First solid foods for baby schedule

When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods | Nutrition

For more information about how to know if your baby is ready to starting eating foods, what first foods to offer, and what to expect, watch these videos from 1,000 Days.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old. Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended. Every child is different. How do you know if your child is ready for foods other than breast milk or infant formula? You can look for these signs that your child is developmentally ready.

Your child:

Sits up alone or with support.
Is able to control head and neck.
Opens the mouth when food is offered.
Swallows food rather than pushes it back out onto the chin.
Brings objects to the mouth.
Tries to grasp small objects, such as toys or food.
Transfers food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.

What Foods Should I Introduce to My Child First?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that for most children, you do not need to give foods in a certain order. Your child can begin eating solid foods at about 6 months old. By the time he or she is 7 or 8 months old, your child can eat a variety of foods from different food groups. These foods include infant cereals, meat or other proteins, fruits, vegetables, grains, yogurts and cheeses, and more.

If your child is eating infant cereals, it is important to offer a variety of fortifiedalert icon infant cereals such as oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal. Only providing infant rice cereal is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration because there is a risk for children to be exposed to arsenic. Visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administrationexternal icon to learn more.

How Should I Introduce My Child to Foods?

Your child needs certain vitamins and minerals to grow healthy and strong.

Now that your child is starting to eat food, be sure to choose foods that give your child all the vitamins and minerals they need.

Click here to learn more about some of these vitamins & minerals.

Let your child try one single-ingredient food at a time at first. This helps you see if your child has any problems with that food, such as food allergies. Wait 3 to 5 days between each new food. Before you know it, your child will be on his or her way to eating and enjoying lots of new foods.

Introduce potentially allergenic foods when other foods are introduced.

Potentially allergenic foods include cow’s milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Drinking cow’s milk or fortified soy beverages is not recommended until your child is older than 12 months, but other cow’s milk products, such as yogurt, can be introduced before 12 months. If your child has severe eczema and/or egg allergy, talk with your child’s doctor or nurse about when and how to safely introduce foods with peanuts.

How Should I Prepare Food for My Child to Eat?

At first, it’s easier for your child to eat foods that are mashed, pureed, or strained and very smooth in texture. It can take time for your child to adjust to new food textures. Your child might cough, gag, or spit up. As your baby’s oral skills develop, thicker and lumpier foods can be introduced.

Some foods are potential choking hazards, so it is important to feed your child foods that are the right texture for his or her development. To help prevent choking, prepare foods that can be easily dissolved with saliva and do not require chewing. Feed small portions and encourage your baby to eat slowly. Always watch your child while he or she is eating.

Here are some tips for preparing foods:

Mix cereals and mashed cooked grains with breast milk, formula, or water to make it smooth and easy for your baby to swallow.
Mash or puree vegetables, fruits and other foods until they are smooth.
Hard fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots, usually need to be cooked so they can be easily mashed or pureed.
Cook food until it is soft enough to easily mash with a fork.
Remove all fat, skin, and bones from poultry, meat, and fish, before cooking.
Remove seeds and hard pits from fruit, and then cut the fruit into small pieces.
Cut soft food into small pieces or thin slices.
Cut cylindrical foods like hot dogs, sausage and string cheese into short thin strips instead of round pieces that could get stuck in the airway.
Cut small spherical foods like grapes, cherries, berries and tomatoes into small pieces.
Cook and finely grind or mash whole-grain kernels of wheat, barley, rice, and other grains.

Learn more about potential choking hazards and how to prevent your child from choking.

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Homemade baby food introducing solids schedule

March 20, 2015 By Kathryn Doherty

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy

Homemade baby food introducing solids schedule is a guide on what foods to introduce to your baby at different stages. A great way for making sure they get plenty of variety!

Introducing solids to your little one — which just means supplementing the breast milk or formula they are getting with baby food purees — is an exciting and somewhat scary time. It can be intimidating to know what to do, when and how.

