According to the new infant feeding guidelines, it is now recommended that babies be introduced to a variety of textures within the first few months of starting solids. Spoon-feeding purees is no longer the one and only way. In fact, you can jump right in with soft finger foods (Baby Led Weaning) if you feel comfortable with it.
As a dietitian, I’m often asked this question:
My baby doesn’t have any teeth yet? Can I give him finger foods?
ANSWER: YES !!!
BABIES CHEW WITH THEIR GUMS
Babies can enjoy soft finger foods before they have teeth. They can mash foods into smaller pieces using their gums.
Finger foods are small pieces of food that your baby can pick up and eat easily. Introducing finger foods early, soon after starting solids, helps your baby get used to different food textures, improve coordination and encourages self-feeding. These are important feeding skills. Most babies are ready for finger foods by 6-7 months, some babies start right at 6 months (BLW). Many won’t have teeth (or very many teeth) by this age.
You baby is likely ready for finger foods when you see the following:
He can sit upright with minimal support.
He is very interested in watching people eat and the food on your plate.
He can eat thicker purees (the consistency of mashed potatoes).
He can bring food to his mouth using his hand.
SAFE FINGER FOOD IDEAS FOR BABIES
Choose soft foods that baby can grasp easily with fingers or hands. Offer your baby different kinds of finger foods from all 4 food groups.
Vegetables (soft cooked) and Fruits
Soft cooked vegetable (grating, cut into bite-sized pieces or strips): Carrot, broccoli, green beans, yam, sweet potato, potato, cauliflower, zucchini, squash
Soft, ripe, peeled fruit (grating, cut into bite-size pieces or strips): apple, pears, ripe slices of kiwi, mango, papaya, melon, cantaloupe, banana, fresh or canned unseated peaches, ripe avocado, oranges, thawed frozen fruit and berries
Seedless grapes don’t have to peel but should cut into four bite-size pieces
Grain Products
Whole wheat toast, bagels or buns (cut into strips)
Pieces of roti or tortilla
Unsweetened oat ring cereal like Cheerios
Cooked pasta
Rice balls
Milk Products
Grated or small cubes of pasteurized cheese
Meat & Meat Alternatives (soft and well cooked)
Ground meat or poultry
Small (pea sized) pieces of tender meat or poultry
Fish (de-bonded and flaked)
Quartered meatballs
Well cooked eggs (cut in to pieces)
Small cooked beans (black beans and navy beans)
Larger cooked beans (kidney beans – cut in half)
Tofu
Smooth nut or seed butter (spread thinly on a cracker or bread to make it easier to swallow)
Mealtimes will be messy and slow at first. This is part of learning how to eat.
FOODS TO AVOID
Hard and sticky foods can cause choking and should be avoided.
Whole nuts or seeds
Raisins
Popcorn
Gum
Hard candies or jellybeans
No HONEY during baby’s first year. Honey may cause botulism, a type of food poisoning, that could make your baby sick.
BOTTOM LINE
It is amazing to watch what little ones can handle with their gum. So go ahead and offer finger food versions of a wide variety of food that your family eats. I enjoy watching my boy, Aiden, discovers the amazing variety of tastes and textures that food comes in.
Are you still waiting for your baby to get a tooth? For more help with baby led weaning and how to help you baby succeed with eating, be sure to check out my 3 months TRANSFORM program.
Last blog we discussed When to Introduce Your Baby Solid Foods. It is important to wait until healthy babies are at least 6 months old before starting solid foods to maximize exclusive breastfeeding and ensure their digestive systems are mature enough to handle solid foods.
START FROM HOW
Today, let’s talk about HOW to introduce solids. Get your camera ready, you’ll want to capture those funny faces your baby makes. Here are some tips to help make the transition to solids easier:
1. Choose a Good Mood
Introduce new foods when your baby is alert, relaxed and happy. Offering food after breastfeeding (waiting 60-90 minutes) or after a nap can increase the chance that your baby will try a new food.
2. Introduce 1 New Food a Day
Offering a variety of foods can set your baby up to be a more adventurous eater. The ONLY exception is highly allergenic foods. You can start introducing them around 6 months, but wait 1-2 days before adding another allergenic food to monitor for potential allergies.
