All babies start out with either breast milk or formula, but must eventually wean over to regular solid foods. Although it may seem scary at first, teaching a baby how to eat can be a very rewarding and memorable time for both you and your baby. To ensure your baby is properly taught how to chew and swallow solid foods, you must train them how to eat by introducing certain foods at first.



Most babies start solid foods between six and nine months, depending on their development and interest in solid foods. You will want to first start with small soft pieces, usually fruits or vegetables they have had in a pureed form. Small pieces of carrots, peas, and even bananas are great for first solids, since they are easy for babies to self feed and mash up with their gums. You will want to introduce only one solid at a time, to make sure and pinpoint a certain food if an allergic reaction occurs.

Once your baby has learned how to master very soft pieces, you can then start to introduce different textures to your child. Peaches are great for beginners, since they are soft but not as mushy as steamed vegetables. They should be cut into bite sized pieces to prevent a choking hazard, as with any solid food given to a baby learning how to eat solid foods.

The best time to introduce solid foods to your child is before his regular feeding, since he will be hungry and almost always willing to try something new. You will want to start off with only a few bites at a time, since it may take your child a few days to learn how to mash up solid pieces with his gums. You can give him milk or formula after he has taken a few bites, just to ensure he is getting enough to eat.

Because your child is probably used to pureed foods and milk, he may be stubborn about trying solid foods at first. Although it may be discouraging to have your child reject the food you give him, make sure to keep offering solid foods even when he doesn't seem interested. He will eventually learn that solid foods can cure his hunger, and will become more interested over time.

When feeding your child solid foods, you will want to make sure he is in a high chair or booster chair. Rather than spoon feeding, you will want to offer the solids on the tray of the chair and allow him to pick them up and feed himself. This will prepare him for utensils in the future, and also help with coordination and movement.

There are many foods on the market that make introducing solids very easy, such as fruit puffs that easily melt when they come in contact with saliva. They come in a wide variety of flavors, and can help your child learn how to use their gums to mash up their food without having to worry about him choking. Biter biscuits and wheat crackers can also be helpful, since they easily melt in the mouth while teaching your baby how to take bites that he can handle. Once your child has learned to eat finger sized foods, you can start introducing foods that require bites to be taken.

Introducing solid foods to your baby can be a very fun experience, as long as you know which foods to introduce to make him learn easier. Although it may take time and effort, it is best to stick with it and let your baby decide when he is ready to eat. By being consistent and offering solids on a regular basis, you can have your baby eating solids in no time.