How should the solids journey be?

The solids journey starts when your baby reaches 6 months. The goal is to gradually prepare your baby for the family table, not to stop breast milk or formula abruptly.

Starting out, one meal a day with 1-2 teaspoons introduces a single food—like a vegetable puree (potato, carrot, zucchini), yogurt, or rice cereal. Each new food goes in at 3-4 day intervals; this watches for allergy signs. Consistency should be puree, not runny.

No salt or sugar ever. Honey, cow's milk, raw eggs, nut pieces, and citrus are off-limits before age 1. Your baby's first taste of a new food can look awkward—don't worry if they struggle; it's normal; you don't push, and try again a few days later.

From 7 months onward, textures move from puree to fork-mashed; 8-9 months brings small soft bites (transition to finger foods). By 8 months, ground meat/poultry 2x weekly and egg yolk 1x weekly can start. When your baby plays with food, drops it, or refuses, that's part of the process—developmental exploration.

Meal frequency grows over time: 6-8 months is 1-2 meals, 9-12 months is 3 main meals plus 1-2 snacks. Breast milk or formula stays the main food; solids are the addition.

Food refusal, mild constipation, or texture changes show up in most babies. If weight stops climbing, serious allergy signs appear (rash, lip/eye swelling, breathing trouble), or diarrhea lasts over 2 weeks, see your pediatrician.