Starting Solid Handout

Starting Your Baby on Solids

At about 6 months old, baby can start eating solid food. But breastmilk is still baby's main food.

Start with very thin or pureed foods. Slowly thicken foods as baby gets older. Offer no added sugar or salt. It may take trying a new food 8-10 times before baby accepts it.

6 Months

  • Keep first foods smooth and thin
  • Start with 1-2 teaspoons or less
  • Start each feeding with breastmilk or formula
  • Wait 3-5 days before starting each new food
  • Never put cereal or food in a bottle

7 Months

  • Serve cereal, fruits, vegetables and protein. No mixed foods
  • Baby still needs 24-32 oz of breastmilk or formula a day
  • Help baby learn to drink from a cup without a lid, start with breastmilk or formula

8-10 Months

  • Baby develops at his or her own pace
  • Be sure baby can easily eat and swallow one texture of food before adding the next
  • Let child hold a spoon

10-12 Months

  • By 12 months, baby can eat a variety of textures
  • Baby can also eat many of the same foods as the rest of the family
  • Mash or cut food into small, soft pieces
  • Serve a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy

Look for signs of HUNGRY and FULL

HUNGRY babies

  • Reach for your food
  • Point to food
  • Get excited for food and open mouth wide

FULL babies

  • Turn their heads away
  • Push food away or play with it
  • Close mouths tight
  • Slow down eating

Division of Responsibility

As baby learns to eat solids: 

  • Parent is responsible for what to feed
  • Child is responsible for how much to eat

Later on:

  • Parent is responsible for what, when and where the child is fed
  • Child is responsible for whether to eat and how much

Food Textures

Food texture changes over 6-12 months, from THIN to THICKER

  1. Smooth and thin (around 6 months)
  2. Strained or pureed (around 6-7 months)
  3. Mashed smooth with some tiny lumps (around 7-8 months)
  4. Ground or finely chopped (around 8-9 months)
  5. Small pieces of soft finger food (around 9-10 months. Always remove skin)

Choking Hazards

These foods are dangerous until age 4:

  • Popcorn
  • Chunks of raw veggies
  • Chunks of peanut butter
  • Round food, like grapes
  • Gum
  • Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit
  • Hard candy and gummy bears
  • Marshmallows
  • Hot dogs
  • Meat chunks

No honey or cow's milk until age 1.