Common questions about starting solids often begin with timing: most babies can start at about 6 months, but solids should not be introduced before 4 months. [1] Readiness also depends on developmental signs, not just a baby watching you eat or reaching toward your plate. [2] You may also find this useful: Constipation in Babies Starting Solids: What to Know.
You can think of solids as a new experience alongside milk feeds, rather than a sudden change to the way your baby eats. This overview answers common questions about readiness, first foods, feeding pace, and what to expect as your baby learns to eat.
Key takeaways
Use developmental readiness—not food interest alone—to guide the decision. [2]
When should you start offering solid foods?
About 6 months is the general time to start offering solid foods, but wait until your baby is developmentally ready and do not begin before 4 months. [1] Look for steady head control and the ability to sit upright with support in a high chair or feeding seat. [2]
These signs can help you decide whether your baby is ready to try eating from a spoon or exploring food in a seat. For example, see whether your baby can keep their head upright and stay seated with support during a calm meal setup. Avoid treating a single sign as a reason to rush; readiness can look different from one baby to another. [1] For more detail, see Baby Food Introduction Schedule: A Flexible Starting Plan.
If you are unsure about timing or whether your baby can sit and control their head well enough, ask your baby’s clinician for guidance. You can describe what your baby does in a supported seat and ask whether it makes sense to begin offering solids now.
What can you offer as a first food?
There is no single required first food for your baby; you can choose from a range of suitable foods and add variety as they become more familiar with eating.
Simple options to start
For example, try mashed avocado, soft-cooked and mashed vegetables, or infant cereal prepared to a texture your baby can manage. These are examples, not a required order or menu.
As your baby gains experience, offer different flavors and food groups rather than sticking to one favorite. You can also vary how foods are prepared—for example, offer a soft cooked vegetable one day and mashed fruit another. Keep each food prepared in an age-appropriate texture, and supervise your baby while eating.
Allergenic foods
How much should your baby eat at first?
At first, think of solids as practice, not as a meal that replaces your baby’s usual milk feeds. You can offer a small opportunity to explore food and let your baby set the pace, rather than aiming for a particular amount. [1]
Your baby may spend much of an early feeding looking, touching, tasting, or stopping after a little. Give them time to get familiar with the experience; there is no need to coax another bite when they turn away or lose interest. [2]
Follow your baby’s cues during the meal. For example, you can pause when they seem finished and try again at another feeding, keeping the experience relaxed instead of treating each offer as a target to reach.
A baby seeming hungry often or watching you eat does not, by itself, show that they are ready for solids. [3] Interest in food can be one part of the picture, but readiness depends on developmental signs rather than appetite alone. [2]
What is normal when your baby begins solids?
Your baby may need time and repeated chances to get used to new foods and textures; the pace varies from child to child. [1] One baby might happily explore a soft new texture while another turns away or needs more opportunities before accepting it. [1]
A slow start, a funny face, or a little food pushed back out can be part of learning to eat. [4] Keep mealtimes calm, offer food without pressure, and let your baby get familiar with the experience. These early attempts are practice, not a test of whether your baby will like a food.
Pause and seek help if you are worried about how your baby is managing eating, rather than treating every uncertain reaction as a problem. [4] If you are unsure whether a response is ordinary learning or a concern, contact your baby’s clinician for advice. For detailed guidance on choking response and safe textures, use the dedicated safety guidance rather than relying on this section.
What should you do next?
Your next step is to choose a calm moment, check that your baby shows developmental readiness, and offer food without rushing. If your baby is tired, upset, or distracted, try another meal when you both have more time to focus.
For example, offer a small tasting when your baby is settled, then continue the usual milk feeds rather than trying to replace them. Take a break and try again another time if the first offer does not go smoothly.
If you are unsure whether your baby is ready, or you have concerns about feeding, bring your questions to your pediatric clinician. You can describe what you have noticed—such as how your baby holds their head or sits during meals—and ask what next step fits your child.