I’ve put together a lot of homemade baby food resources on this blog to help you through the process and to encourage you to make your own baby food. It’s so, so easy. I promise!

Update: I’ve also written a new cookbook all about making healthy, easy baby food! The Healthy, Quick & Easy Baby Food cookbook is available on Amazon and in most booksellers. It’s got all the info and resources you need to get started, plus 100 recipes ranging from single purees to combinations to finger foods and toddler meals. You’ll have everything you need in one place! (Also, it makes a great gift!)

Today though, I’ve created a homemade baby food introducing solids schedule for you to use as a guide to beginning this journey.

This list is what I researched and used when introducing baby food to M and I mostly stuck to the same thing with J. My kiddos loved purees and were not big on baby-led weaning, so this is the route I took.

(And if you want to save that schedule above, I made a free printable PDF for you!)

Currently, the recommendation is to introduce solids to a baby somewhere between 4 and 6 months old, depending on the child’s readiness. Talk to your pediatrician about when to introduce solids for your baby.
Wait 3-5 days between introducing new foods, to monitor for an allergic reaction.
Speaking of allergies, current research says it’s OK to introduce peanut products as early as 4-6 months old. (This is new since my kids were babies. ) If you are concerned about a possible peanut allergy, please check with your health care provider before offering any type of peanut product to your baby.
You can refrigerate homemade baby food for up to 3-5 days and freeze baby food for up to 6 months. Just be sure to label everything!
Got extra? I’ve got tons of ideas and recipes (and a video and free printable, too) for ways to use leftover baby food.
Check out my master list of homemade baby food resources for more info.

Also, if you are new to this journey, check out my guide on how to make homemade baby food purees. I walk you through ALL the ins and outs of making purees at home, including step-by-step instructions for 10 favorite beginner purees.

You can watch this video to see how easy it is to make your own baby food:

I hope this homemade baby food introducing solids schedule is helpful for you to get started! Here’s the FREE PRINTABLE again if you want to print this schedule out to save.

Oh, and if you have a fussy teething baby that’s 8 months or older, definitely check out these homemade baby teething biscuits.

And if you want to be super efficient in making baby purees, it’s all about the batch cooking.

Here are my collections of beginner homemade baby food batch cooking — lots of beginner baby food basics grouped together to make the most out of your precious time. You can knock out 5 foods in as little as 20 minutes!

These batch cooking guides will also give you step-by-step details on how exactly to prepare various foods for your baby.

Homemade baby food round 1: peas, green beans, applesauce, butternut squash, oatmeal
Homemade baby food round 2: sweet potato, brown rice, chicken, pears, banana
Homemade baby food round 3: quinoa, peaches, avocado, pumpkin, cottage cheese
Homemade baby food round 4: broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, black beans, Greek yogurt
Homemade baby food round 5: asparagus, barley, edamame, blueberries, mango
Homemade baby food round 6: apricots, prunes, egg yolks, chick peas, blackberries

Lastly, have fun with it! It’s exciting to see your baby discover the joys of different food and flavors!

Enjoy and let me know if you have questions! Happy to try and help 😊

XO,

Kathryn

(P. S. Here’s the link for the free printable again!)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions 0 - 6 months

When does my baby start weaning?*

Breast milk or formula provides all the nutrients your baby needs in the first 6 months of life, but some mothers may find it difficult to satisfy an infant's increasing appetite before he is 6 months old. After 17 weeks, you may notice some signs in your baby that he is ready to cautiously transition from breastfeeding to solid foods, supplemented with breast milk or formula.*

This may include:

Your baby is hungry after feeding

Your baby is watching you eat with increased interest

Your baby can sit up with support

This does not necessarily mean weaning. It may be necessary to give more milk at each feed, this will be enough before trying solid food.* Under no circumstances give your baby solid food before 17 weeks, as this may increase the risk of infection and allergies.

