Starting Solids
It all begins with an idea.
After consulting with our pediatrician, we started solids when our little one was around 5 months old. We saw consistent signs of readiness including showing interest and reaching for food, ability to sit up unassisted and good head control, and using her hands to bring things to her mouth. We did a combination of purees and baby led weaning in order to allow the baby to try new flavors while also practicing independent eating.
Check out my post on everything else to add to your baby registry!!!
To learn more about how to start solids, we:
Took the Feeding Littles course as soon as she started showing signs of readiness. This provided a good overview of how to get started with solids via baby led weaning and also helped me understand the difference between gagging and choking. You may also choose to take a separate CPR course for additional precaution.
Downloaded the Solid Starts app, which has a directory of foods and can help you determine when to introduce and how to prepare each food based on your baby’s age (in months). It has recipes as well as a food tracker to track the foods that your baby has tried.
Printed out a list of 101 first foods to try - this was the list we used to determine what foods to introduce to the baby. It was important to us to expose her to as many foods as we could while she was young and open to trying new things.
Some great options to try as babies first food:
Steamed/pureed peas
Steamed/pureed carrots
Smashed avocado
Steamed/pureed pumpkin
At 5 months, we started with a few tablespoons of one food item just one time a day (and sometimes we’d skip days). We increased to one or two foods per meal twice a day around 6-7 months, and then 2-3 foods per meal 3 times per day by 8 months.
Some other things to think about when starting solids:
When introducing solids, limit sodium intake and avoid any added sugar for the first 24 months.
Be mindful when introducing new foods, particularly common allergens. The CDC recommends waiting 3-5 days before introducing new foods, however, I found that to be difficult in the early days when the baby had not tried many foods. We avoided introducing common allergens within 3-5 days but more frequently introduced lower allergen foods. We also ordered children’s Benadryl to have on hand in case of an allergic reaction.
Per CDC guidelines, at 6 to 12 months, water intake should be limited to 4-8 ounces a day. Water (outside of formula or breastmilk) is optional for healthy babies younger than 12 months, but we offered a straw cup during meal times to get our baby used to drinking out of an open cup and/or straw cup.
Everything you need to get started with solids:
Lalo Highchair - We chose this over the Stokke Trip Trap because I found it easier to clean.
Inglesina Fast Table Chair - This is great for on-the-go, we primarily use this at my parents house or when traveling.
Plates/Bowls - 2 plates and 2 bowls was good enough for us, many times I just feed her directly on the highchair tray so she has a full view of what’s on her “plate”.
Apron bibs and silicone bibs x2 - I use the apron bibs when dealing with anything messy and the Mushie bibs for less messy things that won’t stick to the baby.
Spoons x2 - You’ll need at least two spoons per meal (if a spoon is needed at all), because the baby will almost always drop one. You can load one spoon while the baby eats from the other.
Straw Cups x2 - We started with an open cup to get the baby started drinking water, and then we introduced these straw cups to allow for more control + independence.
Baby Food Maker - Steaming baby food maintains more nutrients than boiling it. We loved that our baby food maker could steam and puree all in one.
Baby Jars - These are the perfect size for baby portion sizes that won’t take up an entire refrigerator. You can also use a dry erase marker directly on the lids to label them!
Freezer Containers - These were great when starting with purees to be able to freeze small portions and reach for them quickly.
High Chair Mat - Stunning and practical. I’ve found cleaning it in a bathtub to be easiest.
Disposable Placemats + Disposable Splat Mats - These are great on the go to avoid making a huge mess at restaurants.
“Food before one is just for fun.” Starting solids is just as much of a transition for you as it is for your baby. It’s a lot to prepare healthy meals for a baby on top of everything else you have on your plate (pun intended). Start small and work your way up. Prepare food in bulk and freeze them for a quick grab and go. You can also purchase pre prepared foods, our favorites are Little Spoon and Once Upon a Farm.
Have fun and get messy!!!
Check out my post on everything else to add to your baby registry!