Eating Solid Food

Starting solids is a hot topic! Although there are many strategies out there, it is best to wait until your child is ready and your pediatrician approves. Due to the risk of choking, we recommend starting with purees rather than whole foods like those done in baby led weaning. Starting solids and whole foods too early comes with a risk of gagging which can have long-term effects on your child's gag reflex. Also if your child has a delay like low oral motor tone, it may take longer to uncover if you skip purees. If you still want to try other methods, please consult your child's care team to come up with a strategy that works for you and your child.

For more information, check out our videos on Feeding. They provide insight into starting solids, setting the table for success, and playing with food.

Please note: All activities should be done with adult supervision for safety

Feeding

Eating Skill Activities

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Thin Pureed Foods

-Get approval from your child's doctor to start solids. This is typically at 6 months when the child can hold their head upright in a highchair but other children may need special seating.

-Some doctors recommend starting one food at a time over the course of a few days to ensure no allergic reaction

-Blend all foods until smooth.

-You may need to thin with formula or breastmilk (or water if your child is over the age of 1 year).

Make it fun!

-Try for a variety of foods

Fruit examples:

-Blueberries, mangoes, bananas, apples

Vegetable examples:

-Peas, green beans, carrots, squash

Protein examples:

-Chicken, beef, lamb, beans

Thick Pureed Foods

-Blend together different foods that your child has already tried.

-Let your child try using their hands or a spoon.

-Let your child be messy. Exploring foods and having fun is the most important part!

Make it fun!

Combine different foods for new flavors

Examples:

-Turkey and peas

-Apples and spinach

-Mangoes and carrots

-Chicken and squash

-Beans and tomatoes

-Lamb and Greek yogurt

Meltables

-Meltables can be purchased premade in the baby food aisle or they can be made at home.

-Meltables is usually a quick phase that gets forgotten, but it is helpful for transitioning between purees and solid foods.

Make it fun!

Examples of homemade meltables:

-Yogurt melts

-Fruit puffs

-Vegetable puffs

-Frozen pureed food dots

-Baby food or puree popsicles

One Soft Food

-Your child should have purees and meltables mastered before moving on to this step.

-Start with one soft food at a time, but you can continue to offer purees and meltables for more well-balanced meals.

-Be sure to cut foods into manageable bite-size pieces

Make it fun!

Examples of soft foods:

-Cheese cubes

-Short/small pastas like macaroni

-Scrambled eggs

-Meatballs (cut)

-Tator tots

-Steamed veggies

Mixed Soft Foods

-Begin mixing soft foods together for a different texture and more eating practice.

Make it fun!

Examples of mixed soft foods:

-Pasta with sauce

-Quiche

-Yogurt with fruit

-Muffins

-Soups

Crunchy/Hard Foods

-No whole nuts until 5 years of age.

-Start with easy crunchy foods and work towards more difficult foods

-Save chewy foods like raisins and steak for last after your child has mastered most other foods.

Make it fun!

Examples of easy crunchy foods:

-Potato chips

-Crackers

-Cookie biscuits

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