Feeding Your Baby Solid Foods

Breast milk (or formula with iron) is the most important food during your baby’s first year. It can provide all the nutrition baby needs for the first 6 months. As your baby grows, solid foods are introduced to meet his or her increasing nutritional and developmental needs.

Is your baby ready for pureed foods?

At 6 months, look for the following signs that your baby is ready for solid foods- a puréed or strained texture is recommended. Start with iron-fortified infant cereal, and then offer cooked vegetables.

Your baby has good head and neck control.
Your baby can sit in a high chair with support.
A breastfed baby needs more than 8 to 10 feedings a day and still seems hungry.
A formula fed baby drinks at least 40 oz (1.2 L) a day and still seems hungry.
Your baby gets excited at the sight of food.

Is your baby ready for more textured foods?

From about 7 months, your baby is ready for a lumpier purée- a lumpy pureed texture is recommended. Making your own baby food can give you more control over the texture you offer your baby.

Using a fork, mash ripe, raw fruits like banana, mango, papaya and avocado.
Mash well-cooked vegetables like sweet potato, peas, carrots and squash.

Is your baby ready for finger foods?

From about 8 months, encourage your baby to finger-feed by offering pieces of soft foods. Finger foods are an important part of development but babies still need you to spoon-feed them for adequate meals- a mashed or minced texture is recommended. Try serving big pieces that baby can hold or soft, tiny pieces that baby can pick up (the size of a green pea).

Try ½ bagel, ¼ slice toast, or an unsalted cracker.
Try pieces of soft fruit, cheese, cooked vegetables or cooked meat.

Is your baby ready for table foods?

From about 10 months, your baby is ready for a minced or finely chopped texture. Babies like to eat the foods they see others eating. Your baby can have soft table foods that are not too spicy, salty or greasy.

Pasta with cheese, tomato, or meat sauce
Mild chili or baked beans
Shepard’s pie or meat stews
Pancakes or homemade muffins
Rice, couscous, bulgur, barley or other grains
Fruit desserts like cobblers or crisps

Babies should not be left unattended when eating to avoid choking.

For more information on when to add new foods to baby’s diet or how to make your own baby food, call the Nutrition On-call Line at 613-580-6744, ext. 23403.