Do you need to feed your baby when he wants to or keep a certain schedule?

Whether you are breastfeeding or using infant formula, you should always follow a feeding schedule. Babies are well accustomed to such a rhythm of life on a schedule, it calms them down and makes them feel cared for.

What is the best food to use for weaning my baby?*

Your baby's first food should be very simple, soft and light: baby rice and cereals along with breast milk or formula, mixed to a semi-liquid consistency, individual fruits or vegetable puree blended with your Braun Multiquick hand blender is the best choice. To prepare these dishes, it is better to use bananas, carrots and potatoes.

*Babies are ready for solid foods at different ages. If you have any doubts about your child's menu, contact your pediatrician.

Frequently Asked Questions 6 - 7 months

How do I know if my baby has gained enough weight?

New mothers often worry about whether the baby has gained normal weight for his age. Shortly after birth, the baby's weight is recorded on a weight and length chart with a series of lines (percentile table) and if your baby's weight follows one such line, it means that he is developing normally. Growth is entered in the same way. If your child's measurements are on the bottom line and below on the percentile table, you should contact your pediatrician or health care professional who is responsible for entering your child's height and weight data.

Should I cook my own food or buy prepared food?

All of us from time to time turn to ready-made food - semi-finished products. It is very comfortable. There is no need to buy prepared food all the time. Purees and other baby food are easy to make at home with a few simple kitchen tools, including the Braun Multiquick Hand Blender. At the same time, use high-quality ingredients and you can freeze already cooked in large volumes, sufficient for several dishes. In addition, you are sure of the quality of the cooked food and that this dish contains preservatives and other harmful additives that can harm the health of your baby.

Do I need special mashing equipment?

With the Braun Multiquick hand blender you can make all kinds of purees for your baby. At a very early stage of weaning, it is important that solid food is absolutely soft, because at this stage the baby does not have the skills to chew even small pieces of food and may choke.

As your baby develops, his eating habits will require the introduction of tougher foods, and the Braun Multiquick will help you to make a thicker puree with larger chunks. A container with ice and a lid (or special food storage containers for small children) is very useful for storing puree in the freezer.

Frequently asked questions 7 - 9 months

When can I introduce dairy products into my diet?

When your baby is 6 months old, you can start giving him soft dairy products little by little: yogurt, butter, sour cream. Cow's milk should not be given simply as a drink or as a substitute for breast milk until your baby is one year old. At this stage, it is important to use whole cow's milk as a source of calories and vitamins.

Can I give my baby herbs and spices?

Adding a little bit of pepper or spices to your food is fine if it happens in the kitchen and not at the table. Salt or sugar supplements, however, should be avoided. Herbs are great at adding flavor and richness to food without being overly spicy. Many babies also love the taste of garlic, especially when parents often eat it at their regular meals.

When should my baby start feeding himself?

By the age of six months, babies may begin to hold or support the bottle during feeding, or hold the spoon during weaning. But they still cannot eat without your help. Most children only grab food and items to feed. In the early stages of weaning, the feeding spoon should be very soft, because babies usually turn the end of the spoon deep. They can damage tender gums if a hard plastic or metal spoon is given too early. By 15 months, babies should be able to hold a spoon well, confidently bring food from a plate to their mouth, dropping it at the same time. However, all these attempts are worthy of obligatory encouragement!

Frequently asked questions 9 - 12 months

Should my baby's teeth be brushed?

When your baby has teeth, usually at 6-9 months, you need to brush them regularly and gently. This should be done twice a day with a soft brush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste.

Can my baby eat eggs?

Babies can eat eggs from 6 months, but they must be hard-boiled, the yolk must not leak out. Allergies to this product are rare in children. A family history of egg allergy (or eczema) can put your child at increased risk. In such cases, give the eggs little by little and gradually to see if an allergic reaction occurs. If your child does develop an allergy, use beans, meat, fish, and soy products as alternative sources of protein.

