Starting Solids: A Gentle Weaning Guide for First-Time Parents

Starting solids is an exciting milestone — and also one that comes with a lot of questions. When do you start? What food first? What about allergies? Here's a simple guide to help you feel confident at the table.

When to start

Most health authorities recommend introducing solids at around 6 months, alongside continued breastmilk or formula. Look for signs of readiness: your baby can sit up with minimal support, has good head control, shows interest in food, and has lost the tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food back out.

First foods

There's no strict "must start with rice cereal" rule anymore. Good first foods include:

Iron-rich purées: well-cooked and blended meat, lentils, or iron-fortified infant cereal
Soft cooked and mashed vegetables: pumpkin, sweet potato, carrot, broccoli
Soft fruits: banana, papaya, avocado, steamed apple or pear — tropical fruits like papaya and banana are gentle, easy-to-mash options widely available in MY/SG

Whether you choose purées, mashed foods, or baby-led weaning (offering soft finger foods from the start), the most important thing is following your baby's cues and going at their pace.

Introducing common allergens

Current guidance actually encourages introducing common allergenic foods — peanut, egg, dairy, wheat, fish — early and one at a time (around 6 months, not delayed), as this may help reduce the risk of food allergies. Introduce one new allergenic food at a time, in a small amount, and watch for any reaction over the next day or two. If your family has a history of severe allergies or eczema, talk to your paediatrician first about how to introduce these foods safely.

Textures and progression

6 months: smooth purées or very soft mashed food
7–9 months: thicker mashes, soft lumps, soft finger foods (steamed vegetable sticks, ripe fruit slices)
9–12 months: minced or chopped family foods, more finger foods, practising self-feeding with a spoon

What to avoid before age 1

Honey (risk of infant botulism)
Whole nuts and hard, round foods that are choking hazards (grapes, cherry tomatoes should be quartered)
Added salt and sugar
Unpasteurised dairy products

Keep mealtimes relaxed

Some days your baby will eat well, other days barely anything — and that's completely normal. Babies are still getting most of their nutrition from milk for several more months. Offer a variety of foods, let your baby explore textures (mess included!), and try to enjoy this messy, milestone-filled stage.