Starting Solids: A Dad's Guide to First Foods, Allergens and Choking

Starting solids is one of the most fun parts of the first year, and a great job for dads to own: one meal a day, start to finish, including the cleanup (which is most of the job). Here’s what you need to know.

When to start

The AAP recommends introducing solid foods around 6 months, when your baby shows signs of readiness:

• Holds their head steady and upright.
• Sits with support.
• Shows interest in your food: watching, reaching, opening their mouth.
• Can move food from a spoon to the back of the mouth and swallow, rather than pushing it out with the tongue.

Talk to your pediatrician before starting earlier, and if your baby was born prematurely.

What to start with

There’s no magic first food. The CDC suggests offering a variety of foods from all food groups, and focusing on iron and zinc, which breastfed babies especially need by around 6 months. Good starters:

• Iron-rich foods: iron-fortified infant cereal, pureed or finely minced meat, mashed beans or lentils.
• Vegetables and fruits: mashed sweet potato, avocado, banana, peas, squash.
• Textures: smooth purees or very soft, mashable foods at first, moving to lumpier and soft finger foods over the following months.

Introduce one new food at a time and wait a few days before the next, so you can spot reactions.

Avoid before 12 months

• Honey, because of the risk of infant botulism.
• Cow’s milk as a main drink (small amounts in cooking are fine).
• Juice.
• Added salt and sugar.

Introducing allergens early

Guidance changed in the last decade. Introducing common allergens early can help prevent allergies. The AAP’s peanut allergy guidance says many babies can start peanut-containing foods around 4 to 6 months, in safe forms like peanut butter thinned with water or mixed into a puree (never whole peanuts or thick globs). Babies with severe eczema or an egg allergy may need evaluation before peanut is introduced. Talk to your pediatrician first.

Watch for reactions: hives, swelling of the lips or face, vomiting, or trouble breathing. Trouble breathing or swelling of the face or tongue means calling 911.

Choking safety

This is where dads can shine. From the AAP and CDC:

• Avoid or modify foods like whole grapes (quarter them), hot dogs, nuts and seeds, popcorn, hard raw vegetables and fruit chunks, chunks of cheese, and thick peanut butter.
• Soft and small: pieces that squish easily between your fingers.
• Upright and supervised: in a high chair for every meal, with you right there. Never in a car seat or while crawling around.

Gagging vs. choking: gagging is loud (coughing, sputtering, red-faced) and is a normal part of learning to eat. Choking is silent or weak, with trouble breathing. Take an infant CPR class so you know what to do.

Gear you need

A stable high chair with a harness, a few soft-tipped spoons, bibs, and a mat or old sheet under the chair. That’s it.

Budget

Simple budget high chair

Why dads like it

Starting solids only needs a stable chair with a 5-point harness and an easy-clean tray.

Best for

Families saving money for the bigger-ticket items.

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Make it fun

• Eat together. Babies learn by watching you.
• Expect faces. A grimace doesn’t mean dislike. It can take many tries before a baby accepts a new food.
• Let them explore. Squishing, smearing and dropping are part of learning.
• Follow their cues. Turning away or closing their mouth means done.