Starting solids: a no‑stress guide to the first foods

Is your baby ready?

Most babies are ready around six months. Look for the signs rather than the calendar:

• Sits up with little or no support.

• Holds their head steady.

• Opens their mouth and leans in when food comes near.

• No longer pushes food straight back out with their tongue.

Great first foods

There’s no magic first food. Iron‑rich options such as puréed meat, beans or iron‑fortified cereal are a great start, alongside soft vegetables and fruit. Common allergens like peanut (as thinned peanut butter, never whole nuts) and egg can be offered early too, one at a time.

Skip for now

• Honey before age one.

• Whole nuts, whole grapes, popcorn and other choking hazards.

• Added salt and sugar.

• Cow’s milk as a main drink before 12 months — small amounts in food are fine.

Gagging vs. choking

Gagging is noisy and normal; it’s how babies learn to move food around their mouth. Choking is usually silent. If your baby can’t cry, cough or breathe, call 911 and start infant first aid. We teach a free infant CPR class every month — ask at your next visit.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you’re worried about your child, call us — or 911 in an emergency.