Starting Solid Foods: A Guide for Babies 6-12 Months

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When to Start Solid Foods

Most babies are ready for solid foods when they are about 6 months old. Your baby is ready when they can:

  • Sit up with little or no help
  • Hold their head steady
  • Open their mouth when food comes their way
  • Swallow food instead of pushing it out with their tongue

First Foods to Try (6-8 Months)

Start with simple, one-ingredient foods:

Iron-Rich Foods

These are important first foods:

  • Iron-fortified baby cereal (mix with breast milk or formula)
  • Pureed meat or poultry
  • Mashed beans or lentils

Fruits and Vegetables

Try these soft options:

  • Mashed avocado
  • Pureed banana
  • Soft cooked and pureed:
    • Sweet potato
    • Carrots
    • Peas
    • Apples
    • Pears

How to Start

  1. Start with 1-2 teaspoons of food
  2. Feed solid food once a day to start
  3. Slowly increase to 2-3 times a day
  4. Try one new food at a time
  5. Wait 3-5 days before trying another new food
  6. Watch for allergic reactions (rash, vomiting, diarrhea)

Remember: Breast milk or formula is still your baby’s main food during the first year.

Moving Forward (8-10 Months)

As your baby gets better at eating, you can try:

  • Thicker purees
  • Soft, mashed foods with small lumps
  • Soft finger foods like:
    • Small pieces of soft fruits
    • Well-cooked pasta
    • Small pieces of soft cheese
    • Soft cooked vegetables

Babies at this age usually eat solid foods 3 times a day plus 1-2 snacks.

Advancing to Table Foods (10-12 Months)

By now, your baby can try:

  • Finely chopped meats
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Small pieces of toasted bread
  • Soft cooked vegetables cut into small pieces
  • Soft fruits cut into small pieces
  • O-shaped cereal

Foods to Avoid

Do not give babies under 12 months:

  • Honey (can cause a serious illness called infant botulism)
  • Cow’s milk as a drink (can be used in cooking)
  • Unpasteurized foods
  • Added salt or sugar
  • Hard foods that could cause choking like:
    • Nuts
    • Popcorn
    • Hard candy
    • Raw vegetables

Watching for Allergies

Common food allergens include:

  • Eggs
  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts
  • Soy
  • Wheat
  • Fish
  • Shellfish

New research shows it’s better to introduce these foods early (around 6 months) to help prevent allergies. Talk to your doctor, especially if your family has allergies.

Tips for Success

  • Eat together as a family when possible
  • Make mealtimes calm and happy
  • Never force your baby to eat
  • Stop feeding when your baby turns away or closes their mouth
  • Always stay with your baby when they are eating

Video Resources:

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Westchester County Resources for Starting Solid Foods (6–12 Months)

Nutrition & Feeding Support

  • Westchester County Department of Health WIC Program
    Offers nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, infant feeding guidance, and healthy food assistance for eligible families.
    Phone: (914) 231-2510
    Website: Westchester WIC Program
  • Westchester Community Health Center WIC Program
    Provides infant nutrition education, breastfeeding peer counseling, healthy meal planning, and guidance on introducing solids.
    Website: Westchester Community Health Center WIC
  • Open Door Family Medical Center WIC Program
    Offers feeding support, breastfeeding counseling, and nutrition education for infants and young children.
    Website: Open Door WIC Program

Breastfeeding & Parent Support Groups

  • La Leche League of Yonkers/Westchester
    Parent-led breastfeeding and infant feeding support group with guidance on transitioning to solids while continuing breastmilk/formula feeding.
    Facebook Group: La Leche League Yonkers/Westchester
  • La Leche League of New York
    Offers breastfeeding education, local support meetings, feeding resources, and access to trained leaders.
    Website: La Leche League of New York
  • La Leche League International
    International feeding support organization with online groups, articles, and multilingual feeding resources for infants.
    Website: La Leche League International

Developmental & Feeding Intervention Services

  • Westchester Institute for Human Development Early Intervention Program
    Provides evaluations and support for infants with feeding difficulties, oral motor concerns, sensory issues, or developmental delays related to eating.
    Phone: (914) 493-2735
    Email: earlyintervention@wihd.org
    Website: WIHD Early Intervention Program

Pediatric & Feeding Guidance

  • Speak with your child’s pediatrician before starting solids if your baby:
    • was born prematurely,
    • has reflux or swallowing concerns,
    • has severe eczema,
    • or has a family history of food allergies.

Many pediatric offices in Westchester County can also provide referrals to:

  • pediatric dietitians,
  • feeding therapists,
  • speech therapists,
  • and allergists if needed.

A lot of parents feel nervous starting solids the first time — especially after the “wait…is this gagging or choking?” phase hits. Totally normal. Babies are basically tiny scientists throwing avocado on the floor to test gravity for six straight months.

References

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Starting Solid Foods. HealthyChildren.org.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods. cdc.gov.
  3. World Health Organization. (2020). Infant and Young Child Feeding. who.int.
  4. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2021). Introducing Solid Foods to Infants. eatright.org.
  5. National Health Service UK. (2022). Your Baby’s First Solid Foods. nhs.uk.
  6. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2020). Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children. aaaai.org.

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