about 2-4 tablespoons of food. Offer a variety of colors and textures to build acceptance of different foods.
Move to 3 meals plus 1-2 snacks per day by month 9-10
By 9-10 months, babies should be eating a wide variety of textures including mashed, minced, and soft finger foods. Total solid food intake is typically 4-8 tablespoons per meal. Continue breast milk or formula as the main beverage.
Choking Prevention and Baby-Led Weaning
Learn the difference between gagging and choking
Gagging is loud, the baby is coughing and may turn red — this is a normal protective reflex. Choking is silent, the baby cannot cry or cough, and their face may turn blue. Know infant CPR before starting solids. Review the procedure every 6 months.
Avoid high-risk choking foods until age-appropriate
Whole grapes, hot dog rounds, popcorn, whole nuts, raw carrots, large chunks of meat, and sticky spoons of nut butter are the most dangerous. Cut round foods lengthwise into strips. Grapes should be quartered until age 4.
If doing baby-led weaning, cut food into finger-sized strips the baby can grip
BLW foods should be about the size and shape of an adult finger — long enough for the baby to hold with some sticking out of their fist. Foods must be soft enough to squish between your thumb and forefinger. Always supervise every bite.
Equipment and Supplies
Get a high chair with a 5-point harness and a footrest
A footrest improves stability and chewing ability — dangling feet can reduce a baby's focus on eating. The tray should be at chest height. Choose a chair with easy-to-clean surfaces, as about 50% of early meals end up on the chair.
Buy soft-tipped spoons and suction bowls
Silicone-tipped spoons are gentle on sore gums. Start with pre-loaded spoons (you load it, baby grabs it) to encourage self-feeding. Suction bowls stick to the tray and resist tipping, though determined babies will eventually overcome the suction.
Stock up on bibs with a food-catching pocket
Silicone bibs with a wide pocket catch dropped food and wipe clean in seconds. Long-sleeve smock bibs protect clothing during messy meals. Have at least 3-4 bibs in rotation so you always have a clean one ready.
Consider a splat mat or washable mat under the high chair
Babies drop 30-50% of their food in the learning phase. A silicone mat or old shower curtain under the chair makes cleanup a 2-minute job instead of a 15-minute scrub. It also lets you offer dropped food back safely if it lands on a clean surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs a baby is ready for solid foods?
The AAP recommends starting solids around 6 months. Readiness signs include: the baby can sit upright with minimal support, has good head and neck control, shows interest in food (reaching for it, watching you eat), has lost the tongue-thrust reflex (no longer pushes food out of the mouth automatically), and can bring objects to their mouth. Meeting all these criteria matters more than a specific date on the calendar.
What foods should a baby eat first when starting solids?
There is no required order. Iron-fortified single-grain cereal (like oat cereal) mixed with breast milk or formula is a traditional first food, but pureed sweet potato, avocado, banana, or peas work equally well. Start with 1-2 tablespoons once a day, then gradually increase to 2-3 meals per day over 2-3 months. Introduce one new food every 3-5 days to watch for allergic reactions.
When should you introduce common allergens like peanuts and eggs?
Current guidelines from the AAP and LEAP study recommend introducing peanut protein and egg between 4-6 months, not delaying them. Early introduction reduces peanut allergy risk by up to 80% in high-risk infants. Mix a thin layer of smooth peanut butter into cereal or puree (never give whole peanuts or chunky peanut butter). For eggs, start with well-cooked scrambled egg in small pieces. If your baby has severe eczema or a known egg allergy, consult your pediatrician first.
What is baby-led weaning and is it safe?
Baby-led weaning (BLW) skips purees and lets babies feed themselves soft, age-appropriate finger foods from the start (around 6 months). Foods are cut into finger-length strips that the baby can grip. A 2016 study in Pediatrics found no increased choking risk with BLW compared to spoon-feeding when parents follow safety guidelines. Key rules: always supervise meals, avoid hard/round foods (whole grapes, nuts, hot dog coins), and make sure the baby is seated upright. Gagging is normal and different from choking.
What foods should babies under 1 year NOT eat?
Avoid honey (risk of infant botulism until age 1), cow's milk as a primary drink (nutritionally incomplete for infants — use breast milk or formula), whole nuts and large chunks of hard food (choking hazard), added salt and sugar, unpasteurized juice or dairy, and raw or undercooked meat, fish, or eggs. Limit juice to zero before 12 months per AAP guidelines. Avoid high-mercury fish like swordfish, shark, and king mackerel entirely.