Starting Solid Foods: When, What, and How
A complete guide to introducing solids — how to know your baby is ready, which foods to start with, how to handle allergens, and a stage-by-stage progression plan.
Starting solid foods is one of the most anticipated — and most anxiety-inducing — milestones of the first year. With conflicting advice everywhere (start at 4 months! wait until 6! avoid allergens! introduce allergens early!), it's hard to know what's right. Here's what current evidence actually says.
When to Start Solid Foods
The WHO and most pediatric organizations recommend starting solids around 6 months (180 days). But the key isn't the calendar date — it's your baby's developmental readiness. Some babies show signs as early as 4–5 months, while others aren't ready until closer to 6.
3 Signs Your Baby is Ready for Solids
- Head control: Can hold head steady and upright independently
- Supported sitting: Can sit upright with minimal support without slumping
- Interest in food: Watches you eat, reaches toward food, opens mouth when food approaches
💡 Check that the tongue-thrust reflex has faded. This reflex causes babies to push foreign objects out of the mouth with their tongue. If your baby immediately spits out anything you put in their mouth, they may not be ready yet.
What to Start With
Rice cereal was the traditional first food, but current guidelines say any single-ingredient puree is fine to start with. Good first foods include: sweet potato puree, carrot puree, avocado, pea puree, butternut squash, and iron-fortified baby cereals. The key principle: introduce one new food at a time and wait 4–5 days before introducing the next.
Introducing Allergenic Foods
Older guidelines recommended delaying allergenic foods (eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, dairy). Current evidence suggests the opposite — early introduction around 6 months may actually reduce allergy risk. However, if your baby has severe eczema or an existing food allergy, consult your pediatrician first.
⚠️ Signs of allergic reaction: hives, swelling of face or lips, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing. If these appear within 2 hours of introducing a new food, seek immediate medical attention.
Stage-by-Stage Progression
- Stage 1 (6 months): Thin smooth purees, once daily, 1–2 teaspoons
- Stage 2 (7–8 months): Thicker, mashed textures, twice daily, expanding variety
- Stage 3 (9–11 months): Soft mashed or minced, three times daily, finger foods introduced
- Stage 4 (12+ months): Soft family foods, transitioning toward full family meals