When should I stop puréing food?

Most babies digest (and even love!) foods with soft pieces already from 7-8 months of age. It's easy to make: first mash some boiled food and blend it with the one you've puréed with the Braun Multiquick hand blender. Over time, this puree will need to be made less and less until your Multiquick only needs to quickly stir the ingredients before serving. Drinks such as smoothies and shakes should also remain soft.

Frequently Asked Questions 12 - 18 months

Can my child eat what the rest of the family eats?

Babies want to be part of the family, once your baby has passed the early weaning stage, it's time to start teaching him to eat together. Take a look at your family's diet and make sure it's healthy and well balanced, with adequate starch content and free of sugar, salt and fat.

Babies can eat a lot of things that other family members can eat, but these foods should be avoided:

Food with added salt or sugar (although occasional sugar in food is not harmful)

Unpasteurized cheeses. Such as brie and camembert, blue cheeses (until your baby is one year old)

Honey (until your baby is one year old) baby didn't choke)

Very hard, 'spicy' food that could hurt my baby's mouth

My baby refuses food. What to do with it?

Refusal of food is a normal stage that babies go through at some point. For some time, they themselves can limit their diet. This is a normal transitional phase that is more noticeable in some children than in others. Fear of new foods in the 2nd year of life may be a primitive coping mechanism to protect an extremely active baby from accidentally swallowing objects that are in the house.

The first taste of a new food can give a different reaction, up to refusal of food. At this stage, this may be a normal reaction. The child may need to try a new food a few more times before tasting it. It will also be very helpful if he sees how you yourself eat this food. Looking at you, the child may ask for a small piece from your plate. Because he sees that it is safe and tasty.

Your baby may eat less than his peers, but if he grows and develops normally, then he takes exactly the amount of food that he needs for a balanced diet.

When should I start giving my baby occasional sweets?

Some sugar as part of a balanced diet, found in all food groups (eg starches, fruits and vegetables, milk, yogurt, meat and fish) is perfectly acceptable. Sugar consumption (especially sugar in drinks) should not be isolated. If you eat foods that contain only sugar, then this will negatively affect the condition of the child's teeth. Also, it should never be given instead of food, explaining this “well, at least he eats something”, this is fundamentally wrong. It must be remembered that there is always a small amount of sugar in the diet in its natural form, this component is also found in breast milk, in the form of sweet lactose. It's good to wean off the breast by showing the baby that flavors other than sweet breast milk are also good to eat. Food for special occasions, such as birthday cake, is allowed.

Frequently asked questions 18 - 24 months

How many carbohydrates does a baby need per day?

Your baby is developing rapidly and requires a well-balanced diet to provide the energy needed for any healthy, active baby. Include in his diet foods containing starch, carbohydrates. These are bread, cereals for breakfast, potatoes, pasta, rice, couscous. At this stage of development, it is best to complement the children's menu with a mixture of different types of food. For example, give wholemeal bread, gray bread, pita bread, and white bread on different days.

How important is fiber protein to my baby's diet?

Fiber protein is important for your baby's diet, but should not be added to a normal, healthy diet. Basically, fiber protein comes from grains, fruits, and vegetables. If your child has a stomach blockage, check that he has drunk enough water and seek advice from your doctor or pediatrician.

Do I need to knead or crumble all my baby's food?

Some food is dangerous for the baby. Whole grapes, cherry tomatoes, nuts, a child can choke. Therefore, during such food, you need to carefully monitor the baby. You may be surprised by the variety of foods that your child can cope with from a fairly early age, when the first teeth erupted (usually 9-12 months). By 12-18 months, your baby will want more complex foods than mashed and mashed foods, although they will continue to eat smoothies and soups as part of a balanced diet.

Frequently asked questions 24 - 36 months

How much food should a baby eat at a time?

