When is my baby ready for solid foods?
At about six months, your baby's digestive and immune systems are sufficiently developed to digest solid foods. However, that doesn't mean every baby will accept the first puree at that age. Some babies are only ready to switch from milk to puree at eight or nine months, while others enjoy their first spoonful at four or five months. Just try it — your baby will clearly signal whether they are ready for solid foods.
How do I introduce my baby to solid foods?
With the first puree your baby not only learns new tastes: being fed with a spoon, the texture of the puree in the mouth, and swallowing are sensory experiences they have to process. This often only happens step by step and initially has little to do with feeling full. We've gathered a few tips to make getting used to solids easier:
Give a spoon to play with: As soon as your baby can grasp reliably, you can now and then give them a plastic spoon (under your supervision) to play with. They will handle it and also put it in their mouth. This removes the first hurdle to feeding.
Together at the table: Let your baby sit with you at the table during meals, even if they don't eat independently yet. Gradually they will develop an interest in food. When you feed them for the first time, the eating situation will already feel somewhat familiar.
Don't mix foods during the introduction: At the start, feed only one type of fruit or vegetable puree, and serve it plain—without salt, sugar, or spices. Many babies do well with the mild taste of carrot or pear the first time.
Don't start with the puree when your baby is very hungry: Your baby will best be able to engage with the new experience if they are neither too hungry nor overly full: give the usual milk at the regular time and try a spoonful of puree about halfway through.
A few spoonfuls to start: Hardly any baby eats a full puree meal at the very beginning. Increase the amount of puree gradually depending on how your baby accepts solids.
Something new once a week: Every five to seven days you can offer a new food. This makes the adjustment easier for your baby and helps you quickly see if they can't tolerate a food.
Getting used to solids without pressure: If your baby rejects the spoon with puree even after several attempts, they may simply not be ready yet. Wait a few weeks and try again in a relaxed way.
What does a typical solid-food plan for a baby look like?
Breastfeeding/milk feed in the morning: Directly after waking, you should give your baby milk to meet their fluid needs and to provide the necessary energy for the day as simply as possible. The morning meal is usually the last to be replaced by a puree. Babies are often still breastfed or bottle-fed in the morning at 10–12 months.
Midday puree (5–7 months): It's best to start the first puree around midday. Ideal is a single pure vegetable variety, such as carrot, parsnip, potato, fennel, zucchini, or pumpkin. At first, the usual milk feed is supplemented with a few spoonfuls of puree until the puree gradually replaces the milk feed entirely.
Evening puree (6–8 months): If your baby eats a full puree meal at midday — about two to four weeks after the first solids — you can introduce another puree meal in the evening. This should not be vegetable-based but should consist of milk and cereal, possibly with fruit. Typical examples are rice, millet, or oats with milk and a little mashed banana or apple. Make sure the cereal puree contains no added sugar.
Fruit puree in the afternoon (7–9 months): After another month you can introduce the next puree meal in the afternoon. Make sure there are about 3–4 hours between meals and that your baby gets fluids in between in the form of water or unsweetened tea. Typically the afternoon puree consists of cereal and fruit and is prepared without milk.