3. Start with Small Amounts
Offer just 1-3 tsp (5-15 mL) of food. If baby shows signs of hunger, you can offer more.
4. Follow Baby’s Cues
Sit your baby in a high chair at approximately eye level. Hold the spoon a few inches in front of their mouth and wait for them to open up. Feed as slowly or quickly as they prefer and stop when they show signs of fullness. If you’re following Baby-Led Weaning approach, let your baby take the lead in eating. NEVER FORCE YOUR BABY TO EAT, AND REMEMBER NOT TO COMPARE YOUR BABY TO OTHERS.
5. Start with Once a Day
Begin by offering solid foods once daily. Soon, baby will be ready to eat more often. Gradually increase to 2 times per day, then to 3 times.
6. Offer New Flavours
Some babies are cautious eaters and need time to trust that a new food is safe. It can take multiple attempts (approximately 15 times) before they’re willing to eat a particular food.
7. Let Your Baby Explore
Expect a bit of a mess. Messy hands and faces help babies get used to new foods. So let them have fun with it.
8. Be Aware of Changing Appetite
Baby’s appetite will vary daily. From 6-12 months, they will gradually drink less breast milk and eat more solids.
Be mindful of your baby’s hunger and fullness cues. Avoid forcing or over-feeding.
HUNGER SIGNS
Smiles, gazes or coos at the parent during mealtimes to show they wants to continue
Leans toward the spoon or food and opens their mouth
Reaches for or points to food
Shows excitement when food is offered
Focuses on and follows food with their eyes
Sucks or smacks lips
Uses words, sounds, or hand signs to indicate hunger or wanting more (older babies)
FULLNESS SIGNS
Slows pace of eating
Get distracted easily or shows uninterested in food
Moves head away from spoon or closes mouth
Bats at spoon or pushes it away
Pushes food away or throws it on the floor
Plays with food or fidgets
Closes or purses lips when offered food
Spit food out
Tries to leave the highchair
Uses words or signs to signal “all done” (older babies)
FEEDING ESSENTIAL TOOLS
With so many baby-feeding products available, it can feel overwhelming to decide what you truly need to start solids. Here are the TOP 6 essential tools to help you get started:
1. High Chair or Booster Seat
I believe an actual high chair is a must-have. It’s helpful to have a dedicated seat for your baby, and the large high chair tray makes a great food-catcher. The IKEA Antilop high chair with tray is totally affordable.
A booster seat can easily strap onto your own chairs. This seat is foldable for easy storage. I’ve taken it along for visits to the grandparents and to restaurants – it’s super handy.
2. Bibs
You can certainly use the drooler/cloth bibs. However keep in mind they’ll need to be washed after each use.
I recommend getting a set of larger, waterproof, easy-to-clean feeding bibs. I prefer ones with big front pocket to catch any dropped food.
If your baby is an active explorer, your may prefer the Kushies Long Sleeved Waterproof Bib. It allows your little one to fully enjoy mealtimes without the worry of ruining their clothes.
3. Spoons
Make sure that any spoons you use are BPA-free. BPA is a harmful chemical found in some plastics that can leach into food when heated.
Munchkin 6-Pack Soft Tip Infant Spoon: These small, plastic-coated options are much gentle on tender gums. It’s helpful to have several on hand during feedings, one for you and one for baby, to encourage their sense of independence and avoid power struggles.
Once your baby is ready to try self-feeding, consider getting the OXO tot Fork & Spoon Set. This set makes it easy for young eaters to transition their food from bowl to mouth.
4. Dishes
When you first introduce solids, you will need a handful of small, BPA-free plastic bowls.
Calibowl. This deep bowl makes it easier for your baby to scoop up their food, while the super suction cup on the bottom prevents it from being tossed to the floor. It also includes fitted lids, making food storage a breeze.
Once your baby is ready to try self-feeding, consider picking up a divided plate like the OXO tot Divided Plate. I like the removable, raised outer ring. which helps keep food on the plate and guides it into utensils.
