Serving sizes

Begin by offering tiny portions, gradually increasing as your baby shows interest. Pay attention to their cues – if they turn away or close their mouth, they’ve likely had their fill. You have flexibility in how you prepare first foods, whether mashed, smoothed, pureed, or in soft pieces. 

While it’s not necessary to puree everything, certain foods like meats may be easier for your baby to eat in pureed form initially. Over a few weeks, you can transition from smooth or pureed foods to mashed and soft pieces. 

An essential aspect of this transition is your baby’s ability to self-feed and pick up food with their fingers, requiring both a good pincher grasp and the ability to mash and gum foods effectively.

Your baby may eat all you offer at a mealtime, or stop quickly when they have had enough. They will let you know they are finished by:

• turning their head away
• pushing the food or your hand away
• closing their mouth and/or crying
• if your baby is really not interested, take the food away. Mealtimes should be enjoyable and your child should not be forced to eat