How to Start Introducing Foods to Your Baby (A third time mom's guide)

Updated: April 2026

Written by Meg, mom of three (ages 5, 3, and 1) in Atlanta. I've introduced solids three times using baby-led weaning, and I actually got to meet the founder of Solid Starts during my first pregnancy. Here's everything I'd tell a first time mom friend about starting solids. 🫶

Wondering when and how to start introducing solid foods to your baby? Around 6 months you'll start seeing signs of readiness: sitting up well, reaching for your food, bringing things to their mouth. This guide covers everything we've learned across three babies, from what resources we used to what gear actually gets used, to tips for making the whole process less chaotic. Spoiler: it is messy, it is wonderful, and your dog is going to have the best few months of their life.

Signs your baby might be ready for solids:

• Sitting up with minimal support

• Showing interest in your food, reaching for it or watching you eat

• Bringing objects to their mouth

• Good head and neck control

• Usually around 6 months, but always check with your pediatrician first!

My #1 resource recommendation for this stage: Solid Starts

• Solid Starts - I cannot say enough good things about Solid Starts. If it's in your budget, I highly recommend getting their bundle - Starting Solids Guides ($99). One of those guides is called "First 100 Days" which we've followed with both boys and I can't tell you how nice it was to have all the guesswork taken out of this process. They are looking after allergen exposure, nutrients, exposure to lots of different flavors and textures, etc. etc. AKA, way more than I would've been able to keep track of on my own!

  • If the guides are not in your budget, highly recommend following them on Instagram and checking out their app and website - they offer tons of free info. The app is absolutely amazing and shows you how to prepare and serve all kinds of food, based on the age of your baby.

  • What I love about the Solid Starts guides

    • All of the planning is done for you and the recipes are super straightforward

    • Baby is getting exposed to REAL food, flavors and textures from the beginning

    • They teach you about the difference between gagging and choking, and what to do to prevent choking

    • Confidence around common allergens and what to look for when introducing new foods

    • It's a step-by-step guide on how to introduce solids, down to what you should say and do as the parent - which as a FTM I found incredibly helpful

• There is a lot of conversation around baby-led weaning vs. purees these days, and while we loved baby-led weaning, you should absolutely do whatever you feel comfortable doing! Solid Starts is an amazing resource that I think is worth referencing regardless of how you decide to introduce solids to baby, as they are truly experts in this field!

Key items for introducing solids.

• Highchair - check out Solid Start's recommendations for high chairs. There are some important things you should look for that will help prevent choking.

• Sippy cups - any sippy cups will work, we have loved these and they've lasted well

• Open cup - love this for teaching how to drink from an open cup

• ezpz Tiny Collection Set, Tiny Bowl - we have several of these sets and just mix and match

• Floor mat - these are great and blend well into our home

• Bibs - silicone, which means super easy to clean!

• Snack cups - these are great for when you're on the go!

• Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum - once we had two kids eating solids, we decided it was time to try this thing. And man did it deliver. It's incredible and picks up spilled milk, Cheerios, tufts of dog hair and everything in between.

• Stain remover - one of my best friends put me on to this and I cannot say enough good things. It's non-toxic with clean ingredients and actually WORKS. I try to spray this on stains as soon as they happen and just pop the clothes into the hamper until I'm ready to wash the next load.

Tips for introducing solids

• What worked for us was to continue following our schedule from Moms on Call - around 6 months they have a version that includes solids. Typically it's breastmilk or formula at the usual time, then a short break to play, followed by solids before a nap. This ensures that baby is still getting all the nutrients they need from the breastmilk / formula. The early days of solids are more about exposure and they may not be actually eating a ton right away.

• We'd aim to do 2 rounds of solids a day, whatever our Solid Starts guide recommended. And if we had leftovers that needed to be eaten, we'd do that instead of a new food.

  • If we were on the go, we'd also do the occasional pouch although we tried to only do 1-2 / week

• We followed the Solid Starts method of allowing baby to feed himself vs. spoonfeeding. We loved this because it puts him in control of how much he's eating and helps him learn to stop when he's full. It's also great to develop those early eating skills, although both of our guys did a mix of pre-loaded spoons and hands.

• Solids can be MESSY - embrace it! You may find yourselves giving a lot more baths and mopping your floors more frequently. It will not last forever! And if you have dogs, they will love it!

FAQ

When should I start introducing solid foods to my baby? Most babies show signs of readiness around 6 months. Signs include sitting up well, showing interest in food, and bringing things to their mouth. Always confirm timing with your pediatrician. Starting too early before baby has the core strength can increase choking risk.

Should I do baby-led weaning or purees? Both are totally valid and you can absolutely do a mix, which is what we ended up doing. What matters most is that baby is getting exposed to a variety of real flavors, textures and allergens early on. Solid Starts is a great resource regardless of which approach you choose. Their free app shows you exactly how to prepare and serve any food based on your baby's age.

What is Solid Starts and is it worth it? Solid Starts is a baby feeding resource founded by feeding experts. I actually met the founder during my first pregnancy and have used their guides for all three of my babies. Their First 100 Days guide ($99) takes all the guesswork out of starting solids, covering allergen exposure, nutrients, textures, and what to say and do as the parent. Their free app is also incredible. Worth every penny IMHO.

How do I know if my baby is gagging or choking? This is one of the most important things to learn before you start solids, and Solid Starts covers it really well. Gagging is normal and is actually the body doing its job. Choking is silent and requires immediate action. I highly recommend watching their videos on this before you start so you feel confident and not panicked at the first gag. It's terrifying the first few times but taking deep breaths and ensuring you don't spook baby is important. Solid Starts coaches you as the parent on what to do to help baby work through it.

What highchair is best for baby-led weaning? Solid Starts has a really thorough guide on what to look for in a highchair specifically for safe feeding. The key things are good foot support, an upright position, and no crotch post that restricts positioning. We use the Tripp Trapp and have loved it across all three kids.

What are the best first foods for baby? Think soft, easy to grip strips or pieces rather than hard chunks. Banana, avocado, soft-cooked broccoli, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal are all great starting points. Solid Starts' app will show you exactly how to serve each food at each age stage. Their First 100 Days guide also maps out allergen introduction in a really approachable way.

How do I introduce allergens to my baby? Early and often is the current guidance. The research shows that early allergen introduction actually reduces the risk of developing allergies. Solid Starts maps this out for you systematically so you're not just guessing. Introduce one new allergen at a time and wait a couple of days before the next one so you can identify any reactions.

📌 If you're a Pinterest girlie like me, you can see, save and shop all of these products on my solids board.

→Looking for more baby product recommendations? See my full baby registry checklist here, or check out my discount codes page for savings on some of my favorite baby brands.

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Your friendly reminder that this blog is not medical advice! This blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if they seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment for you or your family.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you click through and purchase — at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own and I only share products I genuinely use with my own kids.