The first time your baby tastes something other than milk is a big deal. For you, that is. Your baby will mostly grimace, spit it out and smear everything within a one-meter radius. That's exactly how it should be.
But when do you actually start? What do you give them? And why does your mother-in-law say one thing and the internet another? We sort it out, calmly and messily.
When do you start with first tastes?
Most children are ready to start exploring food at around six months of age. Some parents let their baby try small tastes a little earlier, but milk, whether breast milk or formula, is still the most important source of nutrition throughout the first six months.
Most important of all: look at your child, not just the calendar. Signs that your baby is getting ready can include that they:
- Can sit with support and hold their head steady.
- Show curiosity when you eat, follow the spoon with their eyes or reach for your plate.
- Open their mouth when food approaches instead of pushing everything out with their tongue.
Not sure? Talk to your child health clinic (BVC). They know your child and can give advice that suits your family. This post is tips from parent to parent, not medical advice.
What do you give as a first food?
There's no magic right order here. Many start with soft, mild flavors that are easy to mash:
- Vegetables like potato, carrot, parsnip or broccoli, cooked and mashed.
- Fruit like banana, pear or avocado.
- Porridge or baby cereal suited to your baby's age.
Start with a single teaspoon or so and let it take time. In the beginning, first tastes aren't about nutrition, they're about practice. New flavors, new textures, new motor skills. Milk is still doing the job of filling them up.
Good to keep in mind
- Try introducing one new flavor at a time so you have a chance to see how your baby reacts.
- Serve the food cooled and smooth at first, and coarser in texture as your child gets used to it.
- Some foods aren't suitable for small babies, for example honey during the first year. Check with your child health clinic if you're unsure about something specific.
Myths about first tastes you can let go of
Myth 1: Food in the evening makes your baby sleep through the night
If only it were that simple. Baby sleep is governed by much more than the contents of their tummy, like development, daily rhythm and teething in general. Start with food because your baby is ready, not as a sleep trick.
Myth 2: Your baby has to finish everything
No. Your job is to offer the food. Your baby's job is to decide how much. Two teaspoons one day and zero the next is completely normal. Never force food in, it makes mealtimes hard work for everyone.
Myth 3: Grimaces mean your child doesn't like the food
A sour face at the first taste of broccoli usually just means: this was new. Children may need to taste the same thing many times before they accept it. Don't give up after the first try.
Myth 4: Everything has to be homemade and perfect
Homemade purée is lovely. Ready-made baby food is also lovely. A banana mashed with a fork right there on the sofa is at least as lovely. What matters is that your baby gets to explore food at a calm pace, not that you win some invisible parenting prize.
Practical tips for smoother mealtimes
- Pick the right moment. A rested and moderately hungry baby is more curious than a tired and ravenous one.
- Eat together. Babies copy you. Sit next to them and eat, and the food instantly becomes more interesting.
- Prepare for mess. Bib, floor cover and a big dose of patience. The mess is part of the learning.
- Don't stress. Some days it's three bites, other days none at all. Both are completely fine.
- Ask your child health nurse when you're wondering about allergies, amounts or specific foods. They're there for exactly this kind of thing.
One more thing: the diaper notices when solids start
A little heads-up from us diaper people: when your baby starts on food, what ends up in the diaper changes. Colour, consistency, smell, it all gets an upgrade you didn't ask for. Completely normal, but the diaper has to work a bit harder.
That's when a diaper that breathes and keeps skin dry comes in handy. Our bamboo diapers have 100% bamboo against the skin, are free from lotion and fragrance, and stay dry for up to 12 hours. Soft for your baby, smart for everyday life.
- Want your diapers delivered to your door every month? Take a look at our monthly box of open diapers.
- Got a little climber who won't lie still at diaper changes? Then pant diapers in a monthly box could be the next step.
- Not sure about the size? Try a sample kit first before ordering a whole box.
In short: start gently, let your baby lead
First tastes aren't a race. Start around six months or when your child shows they're ready, offer mild flavours in small amounts and let curiosity lead the way. Let go of the myths, embrace the mess and ask your child health nurse when you're unsure.
The rest will sort itself out. One teaspoon at a time.