Starting solids is one of those milestones many parents eagerly await. At the same time, countless questions suddenly arise: Is my baby ready yet? Do I have to start at six months? And what if they don't want to eat anything at all?
Little Myth
"My baby wants to take food right out of my hand, so they're ready for solids."
Not necessarily.
Interest in food is an important sign of readiness, but it's just one of several. For a safe and relaxed start to solids, other developmental steps should also be met.
But how do you actually know if your baby is truly ready?
What do WHO & Experts say?
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life. From about the completed sixth month of life, complementary foods can be introduced while continuing to breastfeed.
In Germany, many professional societies also adhere to introducing complementary foods not before the 17th and not after the 26th week of life – provided your baby shows the necessary signs of readiness.
Therefore, for us:
The calendar alone does not decide, but your baby does. Age provides a timeframe. The signs of readiness ultimately show you whether your child is ready for their first bite.
The Little Checklist: How do you know your baby is ready?
Every baby develops at their own pace. The following signs of readiness will help you assess whether you can look forward to starting solids together.
✔️️ Your baby can sit upright (with support).
For a safe start to solids, your baby should be able to hold their head well and sit as upright as possible in a high chair or on your lap. A stable posture makes swallowing easier and contributes to safe eating. However, being able to sit independently is not necessary.
✔️️ Your baby is interested in your food.
Your baby watches you eat attentively, follows the spoon with their eyes, or wants to reach for your plate. This interest is often one of the first signs that your baby is becoming curious about food.
✔️️ Your baby intentionally brings objects to their mouth.
Whether it's a toy, a teething ring, or later a piece of cucumber, your baby can grasp things independently and bring them to their mouth. This hand-to-mouth coordination is an important prerequisite for starting solids.
✔️️ The tongue-thrust reflex has diminished.
In the first months of life, babies have a natural protective reflex: anything that reaches the tongue is automatically pushed out again.
When this reflex diminishes, your baby can better keep food in their mouth, move it around, and swallow – an important prerequisite for starting solids.
✔️️ Your baby can move and swallow food in their mouth.
Starting solids isn't about eating large quantities. What's crucial is that your baby can safely move small amounts of food around in their mouth and swallow it.
It's completely normal, by the way, if a lot of it still falls out or ends up on the bib at first, as this skill is only practiced little by little.
What do you really need for a relaxed start to solids?
When we think about starting solids, countless products quickly end up in the shopping cart. However, it's often not the items that make the difference, but the atmosphere.
What your baby needs most now? Time, curiosity, and the opportunity to discover food at their own pace.
And what you need? Above all: composure.
Because especially at the beginning, not every carrot will be eaten, not every spoon will hit the mouth, and not every meal will go according to plan. That's part of it.
Little Essentials for Starting Solids
For a relaxed start to solids, you often need less than you think. The most important things can't be bought anyway.
✨ Patience
✨ Curiosity
✨ Time
✨ Shared meals
✨ A bib that can withstand even the biggest adventures.
Do you want to approach starting solids with a good feeling?
Even though every family finds its own way, many parents wish for some guidance, especially at the beginning.
That's precisely why we developed our Little Casimir Complementary Food Course.
In it, we guide you step-by-step through the introduction of solids: from the first signs of readiness to the introduction of new foods, to frequently asked questions about purees, baby-led weaning, and family routines.
Our goal is not to show you the one right way. But to give you the knowledge and confidence so you can calmly go your own way.
Little Reminder
There are many paths. The important thing is that yours suits you.
We wish you many curious glances, sticky fingers, first taste experiences, and lots of composure.
Because the most beautiful memories often arise not when everything goes perfectly, but right in the middle of the little chaos.
Safe Start to Solids
When eating, your baby should always sit upright and be supervised by an adult. Hard or round foods can pose an increased choking risk: whole nuts are therefore unsuitable, grapes should be cut into appropriate pieces. Honey should also not be on the menu in the first year of life.
Important to know: Gagging is not the same as choking. Gagging is a natural protective reflex that can occur more frequently, especially at the beginning of complementary feeding. Nevertheless, it is useful to familiarize yourself beforehand with the differences and the correct behavior in an emergency.
Note: This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice. If you have any uncertainties, please contact your pediatrician.
Little Question
What single tip would you give to a friend's family starting solids?