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Starting solids brings plenty of questions before the first spoonful. Is your baby ready? Which texture should you offer? How do you keep the meal calm and supervised? Begin with the feeding plan and the safety questions, then consider the equipment.
This page preserves the original first-food video and adds five practical checks for readiness, food preparation, supervision, allergy questions and cleanup. You will get a short planning guide to use with your baby’s care team.
Watch the original starting solids video
Watch the original first-food video on YouTube. The written guide below is separate iBabyMama editorial context, not a transcript or an endorsement of unverified video advice.
1. Check readiness for starting solids
CDC guidance recommends beginning complementary foods at about 6 months, with developmental readiness. Signs include sitting with or without support, controlling the head and neck, opening the mouth for food and swallowing rather than pushing food out. Starting before 4 months is not recommended.
Discuss readiness with your care team if you are unsure, particularly when your baby has individual feeding or developmental needs. A date on the calendar does not settle every question about how to begin.
Write down what you notice and what you want clarified. Keep general learning separate from instructions tailored to your baby so another caregiver can find the actual plan.
2. Match the food texture to your baby’s development
CDC describes smooth mashed, pureed or strained foods as easier at first, with texture changing as feeding skills develop. Preparation matters: hard foods, large pieces and sticky spoonfuls can create choking risks. Ask for guidance on foods you are unsure how to prepare.
Check the texture before serving, not just the recipe name. A food described as suitable for babies still needs to be prepared appropriately for the child eating it. Keep one clear preparation instruction available for anyone sharing the meal.
A feeding-tool option: OXO Tot silicone spoons
The saved OXO Tot spoon option is a tool for supervised feeding. Check the current set contents, age guidance and cleaning instructions. Inspect it for damage and follow the manufacturer’s directions. A spoon does not determine whether your baby is ready for solids or make a risky food texture safe.
View OXO Tot Silicone Spoons, 2 Pack, Blossom and Opal on Amazon
3. Set up a calm, supervised meal
CDC advises having children sit upright in a high chair or other safe place, watching them throughout eating and avoiding meals in the car or stroller. Avoid rushing and distractions. Ask your child’s clinician how to prepare for a choking emergency.
Arrange the meal so the supervising adult can pay attention. Put ordinary supplies nearby beforehand and leave unrelated chores for later. If two adults are present, agree who is actively supervising rather than assuming the other person is watching.
Equipment should fit the task and be used according to its manual. Follow seating and restraint instructions. A useful setup supports supervision; it does not replace it.
4. Ask about introducing allergens
CDC recommends introducing potentially allergenic foods along with other foods. If your child has severe eczema or an egg allergy, ask their clinician about when and how to introduce peanut-containing foods safely. Do not improvise an allergy challenge at home when you have been given a different plan.
Before trying something unfamiliar, confirm what form is appropriate and what your care team wants you to do if a reaction occurs. Keep those instructions available to all caregivers.
Record the food offered and a specific question if one arises. A simple note can support a conversation without turning every meal into a complicated monitoring project.
5. Make cleanup easy without adding pressure
Prepare a washable cloth and an ordinary place for used items. Choose a routine you can repeat rather than a perfect-looking table. Check the cleaning instructions for feeding tools before their first use.
After the meal, note one thing to follow up and one thing to prepare next time. Keep product purchases separate from questions about swallowing, growth or reactions. Those concerns need care-team guidance.
Questions about starting solids
Do I need a particular first food?
CDC says most children do not need foods introduced in a fixed order. Ask your care team how to choose and prepare suitable foods for your baby’s needs.
Does new equipment make the meal safer?
Suitable equipment used correctly may help organize a meal, but it does not remove choking risks. Food preparation and attentive supervision remain essential.
Your starting solids checklist
Confirm readiness, choose a suitable texture, prepare the supervised setup and resolve allergy questions. Put cleanup supplies nearby before you begin. For related feeding context, see our infant nutrition guide.
A cleanup option: Yoofoss cotton muslin cloths
This observed White ten-pack measures 20 by 10 inches per cloth and is listed as cotton muslin. Follow washing instructions and inspect for wear. Use for supervised cleanup or burping, and keep loose cloths out of infant sleep spaces. These cloths do not prevent choking, reflux or spit-up. You may already own suitable washable cloths.
View Yoofoss Muslin Burp Cloths, White, 10 Pack, 20 by 10 inches on Amazon
Sources checked October 8, 2026: CDC’s introducing solid foods guidance and choking prevention guidance. This page has not received an individual clinician review.
45 comments
Thanks for watching! Which method are you going to use? Don’t forget to get your free Mealtimes Essentials Guide with links to all my favorite plates, cups, cutlery and more here: https://brightestbeginning.me/2ldzd
Offer milk feed before food until 9 months. Then offer food before milk at 9 months
Ikea's high chair is easy to clean and safe. The cost is great. I've had 3 babies and we had expensive chairs for the older ones. Food would get into the creases and they were very large objects we eventually dreaded. Buy used. If you can't buy used, buy an easy to clean chair and then donate it when you are finished with it!
