The World Health Organization recommends starting solid foods at around 6 months. Until then, breast milk or formula meets all of your baby's needs. After 6 months, the need for iron in particular goes up and milk alone is no longer enough. You can tell your baby is ready when they can sit with support, hold their head steady and show interest in food.
At first, start with single-ingredient, iron-rich foods in a puree texture. Introducing each new food a few days apart makes it easier to tell which food caused a possible reaction. Delaying allergens such as egg, fish and peanut does not prevent allergies. It's recommended to introduce them one at a time, in small amounts, as you start solids. If there's no reaction, the food is considered safe.
Texture changes as the months go by. Finger foods and soft solids come at 8 to 10 months, and portions closer to family meals at 10 to 12 months. Before age 1, don't give honey, don't make cow's milk the main drink, and don't add salt or sugar to food. Avoid choking hazards such as whole grapes and whole nuts. Increasing texture gradually at each stage builds your baby's chewing and swallowing skills. Make sure your baby sits upright during meals and that you stay with them.
What you can do
- Foods suited to your baby's age are marked.
- Log each food tried as introduced, safe or reaction.
- Tells you how many days to wait before the next new food under the 3-day rule.
- Reminds you to offer allergens again if they haven't been given for a while.
- Add a food that isn't on the list with its own category and starting month.
- Includes safety warnings for honey, cow's milk, salt, sugar and choking risk.
How to use it
- Find or search for foods suited to your baby's age.
- When you give a new food, log whether there was a reaction.
- When the 3-day watch is over, mark the food as safe.
- Pay attention to the wait warning before the next new food.
Frequently asked questions
When should babies start eating solid food?
The World Health Organization recommends starting solids at around 6 months. At this age most babies can sit with support, hold their head steady and show interest in food. Solids should not be started before 4 months. For premature babies, the start is planned by corrected age. If your doctor gave you a different plan, follow it.
What are the best first foods for baby?
There is no single right first food. What matters is starting with iron-rich foods and introducing each new food one at a time. Vegetable purees, fruit purees, iron-fortified cereals and mashed meat are all options. A few teaspoons are enough in the first days. Breast milk or formula is still the main food during this period.
What is the 3-day rule for baby food?
The 3-day rule means waiting a few days after giving your baby a new food before moving on to the next new one. If a reaction such as rash, vomiting or diarrhea happens during that time, you can easily tell which food caused it. You can keep giving foods your baby has already tried without problems during this time. If there's no reaction, the food is considered safe.
When can babies have honey?
Honey should not be given in any form before age 1. Honey can contain bacterial spores that can cause infant botulism, and a baby's gut isn't yet protected against them. This rule also applies to honey in cooked foods and packaged products. After age 1, honey can be given in small amounts, but it's still important to keep added sugar limited.