5. Straw Cup or Open Cup with/without handles
My son wasn’t a big fan of bottle, so I was very anxious to introduce a straw cup around 6 months. He would often bite on the straw, but he would sip from it occasionally. Using a straw cup does not present the same concerns as a sippy cup. In fact, It can help with oral motor skills development and reduce the risk of dental caries since the liquid doesn’t bathe the baby’s teeth. Here are three straw cups that I recommend:
Playtex Sipsters Stage 1 Straw Cup
Munchkin Click Lock Weighted Flexi Straw Trainer Cup
Playtex Sipsters Stage 3 Insulated Spill Proof Straw Cup
Offer water in an OPEN CUP as soon as your baby starts eating solids. Babies learn quickly how to drink from an open cup.
6. Snack Catcher
No more spilled snacks on the floor. This is the perfect solution for on-the-go situations, whether it’s a doctor’s appointment, shopping trip, grocery run, or evening walk.
A HEALTHY FEEDING RELATIONSHIP
Babies learn by observing those around them. When families eat together, it teaches babies that mealtime is a time to connect, share, and enjoy food.
As a PARENT;, your role is to choose WHAT foods to offer. As baby start to eat solid foods, your are responsible for WHEN and WHEREbaby is fed.
It is your BABY’S job to determine HOW MUCH they want to eat.
Trust your baby to recognize their hunger and fullness cues. This fosters mindful eating.
Introducing solids to your baby can be lot of fun. Be PATIENT and remember that it might take time for your baby to warm up to new foods; this is completely normal. If your baby enjoys every food from the first bite! Congratulations! you have a wonderful little eater.
Lately, I’ve come across many questions from parents wondering about the right age to start introducing solid foods. Some experts and older guidelines suggest introducing solids between 4 and 6 months, while certain parenting websites say 4 months. Sometimes, this advice even comes from a doctor or other health professionals. Many of us, especially those raised in the 80’s, may have started eating solid foods as early as 2 to 4 months because our parents followed older recommendations. As a first time mom, I totally understand the eagerness to start solids – especially with friends and family sharing plenty of “advices” and “opinions”. It’s easy to start thinking, “maybe 4 months is the right time!” With so many conflicting recommendations, it’s no wonder today’s parents are feeling confused.
WHY DO BABIES NEED SOLIDS?
Introducing solid foods to babies isn’t just about adding variety; it’s essential for both nutritionaland developmental reasons. Breast milk or formula will still be a main source of nutrition during the first year, but starting solids around 6 months helps meet growing needs that milk alone can’t fulfill.
1. Nutritional Reasons
Iron Needs: By 7 months, babies’ natural iron stores begin to deplete, and they need iron-rich foods to support healthy growth and brain development.
Critical Nutrients: Beyond iron, there’s an increased need for other key nutrients like protein, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and additional energy to fuel their development and growing curiosity.
2. Developmental Reasons
Biting and Chewing: Starting solids helps babies practice essential skills, like biting and chewing, which play a big role in speech and jaw development.
Oral and Motor Skills: Eating solids encourages the development of muscles around the mouth and fine motor skills as babies learn to pick up food, bring it to their mouths, and chew.
ARE YOU STARTING EARLY?
Here are some common reasons parents introduce solids before the 6-month mark:
My baby is too big
My baby is too small and tiny
My baby seems hungry (increased breastfeeding demand)
My baby wakes up multiple times a night
My doctor recommended starting solids
My baby wanted the food I was eating
I wanted to offer something (iron rich foods) alongside breast milk or formula
For those common reasons parents consider introducing solids early, it’s important to remember that breast milk (or formula) provides more calories and far more essential nutrients than any solid food can at this stage. Breast milk is designed to meet a baby’s needs perfectly, offering a balance of calories, fats, proteins, and vitamins that’s challenging to match with solids. Even if your baby is showing increased hunger, breast milk or formula is usually enough to satisfy them until they reach around 6 months.
In light of all this, it’s completely understandable why so many parents are questioning when to begin solids. Next, I’ll dive into why waiting until around 6 months is often best for your baby’s development and health.
TOO EARLY? or TOO LATE?
Starting solids too early—before 4 months (17 weeks)—can pose several health risks. Research shows that introducing solids TOO EARLY can increase the chances of:
Infections and Digestive Issues: Babies’ digestive systems are still maturing, and introducing solids too soon may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and infections.
Food Allergies: Introducing certain foods too early can increase the risk of developing food allergies later on.
Obesity: Early solid feeding can influence long-term eating behaviors, potentially contributing to a higher risk of childhood obesity.
