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# Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant

Starting solid foods is a chance for your baby to explore new tastes and textures. Most infants are ready at around **6 months**. Before then, breast milk or infant formula provides the nutrition they need. Ask your pediatrician if your baby was born prematurely or has a medical condition that may affect feeding.

## Look for signs of readiness

Your baby should be able to sit upright with support, hold their head steady, show interest in food, and swallow it rather than push it out with their tongue. Age alone is not enough: wait until these skills are present.

## Start simply

Choose a time when your baby is alert and not overly hungry. Seat them upright and offer a small amount of soft food on a spoon, or let them pick up appropriately sized, soft pieces. Expect mess and very small portions. At first, eating is mostly practice; continue breast milk or formula as your baby’s main source of nutrition.

You can begin with mashed vegetables, fruit, beans, or meat; soft cooked foods; or iron-fortified infant cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. There is no required order. Include **iron-rich foods** regularly, such as meat, lentils, beans, tofu, and iron-fortified cereal. Offer a variety of flavors and gradually move from smooth textures toward mashed, lumpy, and soft finger foods as your baby develops.

## Introduce allergens thoughtfully

Once your baby is managing a few foods, offer common allergens such as well-cooked egg, yogurt, wheat, and peanut in forms that are safe to swallow. For example, thin smooth peanut butter with water or mix it into a purée; never offer a spoonful of thick peanut butter or whole nuts. Introduce one new allergen at a time so you can notice a reaction, and keep offering tolerated foods regularly. If your baby has severe eczema, an egg allergy, or another significant allergy concern, ask their clinician about introducing peanut.

## Keep meals safe and relaxed

Always supervise eating with your baby seated upright. Avoid choking hazards, including whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, hard raw vegetables, and round pieces of hot dog. Cut or soften foods as needed. Do not give honey before age 1 because of botulism risk, and avoid using cow’s milk as a drink before then. Limit added salt and sugar.

Let your baby decide how much to eat. Never force bites; turn away, close the mouth, or lose interest signals that they are done. With patience and repeated opportunities to try foods, your baby can build eating skills at their own pace.