Hallo, am a new mum, i did exclusive for 6 months and my baby will be 6 months in few days, i bought bottle dood from DM, please how do i presebe it?
My baby is 4 months old what to start first
Hearing that baby’s main source of nutrients is milk, how do I navigate around a six month old who won’t drink milk during the day? He only drinks at night, also only when he is half asleep. If I’m too late with preparing his bottle and he fully wakes up he refuses to drink. I have introduced solids but how do I make up for the daylight milk nutrition?
What do you mean around 6 months of age? Beginning of the six months or after completing six month?
Emma,you are such a gem to new moms.
It is so validating to tick off recommendations from your lists.
Yes! I’m actually doing what E says about 1,2,3…GREAT!
I have a pacifier that is easily held by baby with holes all over on the nipple, you can put ice cream and mashed foods inside it for less mess on self feeding.
its really neat to watch my baby already feed himself at 6 months
❤❤❤❤
My baby is 4 and a half months and showing all the signs, she’s very interested in when I eat and sometimes even gets grizzly as if she wants me to share my food with her, she can hold her head up right for a long period of time, can sit upright with assistance but I’m thinking I’ll start her with solids when she gets to 5 months.
I give her a little taste of food every now and again (literally a dot on my finger) and she love it.
She’s showing such a strong interest in food and Im pretty sure she’s not going to be fussy.
I watched your video with a lot of interest but it doesn't answer the question – what to do if baby refuse to eat solids at all. Could you give me tips with that situation? My baby is seven months old, I started offer her solids a month ago but it seems she doesn't have any interest at food – I'd tried offer pieces (BLW), then offer purees. In the first case she plays with food but doesn't try it almost never – only four times for a whole month. In the second case – she eats a couple of spoons two or three times for a whole month, every other time – she closes mouth and doesn't want to open it for the spoon. If I put it in her mouth when she is distracted and her mouth is opened – she starts to spill it and cry if I insist. I just have no idea how to proceed and will be very grateful for some help:)
I enjoy your videos..we have come all the way with you
Emma, I have a seven month old who is strictly spoon fed. I would love to start introducing a mix of baby led but I am terrified of her choking. Any advice? The transition to solid food has caused me so much stress.
Hmm my doctor told me that introducing foods earlier than 6 months for high risk allergy kids can reduce chance of allergies
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Everything but what food to actually feed?
No. The sooner you introduce foods, the less likely they will have an allergic reaction to things.
Great great great video!!! Thank you!!!!
Emma, I don’t like anyone else’s videos as much as I love yours. My baby is 5 months now and I wish I found you sooner! Thank you for all the info. With love, from SoCal
So my baby is now 4months 5days , can i start with fruit puree to her??
My baby is about to turn 5 months after 10 days but she has all the signs that shows she is ready for semi solids😭😂idk what to do
My baby 6 months. He doesn’t like to eat. Even not opening his mouth. What should i do?
Want to wait or ??
Just what I needed to know right now. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the useful video
WHY AM I CRYING 😂
i got the munchkins metal like spoons with silicon around the spoon part. is that acceptable spoon?
At 02:11 I truly admire the effort you've put into building this channel. Your content is always high quality.
❤
Pls when can I start purée?
Dear Emma if the baby was premmie are we still start at 6 months or at the adjusted age
Mine is 5 months old and she is showing signs she's my 5th baby i usually start at 6 months I've started her with baby rice on a morning
🎉😢😮xchdf
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First food must be other things😂😂😂 baby hasnt am same stomach as children they are tooo vulnerable🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
thank you Emma for the education
The first food we offer them will have to be the consistency of breastmilk? As someone over YouTube was telling this. Plz suggest first few meals to be offered and its consistency
My baby is 3 months old and already at this stage starting food as soon as he hits the 4 months line
👉devta 🤔
Emma I AM SO GRATEFUL for you and all your videos!!!! I have learned so much with you ❤
6:08 u too spendy in taking
Where are the videos for the high chairs?? I feel like my son is not comfortable on the chair and it’s the second chair I tried.
My baby is 3 months old and we just started giving her porridge. Is this ok?
I'm a firm believer in food time is Nakey time. I'd rather change a nappy and give them a bath or wipe them down. Plus it makes food time more enjoyable for them I've observed
Hi Emma, thank you so much for all these very helpful uploads. My daughter is 7 months old, and we started introducing solid foods about a month ago. However she showed her rejection of the food by keeping her mouth shut or turning her head away, every time we tried, whether it was puree or finger food. We also tried BLW a few times. She would grab the food but would not try to put it in the mouth. If we eat in front of her, she would look at the food and reach out for it, but again she would not put it in her mouth and would reject our attempt of bringing the food to her mouth. Does this mean that she is not interested in the food?