Our Journey Starting Solids: How We Eased Into Real Food Without the Stress

Starting solids was one of those milestones that felt both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. I wanted to do it in a way that supported our son’s development, honored his cues, and matched the nutrition he was already getting from breast milk. Here’s how we approached it — what worked for us, what we learned, and a few tips that made the process smoother.

Waiting for Readiness

We waited until our little one had great head control and could sit up with support before offering any solids. Those signs told us his body was ready to start exploring food safely, plus we got the go ahead from our pediatrician.

Starting Simple

When it came time, we began with melt-in-your-mouth foods — soft, high-fat, and nutrient-dense options that closely mimicked the nutrition of breast milk. Some of our first foods were:

• Egg yolks- soft and hard boiled, poached and over medium pan fried in cast iron

• Mashed avocado

• Blended cottage cheese

• Full-fat greek yogurt

• Organic peanut butter

• Butter 

• Breast milk butter (yes, I made this and mixed it into foods!)

Because I struggled with eczema as a baby, I was mindful to include high-fat, nourishing foods early on. My goal was to help support his skin health and digestion while providing plenty of calories to match what he was already used to getting from breast milk.

Timing Matters

We started with one small solid meal per day, usually before lunchtime. This helped us avoid any potential gas issues at night and gave us the whole day to monitor how he reacted to new foods.

As he grew and his tummy adjusted, we gradually shifted meals later in the day and began offering fruits and vegetables alongside those healthy fats.

Building Up to More Meals

By around 7–8 months, he was eating two solid meals a day plus a snack here and there, though breast milk was still his main source of nutrition.

By 9 months, he had truly become a little foodie! We offered three meals most days, but if we didn’t fit all three in, it was no big deal. Babies are amazing at self-regulating, and I tried to remind myself that some days they’ll eat more, some days less — and that’s okay.

Little Tricks That Helped

Between 6–9 months, most foods were mashed or served as strips he could pick up himself. One trick that really helped prevent frustration was using more than one spoon.

I’d place a spoon with food on his plate and let him feed himself while I loaded up another one. By the time he was done, the next bite was ready — no tantrums or tug-of-war over the spoon!

9–11 Months: Messy, Fun, and Full of Learning

This stage was when we transitioned to bite-sized pieces and started offering variations of what we were eating at the table.

It also came with… a bit of chaos. More food on the floor, flying spoons, short attention spans, and meals that sometimes lasted only five minutes.

But I quickly learned to go with the flow. Skipping a meal or throwing most of it on the floor isn’t the end of the world — they’re still getting plenty of nutrients from milk during this phase.

The biggest goal for us was to keep mealtime relaxed, fun, and stress-free. I never wanted food to feel like a battle. When meals stay positive, it builds a healthy relationship with eating — and that matters more than a perfectly clean floor or a spotless high chair.

Starting solids doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. Follow your baby’s cues, embrace the mess, and focus on connection over perfection. Every baby is different — what matters most is keeping food exploration joyful and pressure-free. I've included a link with feeding products that we highly recommend for parents transitioning to solids soon or in the future.

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