Starting Solids: A Calm Guide to Your Baby’s First Foods

Most babies are ready for solids around six months, but the signs matter more than the date: sitting up with little support, good head and neck control, watching you eat with interest, and opening their mouth when food comes near. Milk — breast milk or formula — stays the main nutrition source through the first year; solids at this stage are practice, exploration and a little nutrition on the side.

Single-ingredient, soft foods are the classic start: mashed avocado, banana, sweet potato, iron-fortified baby cereal, or well-cooked vegetables mashed smooth. Introduce common allergens like peanut (thinned smooth) and egg early and one at a time, in the morning, so you can watch for reactions — current pediatric guidance supports early introduction. Skip honey entirely before age one, and cut round foods like grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthwise to reduce choking risk.

First foods are sensory play as much as eating. Most of the early servings end up on the tray, the floor and the baby — that’s learning, not failure. Offer a spoon to hold, keep mealtimes short and pressure-free, and end when interest fades. A baby who enjoys the table now is building the habits that make family meals easy later. When in doubt about your baby’s growth or feeding, your pediatrician is the right call, not the internet.