Getting the go-ahead from your pediatrician to introduce solid food can be exciting, but totally overwhelming. It’s so much fun to figure out what baby’s first solid food will be, but knowing what to choose (and how to prepare it) is a bit confusing for many first-time moms. Fortunately, there’s a lot of information out there, from basic guidance in starting solids to solid food recipes for babies. Moms today are lucky they have the internet, after all.
But first, what is considered solid food? Basically anything that isn’t the formula or breastmilk your baby’s been consuming so far from a bottle — and that opens up a whole world of possibilities where food is concerned.
Parents and baby all ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know about what and how to feed solid food to baby when your journey begins.
Baby's first solid foods: How to begin
Homemade solid food for baby
While plenty of parents will go for the more traditional pureed food in jars from brands like Gerber or Beech Nut, others will choose to make the food themselves or do some combination of the two. Making homemade solid food for baby is actually more simple than it sounds; for most veggies and some fruits, all that needs to be done is to steam, boil, or bake the food in question before pureeing it in a blender or food processor to the desired consistency — and thinner is better for babies who are just getting started.
There are also tons of solid food recipes for babies online. For beginners, there are single food recipes from Cooking Light, but when things get a bit more adventurous for your baby, that’s when it’s time to have a bit more fun. This chicken puree recipe is a great place to start when introducing proteins, and this recipe that includes banana, coconut milk, and cinnamon sounds good enough to be an adult dessert.
It’s fun to get creative in the kitchen, but there are also a few foods you should definitely avoid using until your baby is older (or at least 1 year old), like honey, cow’s milk, big chunks of peanut butter that are hard to swallow, and other food choking hazards, like round grapes that haven’t been cut up into small pieces or marshmallows.
And of course, if you have a history of allergies in your family, it’s a good idea to check with your pediatrician before feeding those foods to your baby for the first time, and just in case, there are a few signs you can look out for, like swelling, breathing difficulty, throat tightness, wheezing, and sneezing. A food allergy rash like hives or itchy eczema is also common if there’s an issue.
There’s also a bit of baby constipation solid food can cause, so try giving them small amounts of water or juice or even pureed prunes to help move things along if you think there might be backup going on! And if your baby refuses solid food, take heart: Your baby isn’t the first to be a little hesitant about trying solids. Keep giving it a try each day, and reach out to your pediatrician if you have questions.
Remember that while introducing solid food can be stressful, it can also be a lot of fun, and you can begin building the foundation of a healthy relationship with food for your child. Sure, things might get a little messy, but that’s part of the fun!
