A Guide to Starting Solids for Your Baby

I spent so much time researching baby food when I started solids for Little Dude that I thought should write down all that information just sitting in my head! I started solids at six months. Some people start at around the four month mark, but I waited because I wanted to be certain that he was ready. This is also the recommendation from the World Health Organisation (WHO), but there's no harm in starting early if you've based your decision on your child's readiness and health. For me, the readiness factors were that he was hungry more often and displayed an interest in food.

Here are some general guidelines for starting solids or weaning your baby. I've categorized them by type of food. I am also sharing my mistakes so you don't end up doing the same! Also, if baby-led weaning (BLW) is what you've decided to do, then I'm no expert on that. These tips are for those who want to feed their baby themselves, at least in the beginning.

Start with purees

Mashed ripe banana was the first food Little Dude tasted. I followed his lead by bringing my finger close to his mouth and then he would put it in his mouth! I started with my finger because babies that age are more comfortable with something they are familiar with, instead of the spoon. I gradually started using a soft spoon. After mashed banana, I gave him cooked and strained peas and he loved it! Eventually, I started pureeing more types of food such as beans, carrots, sweet potato, cauliflower and pumpkin. Broccoli was something that didn't make a great puree and I decided to hold off on it until he could swallow it easily.

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