Feeding your 6-8 month old baby solid food marks a new and exciting milestone in your baby’s development.
Your 6 – 8 month old baby will be able to enjoy a variety of foods that are tasty and healthy.
Bananas, avocado, squash and sweet potatoes all are considered healthy and safe first solid foods.
Be sure to check out our Solid Food Charts for your 4-6 month old baby and your 6-8 month old baby see what foods are available for your baby.
Introducing Solid Foods at 6 to 8 months – What is the best texture for my 6-8 month old baby?
Foods for your baby between the 6 and 8 month old age range may include thin purees, a variety of textures and/or soft finger foods.
It is typically recommended that baby’s begin solid foods that are very thin and runny. This is said to help baby make the transition from liquid to solid foods. Thin purees may be better for the many babies who start solid foods early. Thin foods however should not be “sucked in” as with liquid feeding as there is a danger of aspiration.
More on Texture for your 6-8 Month Old Baby
Many parents are choosing to follow the Baby Led Weaning approach to introducing solid foods. This means that babies start solids with lumps and its of foods as opposed to thin purees. Read our Baby Led Weaning article to learn more.
Most babies will begin solid foods by eating a variety of thin purees. These purees may be made from fruits or vegetables and whole grains too. Some babies enjoy thick purees while others jump right in with lumps and chunks. The texture that you make homemade baby food will depend entirely on your baby’s preferences and abilities.
Making baby food purees is very easy. One of the best things about making homemade baby food is that you can decide what texture is right for your baby. Learn how to make a baby food puree and how to thin or thicken up homemade baby foods.
What is the Tongue-Thrust Reflex?
According to Dr. Jim Sears, in the first four months the tongue thrust reflex protects the infant against choking. When any unusual substance is placed on the tongue, it automatically protrudes outward rather than back.
Between four and six months this reflex gradually diminishes, giving the glob of cereal a fighting chance of making it from the tongue to the tummy. If your 6 month old still has this reflex, you may want to hold off on solid foods for a little while longer.
The 4 Day Wait Rule – It might not be necessary but may be a good idea
When feeding your 6-8 month old baby, it is important to remember the 4 day wait rule. As your baby is just starting to eat solid food, you may want to feed your baby new foods at an interval of 3-4 days apart. This will help you check for any possible food allergies. The 4 day wait rule will also help you rule out any foods that may cause tummy upsets.
Remember that an allergy is not the same as an intolerance and tummy upsets don’t necessarily mean that your baby has a food allergy or a food intolerance. If a tummy upset is caused by a certain food, it may simply be due to your baby’s digestive system not being ready for that food.
