Between 4 and 6 months of age, your little one will be ready to start expanding their palates with solid foods. The thing that I love most about the process of introducing solids is seeing their little personalities shine! Will they go crazy for sweet potatoes? Give green beans a hard no? Kick their feet and clap their hands when they see an avocado? Learning their likes and dislikes, and their reactions to them, is so much fun!
You’ll be amazed at how quickly they move from being fed purees to feeding themselves finger foods! Beyond food, you don’t need much to foster this progression but there are a handful of things that I’ve used over and over again during the journey from purees to table food.
Favorite Feeding Products for Introducing Solids
These are listed in the order that you’ll use them.
- Long handled silicone spoons – You’ll want a few of these. They love having a spoon to hold themselves while you're feeding them too!
- Suction bowls – These stay put even through the toughest attempts to throw them on the floor.
- Waterproof bibs – I like the smock style better than silicone as I have found that silicone can irritate the skin on their necks, but find what works best for you!
- If you will be making baby food: Food processor or immersion blender (Making food is much easier than you may think! Check out the easy recipes in our Solid Food Progression Extras.
- If you’ll be buying some or all of your food: Yumi is organic, clean and delivered to your door. (Use code MOMSONCALL for up to $50 off your first order.)
- Silicone food storage bags that you can also use to steam veggies
- Seat that reclines slightly for while they are still working on head control (I liked using a bouncer and floor seat)
- Sippy cups – Try several different kinds to find what works for you!
- High chair – There are so many options! I like the ones that clip on to the counter for minimal use and standalone ones with minimal design and removable trays for everyday use.
- Silicone suction placemat for the counter if you’re using a clip-on high chair and/or for eating out
- Soft tips for food pouches that prevents them from squeezing everything out
- Snack cups
- Kitchen shears for cutting foods into bite-sized pieces (so much easier than using a knife!)
- Utensils to help them start learning
- Suction plate
- Open mouth cups (with lids and without)
- Bento-box style lunch boxes
- Plastic cups with lids and straws (great for playdates with several toddlers!)
I used all of these products in conjunction with Moms on Call’s Baby Food Introduction Calender that gave me a day-by-day plan for what foods to try, when and how much.
I also found these posts to be helpful: Introducing Solids, Including Peanuts and Other Potential Allergens with Mission Mighty Me, Solid Foods Can Be Fun, Fun Finger Mashable Foods
Finally, don’t stress about amounts! I spent too much time trying to force food on my oldest kid. I learned my lesson when I filled him up on sweet potatoes and they promptly came right back up and all over me…right before I had to leave for a wedding. Introducing solids was so much less stressful and more fun with my second two kids when I let go, followed their cues and didn’t worry about whether they had one bite or ten!
