Starting Solids: Step by Step

Readiness Signs

We started at 5.5 months when she showed all these signs:

• Could sit up with minimal support
• Had good head and neck control
• Showed interest in our food (grabbing at it, watching us eat)
• Lost the tongue thrust reflex (stopped automatically pushing food out with tongue)
• Could bring hands and objects to mouth

Age matters less than developmental readiness. Some babies are ready at 4 months, some not until 7 months.

What Approach We Used

We did a hybrid of purees and baby-led weaning (BLW).

First month (5.5-6.5 months): Mostly purees, some soft finger foods

Second month (6.5-7.5 months): Mix of purees and finger foods

After 8 months: Mostly table foods, occasional pouch for convenience

You don't have to choose one method. Do what works for your baby and your sanity.

First Foods (5.5-6.5 Months)

We introduced one new food every 2-3 days to watch for allergic reactions.

What We Started With

• Avocado: Mashed with breast milk to thin it. She loved it.
• Sweet potato: Roasted and mashed. Big hit.
• Banana: Mashed. Made her constipated (common).
• Oatmeal: Mixed with breast milk. Boring but nutritious.

How Much They Eat

At this stage: not much. Maybe 1-2 tablespoons per "meal." That's normal. Milk is still the main nutrition source.

The goal is exposure to flavors and textures, not calorie intake.

Introducing Allergens

The recommendations have changed. You're now supposed to introduce common allergens EARLY (between 4-6 months), not delay them.

The Top 9 Allergens

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Milk
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Soy
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Sesame

How we did it:

• Introduced each allergen separately, 2-3 days apart
• Offered at home, not at a restaurant or while traveling
• Small amount first (1/4 teaspoon), watched for 10 minutes, then gave more
• Once introduced successfully, kept in regular rotation (early and often)

Signs of Allergic Reaction

Call 911 if you see:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of tongue or throat
• Severe vomiting
• Loss of consciousness

Call pediatrician if you see:

• Hives or rash
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blood in stool
• Excessive fussiness after eating

Progression: 6-8 Months

We started adding more variety and texture.

New Foods Added

• Proteins: Chicken, beef, salmon (all pureed or very soft)
• Vegetables: Peas, green beans, carrots, broccoli
• Fruits: Pear, apple, blueberries, peaches
• Grains: Rice cereal, toast strips, pasta
• Dairy: Full-fat yogurt, cheese (after dairy successfully introduced)

Finger Foods We Started

• Toast strips with peanut butter
• Roasted sweet potato wedges
• Avocado slices (rolled in infant cereal for grip)
• Steamed broccoli florets
• Banana slices (cut in half lengthwise so she could grip them)

Feeding schedule at 7 months:

Progression: 8-12 Months

This is when they start really eating. Milk is still important but solids become a bigger part of nutrition.

What Changed

• More texture - chunky instead of smooth purees
• More finger foods, less spoon feeding
• Started eating modified versions of what we ate
• Three meals per day plus 1-2 snacks

Sample Day at 10 Months

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, toast with peanut butter, berries
• Snack: Yogurt with banana
• Lunch: Shredded chicken, steamed carrots, avocado
• Snack: Cheese cubes, crackers
• Dinner: Whatever we were eating, modified (less salt, softer texture)

Foods to Avoid Under 12 Months

• Honey: Botulism risk. Not even a little. Not in baked goods. None.
• Cow's milk as main drink: Can have dairy foods, but not milk as beverage replacement until 12 months.
• Added salt: Their kidneys can't handle it.
• Added sugar: Not dangerous, just unnecessary.
• Choking hazards: Whole grapes, hot dogs, popcorn, hard candies, nuts (nut butters are fine).

Gagging vs. Choking

This scared me more than anything. Learn the difference:

Gagging (Normal and Common)

• Baby makes noise - coughing, sputtering
• Face might turn red
• They're moving and trying to clear it themselves
• What to do: Stay calm, let them work it out

Choking (Emergency)

• Silent - can't make noise because airway is blocked
• Lips/face turning blue
• Panicked expression, clutching throat
• What to do: Infant CPR, call 911 immediately

Take an infant CPR class before starting solids. Knowing what to do reduces your anxiety and could save your baby's life.

The Mess

Starting solids is disgusting. Accept this now.

Things that helped:

• Splat mat under high chair: Catch the mess, wipe it down or throw in wash.
• Smock bibs with sleeves: Full coverage. We used Bumkins.
• Multiple sets of everything: Never ran out of clean bibs.
• Accepting that she'd be covered in food: Bath after dinner became routine.
• Getting a dog: Just kidding. Sort of. Our dog loved solid food phase.

Equipment We Actually Used

• Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair: Expensive but grew with her, adjustable, easy to clean.
• ezpz mats: Suction plates that actually stick to the tray.
• NumNum pre-spoons: For first self-feeding attempts.
• Regular baby spoons: For when we fed her.
• Open cups: Started practicing with tiny amounts of water at 6 months.

What About Pouches?

Controversial. We used them. Strategically.

When we used pouches:

• Traveling
• At restaurants (while waiting for food)
• Rushed mornings
• When she was sick and wouldn't eat anything else

Why we limited them:

• Don't learn to chew from pouches
• Don't learn about different textures
• Can develop preference for sweet flavors (most pouches are fruit-heavy)

Pouches aren't evil. They're a tool. Use them when they're helpful, but they shouldn't be the primary way your baby eats.

What We Wish We'd Known

• It's messier than you can imagine: And that's okay.
• They'll eat almost nothing some days: Normal. They won't starve.
• Baby poop changes dramatically: Solid food poop is... different. More adult-like. And it smells. Fair warning.
• Food in random places: Found dried sweet potato in her ear once. No idea how.
• Your baby will probably eat things off the floor: They will live. Immune system building, right?