🥣 6+ months
Starting Solids: A Guide to When, What, and How to Begin
A calm, practical starter guide to the signs of readiness for solids, first foods, texture stages, and introducing allergens.
The right time: the calendar doesn't decide, your baby does
The general recommendation for solids is around 6 months; however, the real deciding factor is your baby's signs of readiness. Look at your baby before the calendar — and always consult your pediatrician before you begin.
- Can sit up with support and holds their head steady
- Shows clear interest in your food and opens their mouth
- Diminished tongue-thrust reflex (no longer pushes the spoon out with their tongue)
First foods and the texture journey
Single-ingredient, soft foods are ideal to start with: vegetable purees (zucchini, carrot, potato), fruit purees (apple, pear, banana), and iron-fortified cereals are common favorites. Offering each new food on its own and waiting a few days makes it easier to notice any possible sensitivity.
Texture progresses gradually from smooth puree to mashed and lumpy. Around 8-10 months, most babies are ready to eat small, soft pieces with their own hands — this 'finger foods' phase builds both skill and confidence.
Allergens: a time to introduce, not delay
The current approach is to introduce common allergens (such as eggs, dairy like yogurt, well-cooked fish, mashed legumes, and peanut butter) early, one at a time, and with your doctor's approval. If there is a family history of allergies, be sure to make a plan with your doctor first.
Honey is the exception: it should not be given before 1 year of age.
Enjoying mealtime: low expectations, plenty of discovery
In the first weeks, the question isn't 'how many spoonfuls did they eat' but 'did they meet the flavor' — the main source of nutrition is still breast milk or formula. Spoons dropped on the floor, purees smeared on faces, and scrunched-up expressions are all part of the process itself. It may take 8-10 tries with the same food; patience is the main ingredient at this table.
🐦 Easier with Maiyko
With Maiyko, log every new food with a single tap and show a photo of your baby's plate to the AI advisor — in the recipes section, 6+ month puree recipes are waiting for you, complete with calorie and allergen information.
Explore features🧮 Baby Age Calculator
How many weeks, how many months? When are the month milestones? Calculate in seconds.
⚕️ Health note: This guide is for general information only; it is not a substitute for medical advice. Every baby is different — for decisions about your baby's sleep, feeding, and health, consult your pediatrician.
Other guides
Moms also asked
- What foods should I start introducing with solids?
- My baby spits out solids, she barely eats anything
- Constipation after starting solids: what should I do?
- Spoon-feeding or baby-led weaning? Choosing a solids method
- Is gagging normal when eating solids? How is it different from choking?
- After starting solids: poop smell and consistency changed, is this normal?