Starting solids is one of the most exciting — and nerve-wracking — milestones of the first year. When to start baby solids isn't just about hitting a certain age; it's about readiness. Introduce food too early and your baby's digestive system isn't prepared; too late and you can miss an important window for developing eating skills.
The short answer: around 6 months
Major pediatric guidelines recommend introducing solids at around 6 months. Before that, a baby's gut and swallowing coordination are still developing, and milk provides everything they need. But age is only half the story — the other half is your baby showing they're ready.
Signs your baby is ready for solids
- Sits with support and holds their head steady
- Lost the tongue-thrust reflex — no longer automatically pushes food out
- Shows interest in food — watches you eat, reaches for it, opens their mouth
- Can move food to the back of the mouth and swallow
If your baby has most of these signs and is around six months, you're ready to begin. If they're clearly not interested yet, there's no rush — wait a week or two and try again.
Best first foods
Start simple: single-ingredient purées or soft finger foods. Popular, well-tolerated first foods include mashed sweet potato, carrot, avocado and banana, plus iron-rich options like pureed meat or iron-fortified cereal. Introduce one new food at a time, a few days apart, so if a reaction appears you know the cause.
Keep milk as the main meal
In the beginning, solids are about exploration — tastes, textures and skills — not calories. Breast milk or formula stays the primary source of nutrition until 12 months. Offer milk first, then a small taste of food, and let your baby set the pace.
Remember every first taste
The first-tastes stage flies by — and tracking it matters for spotting reactions. Trackeron includes a first-tastes journal: log each new food with a liked/disliked rating, a food category and a star rating. You'll always know what you've introduced, and you'll have a beautiful record of every milestone.
The bottom line: when to start baby solids is around six months and when your baby shows readiness signs. Go slowly, introduce one food at a time, keep milk as the main meal, and track each new taste so you can enjoy the journey — and catch any reactions early.