Starting Solids: A Practical Guide for Parents
Starting solid foods is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel surprisingly confusing and a little daunting. Should you start with purées or try baby-led weaning? What foods should you offer first? Do you need special plates and utensils? And what if you want to make your own baby food?
The good news is that there isn’t one “right” way to introduce solids. Some families love baby-led weaning, some prefer purées, and many use a combination of both. The most important thing is to do what works best for your family and try to take the pressure off yourself and your little one.
As always, if you have questions about baby’s readiness, allergies or any other medical concern, it’s a good idea to talk to your baby’s pediatrician.
When Should You Start Weaning and Introducing Solid Foods?
Most babies are ready to begin solid foods at around 6 months old. Rather than focusing on the calendar alone, look for developmental readiness. Babies should be able to control their head and neck, sit upright with support, bring objects toward their mouth, and swallow food rather than automatically pushing it back out.
The CDC’s guide to introducing solid foods has a helpful overview of readiness signs and how to get started.
At this stage, solids are complementary foods—they’re added alongside breast milk or infant formula rather than immediately replacing milk feeds.
What Are the Best First Solid Foods to Introduce to an Infant?
There is no required order for introducing foods. Instead, focus on offering a variety of tastes, textures and nutrients.
Easy first foods can include:
Avocado
Banana
Soft cooked sweet potato
Broccoli
Plain full-fat yogurt
Oatmeal
Soft scrambled egg
Beans or lentils
Soft shredded meat
Nut butter thinned appropriately for your baby (if allergies are a concern, talk to your pediatrician before introducing)
Including iron-rich and nutrient-dense foods is particularly important as babies begin eating solids. The CDC recommends offering foods from multiple food groups, including vegetables, fruits, proteins, dairy without added sugars and whole grains.
What Is Baby-Led Weaning?
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an approach where babies are offered appropriately prepared finger foods and encouraged to feed themselves rather than being exclusively spoon-fed purées.
For example, instead of spoon-feeding puréed avocado, you might offer a large, soft piece of avocado that your baby can grasp and bring to their own mouth.
Baby-led weaning isn't all-or-nothing. You can absolutely offer finger foods at some meals and spoon-fed foods at others. The NHS guide to baby-led weaning specifically notes that families may choose baby-led weaning, spoon feeding or a combination of both.
Whichever approach you use, foods need to be prepared in developmentally appropriate shapes and textures to reduce choking risk. HealthyChildren.org's baby-led weaning guide is a helpful safety resource.
Solid Starts is another useful resource for BLW and their app even shows you how to prepare different foods for different age ranges.
How Do You Choose the Right Baby-Led Weaning Products Online?
You don't need an entire cabinet of specialized baby-led weaning products.
Start with a supportive high chair that allows your baby to sit upright and ideally provides foot support. From there, a few practical items can make meals easier:
Easy-to-clean bibs
A small open or straw cup
Baby-sized utensils
Simple bowls or plates
A washable mat under the high chair if you want easier cleanup
When shopping online, prioritize safety, positioning and easy cleaning over products marketed specifically as “baby-led weaning essentials.” Solid Starts also provides guidance on high-chair positioning and selecting feeding equipment.
What Baby Food Purées Are Recommended for Babies Six Months and Older?
Purées are a perfectly reasonable way to introduce foods—and using store-bought baby food doesn't mean you're doing anything “less” than a parent making everything from scratch.
Look for age-appropriate products with relatively simple ingredient lists and without unnecessary added sugars or salt. Single-ingredient options can be especially useful when your baby is first exploring foods.
As your baby becomes comfortable eating, gradually introduce more flavors, combinations and textures rather than staying exclusively with very smooth purées.
How Can You Make Homemade Weaning Recipes Using Popular Kitchen Appliances?
Homemade baby food doesn't require special equipment. A blender, food processor, steamer or pressure cooker can make preparation much easier.
Try steaming pears, apples, carrots, broccoli or sweet potato and blending them with a little water, breast milk or prepared formula until you reach an appropriate consistency. A blender can also quickly turn avocado, banana, beans or cooked vegetables into a mash or purée.
Pressure cookers such as an Instant Pot can make batch preparation easier, too. Baby Foode's Instant Pot baby food guide includes ideas for both purées and baby-led weaning foods.
Most importantly, don't feel pressured to pick one weaning “method.” Purées, mashed foods and appropriately prepared finger foods can all have a place at the table. Starting solids is ultimately about helping your baby safely explore different tastes and textures while continuing breast milk or formula and gradually becoming part of family mealtimes.