Every baby is different and the amount of food they eat can change every day. The proposed amount of food should be gradually increased. You need to know how much your child usually eats, then you will be aware of how much food he needs for normal growth and development. If your child's weight has dropped below the centile line, you should talk to your pediatrician or health visitor to make sure your child's diet is properly balanced. Meals should be about one-third starchy carbohydrates (bread, pasta, potatoes, or rice), one-third fruit and vegetables, and one-third meat, fish, or beans. At this stage, tasty main dishes and pudding made of fruit, yogurt or milk pudding should be given.

Should I give my child fruit juice with meals?

Well diluted juices are no problem. Toddlers love vitamin-rich fruit drinks, for example, vitamin C helps absorb iron. But there is a risk that the child will reduce the amount of more nutritious food due to the consumption of drinks. Therefore, you can alternately give a small glass of water with meals or a small glass of well-diluted fruit juice.

My baby doesn't eat vegetables. What should I do?

Your own attitude to food is important, because your baby will soon understand your taste preferences and dislikes and will repeat them. Therefore, the diet of the whole family must certainly contain healthy vegetables so that the baby sees what his mom and dad usually eat. It may happen that the child does not like the taste of vegetables and refuses to eat them. This does not mean that you do not need to offer them more to him. If the child understands that by refusing food, he thereby can attract additional attention to himself, he is likely to take it into a habit. Praise him when he eats even a small portion of vegetables, this can be very effective. It is quite possible that the next time your baby has tomatoes, onions or other vegetables on his plate, he will eat even more than you expect.

Solid food: practical advice on administration

Submitted by Mironova Irina on Wed, 12/29/2021 - 04:56 PM

Feeding Timing: Tips for Introducing Solid Foods

When introducing solid foods to a baby's diet, schedules and menus can be quite flexible. Here are some tips to help you:

Choose a time of day when you and your child are calm, relaxed and not in a hurry.
Wash hands, spoons, bowls and plates before eating or preparing food; sterilization is not necessary.
Place your baby in a high chair or safe place and spoon feed.
Give your baby a spoon to try on his own. A method may work when both you and the child have a spoon.
Give your baby soft food to try on his own.

When is the best time to start introducing solid foods? When you notice signs of readiness in a child. As a rule, this happens at the age of about six months, but not before four months.

Tips for getting your baby interested in solid foods

By the time your baby is 12 months old, they should be eating the same healthy foods as the rest of the family. Here are some ideas on how to get your baby interested in new foods after he has started eating solid foods:

Offer foods that interest the child, that is, those that he is reaching for or looking at.
Talk to your baby about the food he eats: say what it is, what color it is, how it tastes, where it grows and how you cooked it.
Invite your child to taste what is on your plate to introduce him to the taste of homemade dishes. This is a good time to think about what you eat and enjoy healthy food as a family.
When your baby starts eating more solids, if possible, feed him at a time when others are also at the table. Children tend to be more interested in food when other family members are also eating.
Should be guided by the level of interest and appetite of the child. Your baby's appetite changes from day to day - this is normal.
If your child refuses a new food, simply offer it the next day. Sometimes babies and children older need to try new food more than 10 times before they accept it.

It is normal for a child to make faces when trying new foods. When a child makes faces, this does not mean that he does not like the food offered.

Games and mess during meals: how to deal with them

It is quite natural that the child eats very slowly and creates some confusion. This is because eating is a skill that toddlers need to learn. They also learn how to bring food to their mouths. In addition, by touching new food and playing with it, children learn about the world around them.

Here are some ideas to help you make the best use of mealtime and deal with messy eating:

Encourage your child to "explore" the food with their hands. This forms skills in other areas of development, in particular fine motor skills and thinking.
Try to remain calm and patient with the mess your baby has made. So he will get pleasure from food.
Make cleaning easier by placing newspaper or polyethylene under the high chair and have a washcloth handy when your baby is eating.

Starting solid food is much more than just eating. Once a child has started eating solid food, table time turns into family gatherings where you can talk, listen and interact with each other.

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