Many parents don't realize that feeding purees is done over a relatively short period of time. By 9 months of age, most babies should be transitioned over to soft table food. Continuously advancing textures helps to ensure your baby doesn't get stuck on one texture and reduces feeding issues [7] later on.
But as a guide, it's wise to try to gradually alter the consistency of his foods from seven months onwards, and aim to have stopped pureeing completely by 12 months.
Offer soft foods that have been mashed with a fork, mashing less as tolerated. Offer pieces of overcooked table foods that are soft and easy to chew. Place small pieces of soft solid foods on the sides of your child's mouth directly on their biting surfaces to promote better tongue movement for chewing.
Babies can eat cooked rice from six months of age, as long as they are developmentally ready for solids. So yes, your 9 month old can safely eat cooked rice.
Finger foods mark the critical transition between purees and table food where your baby can start to develop self-feeding skills. Giving your baby bite-sized pieces allows them to practice their pincer grasp, which is the coordination between the index finger and thumb to hold an item.
Stage 1 baby food is made for infants 4-6 months old. It usually consists of smooth or watery purees made from a single-ingredient paste. In comparison, stage 2 baby food is designed for infants 6-9 months old, and is a thicker texture, between mashed and puréed. It may include combinations of meat and veggies or fish.
Eggs may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Egg is a common food allergen, so consider baby's risk factors and start with scant quantities of well-cooked egg (white and yolk) as some babies can have severe reactions to even the smallest amount of eggs.
Introducing solids before 4 months of age can increase the risk of choking and cause your infant to drink less than the needed amount of breast milk. But introducing solids too late can increase the risk of your child developing allergies.
Once your baby has turned six months old and has met the five signs of readiness for starting solids, meat is a great food to use as the basis of their solid food diet. Meat tends to be coarser than many other foods, so you may have to slightly alter how you prepare it, based on the age of your child.
Here's the basic premise: Instead of feeding infants purees with a spoon, parents offer them graspable, soft finger foods. The goal is that your little one will feed himself, which promotes hand-eye coordination, independence, and healthy eating habits.
And, it's completely possible to transition from purees to baby-led weaning if you decide you want to! All babies should begin eating table foods by 9 months anyway, so you'll have to make the transition at some point.
General feeding guidelines
A 1-year-old can eat most table foods and shouldn't need baby foods any longer. You can begin whole or 2% milk from a cup. Continue Vitamin D supplementation of at least 400-600 IU/day for all children. Infant vitamin drops are available at pharmacies and specialty stores.
Baby may get stuck on a texture
Many parents don't realize that feeding purees is done over a relatively short period of time. By 9 months of age, most babies should be transitioned over to soft table food.
Can a baby eat too much? In theory, yes, a baby can eat more food than they need are there are certain factors that may make this more likely. They include being fed by others, adults not being responsive to baby's cues that they are finished and the spread and timings of foods being offered by parents across a day.
4 to 6 months:
24 to 36 ounces of formula or milk over 24 hours (or five to eight nursing sessions a day) 1 to 4 tablespoons of cereal once or twice a day. 1 to 4 tablespoons each of a fruit and vegetable once or twice a day.
Eating solids is a new skill for your baby, so you want to ensure they are not sleepy or overly hungry when you offer them. The meal can be at different times of the day, and if you need to skip a day here or there, that's completely fine!
Babies can start eating cheese as soon as they begin baby-led weaning. The key is to serve it in a way that's easy for them to pick up, but is also safe. Around 6 months, try shredded cheese pieces or serve soft cheese such as ricotta or cottage cheese on a preloaded spoon.
6 to 9 months old: Offer full-fat (whole milk), pasteurized, plain yogurt. Greek yogurt is perfect for this age and will be easiest for babies to self-feed. Let baby scoop up the yogurt with their hands and/or eat from a pre-loaded spoon (passing the spoon in the air will make it easier for baby to grab).
Avocado can be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Ripe avocados are soft and loaded with nutrients, making them a wonderful first food.
From 6–8 months old, feed your baby half a cup of soft food two to three times a day. Your baby can eat anything except honey, which they shouldn't eat until they reach 12 months old. You can start to add a healthy snack, like mashed fruit, between meals.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parents introduce allergenic and non-allergenic foods - including peanuts - starting around 4-6 months of age, in infants without a history of an allergic disorder, such as eczema or food allergies.
Your baby may be ready for finger foods around the time they can sit up without support and start bringing their hands to their mouth. This typically happens around the age of 8 or 9 months. Your baby may also be using their pincer grasp by this time, which will make it easier to eat independently.
Baby-Led Weaning Basics
The basic idea is to skip purées, mashed-up fruit and rice cereal and let babies feed themselves right from the start at about 6 months of age. They sit in a highchair with a spread of finger foods from the family meal, then attempt to transfer the food to their mouths all by themselves.