Introducing solids is an exciting milestone – and it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Around 6 months, many babies are ready to explore their first tastes, and early exposure to a variety of foods can help build healthy eating habits for life. Weaning is the first stepping stone into strengthening mouth muscles which are beneficial for early speech.
Knowing your baby is ready is important, some key signs are:
- Your baby can sit with support and has good head control
- No longer pushes tongue forwards when trying foods.
- Shows interest in food, like watching you eat or opening their mouth when food is offered.
- Coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at their food, pick it up and put it in their mouth.
Feeding Your Baby Safely
Introducing food to your baby is a big milestone. Around 6 months, most babies are ready to begin exploring solids but how you serve food matters just as much as what you serve.
6 months: Start with smooth purées or mashed foods. Think soft, lump-free textures that are easy to swallow, like mashed vegetables or blended fruits.
8 months – 9 months: As your baby develops chewing skills, move to thicker textures and soft small pieces.
12 months: By this stage, many babies can handle chopped versions of family meals. Keep pieces small and manageable.
Every baby develops at their own pace, so follow their cues. When preparing foods, be aware of sugar contents in fruits. Jars and pouches should only be used minimally – it is healthier and more cost effective to prepare your own. Remember that some foods need to be tasted around 10 times before a baby could tell if they like or dislike; don’t rule out a food too early.
Some simple safety tips:
- Cut foods into small, manageable pieces
- Soften hard foods (cook, steam, or mash them)
- Avoid round, firm shapes unless sliced (like grapes cut into 6-8 pieces)
- Spread peanut butter thinly instead of serving as a spoonful
- Always supervise your baby while eating.
Some foods aren’t safe for babies, they should not be served until children reach the age of 1 year.
- Honey (risk of botulism)
- Added sugar and excess salt
- Highly processed foods
- High-mercury fish such as swordfish
Foods that can be a choking risk:
- Some foods are more likely to cause choking in babies and young children, especially if not prepared properly. Common ones include:
- Whole grapes, blueberries, and cherry tomatoes and/or similar
- Raw apple and raw carrot (not grated)
- Hard cheese chunks
- Popcorn and nuts
- Marshmallows and hard sweets/lollipops
- Spoonfuls of nut butter
- Tough or chewy meats
These foods aren’t off-limits, but they need to be modified to be safe. At The Montessori People, we know the importance of a good healthy diet and positive relationships with food early on. Chef Lynda is skilled in preparing nutritious meals that are served for children’s current feeding abilities. All meals are prepared fresh on site and do not include any added salt.
Thank you for taking time to read through our handy guide on weaning, if you ever have any questions on this topic or any others, always feel free to ask us.