Introducing Solid Foods: A Month-by-Month Guide

Starting your baby on solid foods is an exciting milestone! Here’s a practical guide based on WHO recommendations and our pediatrician’s advice.

6 Months: The Beginning

Start with single-ingredient purees to watch for allergies. Good first foods include:

• Sweet potato
• Carrot
• Apple
• Pear
• Baby rice cereal

Offer once a day, just 1-2 teaspoons initially. Breast milk or formula is still the main nutrition source.

7-8 Months: Variety

Introduce proteins and combination purees:

• Chicken
• Lentils
• Beef
• Fish (watch for bones)
• Vegetable and meat combinations

9-10 Months: Texture

Move to chunkier textures and finger foods:

• Soft pasta pieces
• Steamed vegetable sticks
• Soft fruit chunks
• Toast fingers

11-12 Months: Family Foods

Baby can now eat most family foods (no salt, honey, or whole nuts). Encourage self-feeding with a spoon.

Tips from Experience

• Expect mess – lots of it!
• Don’t force feeding – babies regulate their own intake
• Offer new foods 10-15 times before giving up
• Watch for allergies (rash, vomiting, diarrhea)
• Make mealtimes social and fun