Introducing Solids

Signs Your Baby Is Ready and How to Start

There's something almost magical about watching your baby go for that first bite of food. All of this isn't just a matter of nutrition — it's also a matter of transformation. One day, you're nursing or bottle-feeding around the clock, and the next, you're setting the stage for a lifelong relationship with food. That spoonful of puréed avocado? It is growth and curiosity and trust, and yours and theirs.

But let's get real for a second: starting solids can be super confusing, too. Just Google it and watch yourself waft down into an endless sea of baby-led weaning Facebook forums, food allergy cautions and the great oatmeal-versus-banana debate. If your head is spinning, breathe with me. You don't have to have it all figured out today. What you really need is a kind roadmap — and the reassurance that there is no one "right" way. This landmark is yours to create, and I'm here to journey with you with warmth, clarity and peace.

🌱 Is Your Baby Truly Ready? Let's Tune Into the Signs

Every baby's development is beautifully unique — and readiness for solids has less to do with a date on the calendar and more to do with developmental cues. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solids around 6 months, but the numbers are less important than the signs your little one may be showing you:

• They can also sit up with slight support: This is conducive to safe, coordinated swallowing.
• Good head and neck control: Your baby needs to be able to turn away and let you know when they're finished.
• They are interested in food: Perhaps they are watching your fork as if it's the most intriguing toy. Perhaps they try to swipe your plate. These are baby's ways of expressing, "What the hell is that all about?"
• The tongue-thrust reflex is waning: If they don't automatically force food out with their tongue, that's a sign to try something else.
• They've doubled their birth weight: This point can coincide with internal readiness but is not a hard-and-fast rule.

If you see these signs, then maybe it's time to gently share your baby with world of food.

🥣 First Tastes: A Soft, Methodical Approach

Let's ease up on "doing it right." Here's a down-to-earth sequence that respects both your baby's requirements and your experience as a parent.

Set the stage with intention

Establish an orderly climate. Set baby up in high chair you trust, one with good support, and position yourself so you can sit face to face. Stay away from screens and distractions — this is a time for co-presence.

Select a starter food that's soft, safe and easy

Great first options include:

• Mashed avocado
• Pureed sweet potato
• Blended pear or banana
• Iron-fortified infant oatmeal

Begin with only one ingredient, and after three to five days, add in another. This is a good way to determine if you have an allergy or sensitivity.

Offer food after milk feeds

Your baby continues to receive breastmilk or formula as their main source of nutrition. And introduce solids when they're alert, happy and not starving — they'll be more curious and relaxed.

Serve baby with a soft-tipped spoon, or let baby feed himself.

You might experiment with putting a small dab on the child's lips, or allowing them to lead the spoon. Some parents go straight to baby-led weaning (BLW) — in which babies feed themselves soft finger foods — from the beginning. Either method can be effective — take the feeding cues from your baby.

Pause. Watch. Celebrate.

Let your baby explore. There will be silly faces and sticky fingers, and more food on the floor than there is in their mouth. That's all part of it. A few spoonfuls are more than enough to start.

🍓 Baby-Led or Spoon-Fed: It's Not Either or Both

You don't have to pick and stay with just one method. A lot of families do a combination and just what feels right and what feels safe.

Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) promotes independence and can assist baby in developing chewing skills. Imagine: steamed broccoli florets, avocado slices or a soft scrambled egg.

The spoon-fed method is a bit more controlled and can be comforting when you're introducing texture for the first time.

Follow your gut and learn infant CPR if you haven't already. It's a great skill to have.

🌼 Elder Wisdom for a Smooth and Joyous Transition

Here's what I have seen help to make this milestone a bit smoother — and lot more joyful:

• Model the pleasure of eating: Sit with your baby and eat alongside them. They're observing and imitating.
• Keep meals short and sweet: 10 to 15 minutes will do at first.
• Be consistent but relaxed: Give solids once a day initially and slowly increase.
• Explore flavor, not perfection: Your baby may not like every food right away — and that's fine.
• Embrace mess — that's how they learn: Put a washable mat under the high chair, strip baby down to diapers (or nothing!), and let the sensory fun begin.