From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Best first foods for babies
The first spoonful is a big moment and a tiny one at the same time. Around 6 months most babies are ready, and the thing that takes the pressure off is this: these early meals are mostly practice, though they matter nutritionally too, iron especially. Breast milk or formula stays the main source of nutrition while solids grow into the job. Your only job right now is to offer good food and let your baby explore it.
Signs your baby is ready
- Can sit up with support and hold their head steady
- Shows interest in what you're eating
- Can move food to the back of the mouth and swallow (less tongue-pushing)
Not seeing these yet? There is no rush. The newborn months are their own stage, see what is worth tracking in the fourth trimester while you wait for the readiness signs.
Great foods to start with
Don't forget allergens
First foods are also the time to start introducing the big 9 allergens, one at a time. Read the complete allergen guide →
Foods to avoid in the first year
- Honey in any form, including baked into food (risk of infant botulism before 12 months)
- Cow's milk as a main drink (dairy foods like yogurt are fine)
- Added salt and sugar
- Choking hazards: whole nuts (they wait until about age 4), whole grapes and berries (quarter them lengthwise instead), popcorn, hard raw veg
See the full foods-to-avoid guide →
Related reading
See signs baby is ready for solids, first vegetables, and a day of eating by age.
Frequently asked questions
When can babies start solid foods?
Most babies are ready around 6 months, once they can sit with support, hold their head steady, and show interest in food. Breast milk or formula still provides most nutrition in the first year.
What are the best first foods for babies?
Soft, single-ingredient foods are great starters, with at least one iron-rich food in the mix: iron-fortified cereal, well-cooked meat, or lentils, alongside avocado, sweet potato, banana, and soft-cooked vegetables. Introduce common allergens too, one at a time.
What foods should babies avoid?
Avoid honey (before 12 months), cow’s milk as a main drink (before 12 months), added salt and sugar, and choking hazards like whole nuts, whole grapes, and hard raw vegetables.
Sources
Log every first bite, and keep it
Look up any food for the safe cut and prep by age, log the first try in a tap, and YummyYucky saves it as a keepsake of firsts you will want years from now. Free.
Log a first bite, freeLast updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.
This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.
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