Starting Solids: A Calm, Nutritious Approach to Baby's First Foods

Introducing solids is one of the loveliest milestones of the first year — and one of the messiest. With a calm approach, it becomes a daily adventure rather than a daily battle.

Wait for readiness, not just the calendar

Around six months, most babies show the signs: sitting with little support, good head control, losing the tongue-thrust reflex, and watching your food with real interest. These cues matter more than an exact date.

Begin with iron-rich, single-ingredient foods

Great first foods include well-cooked and pureed sweet potato, pumpkin, avocado, banana, and iron-fortified cereals. Offer one new food at a time for two to three days so you can spot any reaction easily.

Let your baby set the pace

In the beginning, solids are about exploration — tasting, squishing, smelling — while breast milk or formula remains the main source of nutrition. Follow your baby's cues, keep mealtimes unhurried, and never pressure a clean bowl.

If you'd like a personalised plan for your baby's first foods, our nutrition sessions walk you through it step by step, with plenty of Kenyan family favourites along the way.