Starting Solids: What Helped Us

Starting solids felt exciting and overwhelming at the same time. I read a lot, saved a lot of posts, and still wasn’t sure what mattered and what didn’t. We ended up taking a simple, flexible approach and figured things out as we went. This post shares what helped us get started, the gear that actually earned a spot in our routine, and what I’d skip or wait on if I were doing it again.

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Starting solids without overthinking it

When we first started solids, I thought I needed a plan. A method. The right timeline. In reality, what helped most was letting go of the idea that there was one correct way to do this.

We used a mix of spoon feeding and finger foods and adjusted based on what felt comfortable for us and what our baby seemed ready for. Some days that meant a few bites. Other days it meant more mess than food. Both were normal.

It helped to remember that solids at the beginning are about exposure and learning, not volume. Milk was still doing the heavy lifting. My job was simply to offer food and watch how things unfolded.

If you’re feeling unsure or behind, you’re not. There is room to move slowly, change your mind, and figure out what works for your baby and your family.

First foods we started with

When it came to first foods, we kept things very simple. I didn’t follow a strict list or timeline. I focused on foods that felt soft, manageable, and easy to prepare without making a whole separate meal.

We started with a mix of spoon foods and finger foods. Things like soft fruits, well cooked vegetables, yogurt, oatmeal, and simple mashed foods felt like a comfortable place to begin. When we offered finger foods, they were soft enough to squish easily between my fingers.

What mattered more than the specific food was how it was prepared. Bigger pieces that were easy to grab worked better than tiny bites. And repeating the same foods helped me feel less overwhelmed and helped my baby get familiar with new textures.

Some days food was mostly tasted and explored. Other days it was barely touched. Both were normal, and neither meant we were doing anything wrong.

Gagging vs choking and what helped me stay calm

Gagging was the part of starting solids that made me the most nervous. Even knowing it was normal, it was hard not to tense up when it happened.

What helped was learning that gagging and choking are not the same thing. Gagging is loud and dramatic and uncomfortable to watch, but it’s a natural reflex that helps babies learn how to manage food. Choking is quiet and requires immediate help.

Reminding myself of that difference helped me stay calmer in the moment. Staying calm mattered more than anything, because my baby picked up on my reactions.

We always made sure our baby was sitting upright and supervised during meals. I also felt better offering foods that were soft and easy to manage at the beginning, then building confidence from there.

If gagging makes your heart race, you’re not alone. It gets easier with time, and confidence builds quickly once you see your baby learn what to do.

How much food is enough at the beginning

This was the question I kept asking myself, even when no one else was saying it out loud. Was my baby eating enough? Was I offering too much? Was I supposed to be tracking this somehow?

What helped was remembering that, early on, solids are about learning, not nutrition. Milk was still the main source of calories, and food was more about exposure, practice, and curiosity. Some meals were a few bites. Some meals were mostly play. Both were completely fine.

I stopped focusing on how much ended up in my baby’s mouth and started paying attention to interest instead. Was there curiosity? Reaching? Tasting? That mattered more than volume.

There were days when very little was eaten and days when more was. None of it followed a neat pattern, and that was normal. Appetite changed day to day, just like it does for adults.

If you’re worried your baby isn’t eating enough solids yet, you’re probably doing better than you think. At this stage, consistency and low pressure matter far more than quantity.

Solids gear we actually used

We kept our solids setup very simple and added things slowly. I tried to avoid buying a lot up front and focused on what we actually reached for day to day. These are the pieces that earned a spot in our routine.

Utensils

Simple spoons worked best for us. We didn’t need anything fancy or overly flexible. Something easy to hold, easy to clean, and comfortable for early feeding was enough. We stuck with one style and didn’t feel the need to rotate options.

Cups

We introduced a cup early, but kept it straightforward. An open cup or a straw cup for small sips of water felt like a good place to start. We skipped spouts and focused on something that could grow with us.

Bibs and Mats

This was one area where having the right setup really helped. A good bib or a mat under the high chair saved a lot of cleanup and made meals feel less stressful. It was less about keeping things spotless and more about making mess manageable.

High Chair Setup

What mattered most to me was stability and positioning. An upright seat with good foot support made a bigger difference than any extra features. Once we had that in place, meals felt calmer and more controlled.

Freezer Trays

Freezer trays were surprisingly helpful. Being able to prep small portions ahead of time took pressure off daily meals and made it easier to offer variety without extra work.

We didn’t add everything at once, and we didn’t need a lot to get started. A few solid basics went a long way.

Solids gear I’d skip or wait on

Some solids gear looks helpful at first but didn’t end up being necessary for us early on. This doesn’t mean these items are bad or never useful. They just weren’t things we reached for often in the beginning.

Silicone bowls and plates
Early on, food was mostly about exploration, and we found it easier to focus on the basics before adding more dishes into the mix. Also, they're known to attract lint, dust, and pet hair. They can also hold on to soap flavors and odors, especially when washed in the dishwasher. Gross.

Sippy cups with spouts
You skip the sippy cup because its hard spout can hinder oral motor skills, potentially causing tongue-thrust, speech delays, and incorrect swallowing patterns, while also promoting tooth decay by keeping sugars near teeth! (This dentist says NO THANK YOU!) Instead, speech therapists recommend transitioning directly to straw cups or open cups to develop mature drinking and speech skills. Sippy cups were designed for convenience, not child development, as the spout mimics a bottle nipple, preventing the tongue from moving correctly.

Special blender parts
We skipped extra blender attachments and gadgets. Soft foods and simple prep were enough at the start, and we didn’t feel the need for anything complicated.

Flexible spoons
We tried flexible spoons and found that sturdier options worked better for us early on. They were easier to control and felt more practical.

Gear you don’t use daily
If something wasn’t getting used regularly, it didn’t earn a place on our counter. Keeping only what we reached for most often made meals feel calmer and more manageable.

If I could go back to the beginning, I’d tell myself to slow down and trust the process. You don’t need a perfect plan, the right schedule, or every piece of gear to get started.

Your baby will learn with time. Some days will feel easy and some days will feel messy. Both count. What matters most is showing up consistently and keeping meals low pressure.

It’s okay to change your mind, add things later, or skip things altogether. You’ll figure out what works for your baby as you go, and that matters more than doing everything “right.”

If you want to see the solids items we actually used, they’re linked in our favorites. And if you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone. You’re doing better than you think.

What I’d tell a friend starting solids

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. I only share products we’ve actually used and found helpful.