Starting Solids
Part 1: Lessons I’ve learnt
As my baby girl Josie turns one and officially graduates to toddlerhood, I’ve found myself reflecting on her first year—especially the whirlwind that was starting solids. Even though she’s my second baby, I was surprised by how uncertain I felt when it came time to begin. I assumed I’d just do what I did for her big brother… until I realised I couldn’t actually remember how we started solids with him!
So I turned to good old Google, and within minutes I was completely overwhelmed. There’s so much information out there, some of it amazing but unachievable, some of it totally contradictory, and most of it just plain confusing. Despite having done this before, I didn’t feel confident at all.
Eventually, I decided to block out the noise and focus on a few key principles that felt manageable and made sense for us. If you’re in the same boat and feeling a bit lost, I hope this post helps simplify things. I’ll dive deeper into nutrition and allergies in upcoming posts, but for now, here are the biggest lessons I’ve learned this time around.
1. Follow Baby’s Lead
The main thing to remember is that regardless of your baby’s age or what people or books or social media are telling you, they’ll know when they’re ready for food. They need to be able to hold their head up, sit mostly unsupported, and show interest in food.
I knew Josie was ready when she was trying to grab every single thing I ate for weeks. She still had to get a bit stronger, but as soon as she could sit in the highchair without slumping, she was ready and completely obsessed with food.
If you’re concerned that your baby seems interested in food and is getting older but isn’t quite strong enough to sit upright yet, it might be a good idea to bring them in for a check-up.
2. Embrace the Mess and Waste
This has been a hard lesson for me and one I still struggle with—but honestly, there’s no way around it. Babies learn to eat by feeling and playing with their food. The more they smear it, squeeze it, watch it fall, and explore it, the more likely they are to actually taste it.
Babies (and toddlers!) can take up to 20 exposures to a food before they enjoy eating it. So don’t be discouraged if most of it ends up on the floor or smeared across the tray—this is all part of learning to love food.
Also, save wiping their hands and face until after the meal. Most kids hate being cleaned mid-meal, and we don’t want them to associate eating with something unpleasant. Once they’re done, take them to the sink or bath, or if you need to clean them in the chair, get them involved in the clean-up.
3. Start with whole foods
Figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming, but I’ve found that sticking to simple, whole foods works best—think: meat, fruits, and vegetables.
I try to buy organic or local where I can, but I’m also realistic. When shopping at the supermarket, I use the “Dirty Dozen and Clean 15” guide to help prioritise which foods are worth buying organic. (I’ve included a reference pic below if you're not familiar with it!) When I can, I’ll order an organic fruit and veg box or visit the farmers’ markets.
4. Have Some Easy/Prepared Food on Hand
This has probably been the most important thing for me this time around. Some days I’m so time-poor (or have children attached to me!) that actually cooking a meal feels impossible.
Having something ready for Josie has been key—even if it’s just a banana I can hand her while prepping dinner.
Some easy go-to options:
· Frozen purees (I freeze them in ice cube trays)
· Meatballs
· Mini cucumbers
· Watermelon
· Roasted veg
· Eggs
I’ve also ordered from Le Puree a couple of times, which has been handy. I’m not a big fan of supermarket pouches, since the processing makes them lose a lot of their nutritional value—but they can work in a pinch!
Starting solids doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to work for you and your baby. There will be mess, uncertainty, and plenty of trial and error. But if you follow their lead, keep things simple, and give yourself a bit of grace, it can actually become a really fun and rewarding phase.
Now that Josie’s one, she’s completely obsessed with food—and honestly, it’s hard to keep her full! Seeing how much she enjoys mealtimes now makes all the early mess and confusion feel so worth it.
I hope this post helps you feel a little more confident and a little less overwhelmed as you begin your own solids journey.
A Few Good Resources
If you're looking for more guidance or ideas, these are some of the resources I found helpful:
Solid Starts – A comprehensive, evidence-based guide and app for starting solids, with a searchable food database and videos to support baby-led weaning. Their Instagram page is also full of helpful tips and food prep videos.
Boob to Food – Created by holistic nutritionist Luka McCabe, this site offers simple, nourishing food ideas and education to support you through the first year of feeding. Her Instagram is also packed with easy recipes and practical advice.
Le Puree – A convenient option for high-quality, nutritionist-approved baby and toddler meals delivered to your door.