When and How to Start Solids
The complete guide to your baby's first foods.
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. After that, solids complement (not replace) milk. First foods are not primarily about nutrition — they're about learning: textures, flavors, hand-mouth coordination.
Signs they're ready (not before)
Sits with little support and holds head steady
Has lost the extrusion reflex (doesn't automatically push food out with tongue)
Shows interest in your food — watches you eat
Opens mouth when they see a spoon approaching
First foods by stage
6 months
Single-ingredient puree: butternut squash, sweet potato, pear, banana, avocado. One spoonful, 1-2 times a day.
7-8 months
Combine two ingredients, thicker texture. Introduce proteins: legumes, well-cooked egg yolk.
8-9 months
Soft pieces that dissolve. Finger foods: banana, avocado, soft pasta. Baby self-feeds with fingers.
10-12 months
Almost everything the family eats, adapted: no salt, no sugar, no honey, no spicy. Small pieces.
Foods forbidden before age 1: honey (botulism), cow's milk as a drink (ok in yogurt/cheese), added salt and sugar, whole nuts (choking hazard), fruit juices. These are non-negotiable.
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The rule of 3: introduce one new food every 3 days to detect allergies in time.
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In mi·ma
Track your baby's first foods in mi·ma. Keep a record of what they tried and their reaction — perfect for detecting allergies.
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mi·ma is a support logbook for parents. This guide is informational and does not replace consultation with your pediatrician. For any concerns about your baby's health, consult a healthcare professional.
Sources
- · OMS Complementary Feeding Guidelines 2023
- · ESPGHAN Complementary Feeding Recommendations 2023