Starting Solids 101

As you start to think about introducing solids, it can feel like there are more questions than easy-to find answers. Everyone seems to have a different opinion about the best approach. FoodieKid is here to help sift through the information overload!

To help you feel more confident about the fun baby food journey ahead, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we get about baby’s first few meals.*

What’s the best time of day to introduce food?

Offer first bites when baby is not too hungry, or too full. Opt for about 45-60 minutes after his last bottle or nursing feed, and at least 45-60 minutes before his next bottle or nursing feed. Solid food is not meant to replace milk at this point; it’s more of a developmental exercise to get baby tasting and practicing chewing in between milk feedings.

Feeding doesn’t have to take place at the same time each day, nor do you have to give solids every day once you start. It is perfectly okay to offer solid food a few times per week in the beginning.

Most importantly, offer food at a time when baby is happy, alert and well, not when he is sick or about to fall asleep. 

How much food does my baby need?

Babies’ bellies are small and don’t need as much as you think.  Start with just a few small bites, and progress from there. Meals at this point are more of a sensory and developmental exercise for baby to explore the food, experience tastes and practice oral motor skills. Focus on quality and variety, and let baby tell you how much they want.  

A couple of months in, you may experience that your baby is eating as much as 2-4 oz and eating 2 times a day.  By ten months, these amounts can double and you may have added a meal, which is when baby will begin to gradually decrease his milk or formula intake. If you are experiencing that your baby eats much less than this, that’s  also okay. Babies progress at their own rate, and all need different amounts of food to sustain individual growth. 

What are good first foods? 

Vegetables and fruits like sweet potato, avocado, butternut squash, beets, banana, mango, apple, and even some whole grains are great first foods! Don’t worry, feeding your baby fruit for their first bites won’t turn them off of vegetables for life! But, expose them to more savory blends too, and avoid sweetening their veggies with fruit. 

The safest texture to start with is a smooth, thin, liquid-like purée, which literally drips off the spoon. If you plan to make your own food, you can use breast milk, formula, cooking liquid or water to thin the ingredients. (PS - we provide specific instructions on how to do this on our Simple Starters Packs!)  If you like, you can add flavor with aromatic herbs and spices, like cinnamon and dill. Baby food doesn’t have to be bland!

The experience of feeding your baby for the first time should be fun and shared between you and baby.  Offering foods that YOU like as well, will add to the fun.

Do I need to wait in between introducing new foods?

This is a particularly confusing topic for parents who are starting solids. In the past, waiting for a few days in between introducing new foods to baby was advised to monitor potential allergic reactions. The current approach is that the 3-5 day waiting period should be reserved only for high allergen foods: wheat, soy, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame and coconut. Waiting in between introductions of low allergen foods, like fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, oils is not necessary. It is perfectly safe to make a blend of a few different vegetables, like in our Veggie Blends, and offer them together even for baby’s first bites.

*Consult a pediatrician before starting solid foods, and to discuss if your baby is at increased risk for food allergies.

*Nutrition advice and recommendations by Nicole Silber, RD, CLC; NYC Pediatric & Family Nutritionist

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