Kidney Strain: Babies’ kidneys aren’t fully developed in the first few months, and early solids can strain these organs, leading to imbalances in minerals they’re not yet ready to process.
Reduced Breast Milk Intake: Solids may replace breast milk in the baby’s diet, potentially reducing milk supply and lowering access to the essential nutrients and antibodies breast milk provides.
Choking Risk: Babies’ swallowing and chewing reflexes are not fully developed before 4 to 6 months, increasing the risk of choking on solid foods.
Waiting too long to introduce solids—beyond 7 months—can present its own set of challenges. By this age, babies start needing additional nutrients that breast milk or formula alone may not fully supply. Research shows that delaying solids past 7 months can increase the risk of:
Iron Deficiency: Babies’ iron stores begin to deplete around this time, and solids provide essential dietary iron that helps prevent deficiency.
Food Allergies: Both early and delayed introduction to certain foods are associated with a higher risk of developing allergies.
Texture Sensitivity and Food Fussiness: Delayed exposure may make it more challenging for babies to accept new textures and flavors, potentially leading to picky eating.
Difficulty with Essential Nutrients: Waiting too long can mean babies miss out on critical nutrients like iron and zinc, which support growth, brain development, and immune function.
WHAT IS CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Top health organizations recommend introducing solids around 6 months when babies show signs of readiness.
Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
The AAP Section on Breastfeeding
American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
These guidelines advocate for exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months to ensure the digestive system is mature enough to handle solid and to protect against gastrointestinal and respiratory infections (APP 2012, Nylor & Morrow, 2001).
Exclusive breastfeeding or formula feeding for the first 6 months provides all the essential nutrients a baby needs, with breast milk or formula remaining their primary nutrition source until they reach this milestone.
DEVELOPMENT SIGNS FOR READINESS
Watch for SIGNS that your baby is getting ready to start solids:
Around 6 months of age
Sitting with minimal support (with pillow or towel)
Good head and neck control, able to hold head upright and steady
Bringing hands and toys to their mouth
Appears interested in food, possibly by reaching for or leaning forward towards food
It’s important to consider your baby’s gestational age when deciding when to introduce solids. Premature babies may not be neurologically or physically ready for solids until approximately 6 months after their original due date, rather than their birth date. For instance, my elder son, born 2 weeks early, began solids about two weeks after turning 6 months. Similarly, Audrey and Avery, born 4 weeks early, started solids around 6.5 months. Adjusting based on gestational age allows babies to begin solids when their developmental milestones and readiness are more in line with their age-adjusted peers.
What you can do If your baby is showing obvious signs of being ready for solids about 4-6 months?
It’s common for babies around 4 to 5 month to show interest in mealtimes such as reaching for food. However, this curiosity doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready for solids. In fact, it is part of their normal development to explore by putting objects in their mouths. Here are some ways to involve your baby in mealtimes without introducing solids:
Include Them at the Table: Let your baby join family meals in a booster seat or high chair. This gets them used to mealtime routines and sitting in their designated seat, preparing them for when it’s time to start solids.
Provide Safe Utensils: Give your baby spoons, cups, or bowls to play with during mealtimes. This helps them get familiar with eating utensils in a fun and exploratory way.
Introduce Open Cups: Offering small amounts of water or expressed breast milk (1-3 oz) in an open cup starting at 6 months is considered beneficial. This lets your baby practice drinking skills while engaging at the table without starting on solid foods.
BOTTOM LINE
Most babies are developmentally and physiologically ready to start eating solid foods between 6 and 8 months of age. It’s important to look for signs of readiness rather than strictly following a calendar. Remember, the decision to start solids shouldn’t come from pressure from parents or in-laws but should be based on your baby’s cues.
Baby, BonAppétit !!
My children love making a mess during mealtime, and that’s perfectly normal! It’s all part of the learning process as he explores new textures and flavors.
AidenAvery and Audrey
As you embark on this exciting journey of introducing solid foods to your little one, remember that patience and observation are key. Every baby is unique, so trust their cues and enjoy the experience of discovering new flavors and textures together.
For more tips, resources, and support on feeding your baby and fostering healthy eating habits, be sure to check out my Instagram. Happy feeding!
