As a dietitian and hard-core lover of food, I was so excited when the time came to introduce solid food to our little guy Max! It’s such a huge milestone in a baby’s development, which can be really fun but also a bit nerve racking. I can see how parents can get overwhelmed, there are SO many different thoughts on what, when and how to feed a baby, it’s enough to make any sleep-deprived mom’s (or dad’s) head spin!
If you’ve been following me on Instagram stories you will have seen that I’ve been experimenting with different combinations of foods for Max and Leo (my cousin Jillian’s sweet little boy), most with success… minus the beets, those were a disaster (I finally figured them out and shared the recipe with you further down)! This post was forever in the making (and is a LONG one!). I wanted to share my experience with you, give you some tips on setting you up for success and take the time to answer some of the top infant feeding questions that you’ve been asking to help any of you who are just beginning this journey.
I’ve broken this post into 3 parts:
Part I: Baby Feeding Gear Essentials
Part II: Making your own baby food
Part III: The top 9 infant feeding questions (and answers!)
PART I: My Top 5 Baby Gear Picks
As with anything ‘baby’, it’s good to know what gear you need to make feeding your baby a breeze! I’ve included a must-have gear guide here to help you decide what is a ‘nice to have’ versus a ‘need to have’:
- Good quality high chair. Let’s face it, your baby is going to be spending A LOT of time in this chair, and YOU are going to spend a lot of time cleaning it! You want a chair that is easy to clean, safe, and is easy for your baby to sit in. Ok, and let’s face it, having one that is stylish (ahem, it will be in the CENTRE of your kitchen) is a good idea too! I was so fortunate to have a Stokke Steps highchair gifted to me by their team, as this was my absolute first pick when it came to choosing a highchair for Max. It is super sleek, so easy to clean, as a perfect little foot rest AND it adapts so that you can use it with the Stokke Bouncer way before your baby is ready for solids. This feature was the bomb to be honest, it let Max be up at our eye level and a part of the action (one of the hallmark features of the Stokke products, including their strollers which we have, I’m in love with their products), and was one of the best pieces of gear that we had for him along with the Stokke Trails Stroller. Note: if you are buying the Steps to use as a highchair you need to purchase all three parts pictured below.
- Baby Food Cooker AND/OR a Good Blender. I used the Beaba Babycook machine from West Coast Kids for most of my recipes (note: it was gifted to me), and have given you the proportions for the machine, but you can cook the ingredients in a pot on the stove as well with enough water to cook the food (just to cover, and add more if you need to) and use a blender such as a Vitamix to blend the food. I enjoyed using the Beaba machine, it was very easy to operate and I liked that I could cook and puree the food in one container versus dirtying extra dishes. The one I have has two small vessels, one side purees but you can purchase a less expensive one that only has one container.
- Small containers for freezing the food. I really loved the Beaba ones from West Coast Kids, the portions are perfect for a baby’s meal, and the food just pops out of it once frozen. I kept the frozen food in labelled plastic bags, and just pulled them out of the freezer when I needed them. So easy! I learned with Charlie that the stackable snack containers (like the one on the right below) are a lifesaver once your baby is eating finger food!
- Bibs…and more bibs. Just when you think you have enough bibs, buy more. Really, this is a messy affair and a couple of bibs just isn’t going to cut it! I love the Pehr, Aiden & Anais and the Numpfer ones the best! The Numpfer ones are neat because they double as a wash cloth as well. Which you will need a lot of too!
- Baby spoons, fresh food baby feeders, cups & bowls. There are so many to choose from here. For spoons, Max loved the Munchkin ones along with the Beaba ones, but it really depends on your baby’s preference. Tommy Tippy and OXO make some good sippy cups, and Thermos makes a stainless steel one for anybody who wants to avoid the extra plastic or simply wants an insulated version for the hotter months (alternately you can use a regular open cup and help your baby drink). A fresh food baby feeder was another great tool to have; the silicone ones are easy to clean and made it fun and safe for Max to try new foods without the choking hazard (I didn’t like the ones made from mesh, they were very difficult to clean).
PART II: Making Your Own Baby Food – Max’s Favourite Recipes!
These recipes are all geared toward the Beaba Babycook machine as that is what I used, but you can cook the food over medium heat on the stove with just enough water to cover the food, and use a Vitamix to puree it. If you happen to have a personal sized Vitamix blender or a Magic Bullet, I would recommend using that if you are only making a small amount, as the larger blenders have a wide base that makes it challenging to blend small volumes. Always save the cooking liquid to add back to the food as you’re blending it to get the consistency that you want.
I’m sharing Max’s favourite five recipes, but there are so many out there! The Beaba Cooks cookbook has some great ideas for making your own baby food and I also found some on the Vitamix website; I linked a couple of others cookbooks below in case you were looking. Don’t make it too complicated: you can even blend or mash up your own family meal when it is feasible (i.e.: some of you may have seen me make a moose stew for Max, and that was all it was, our stew that we pureed in the Vitamix without the extra salt and just some water added to it).
Where it indicates ‘diced’ below, I diced them into approximately 1/2″-1″ cubes. All ingredients are uncooked. Use the baby food within 2 days if storing in the fridge, or freeze them into small portions to thaw as needed.
The instructions for each recipe below are identical unless otherwise indicated:
Fill the Beaba water tank to level 3 and cook for 15 minutes. Place all of the ingredients in the basket and cook according to the instructions. When cooked, empty the basket back into the cooking vessel (adding the cooking water back to the vessel if you emptied it), and puree until smooth. Add more water to get the desired texture if needed.
If you don’t have a baby cooker use cooked ingredients (i.e.: steam them in some water in a pot) and purée in a good blender (save any cooking liquid to add back to the food to attain the desired consistency, plus extra water if needed).
Salmon + Potato + Yam
- 2 oz. diced fresh (or previously frozen) salmon, de-boned & skin removed – I used Haida Wild
- 3/4 c. diced yam
- 3/4 c. diced peeled russet potato
- 1/2 tsp. fresh dill (optional)
Important: Double check to make sure that no bones remain in the puree before feeding it to your baby!
Chicken + Pear + Butternut Squash
- 1 c. diced peeled and seeded butternut squash
- 3/4 c. diced peeled and cored ripe pear (I used Bartlett)
- 2 oz. diced organic skinless and boneless chicken breast
Lentil + Apple + Yam
- 1/2 c. red lentils, soaked
- 2/3 c. diced peeled and cored apple (I used Spartan, MacIntosh or Gala)
- 1 c. diced peeled yam
Roasted Beet + Apple
- 2 c. diced peeled beets (about 2-3 medium beets)
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 1 c. diced peeled & cored apple (I recommend Gala, Spartan or MacIntosh)
Directions: Preheat the oven to 400F. Place the beets in a 9×9 baking dish, toss with olive oil, cover with aluminum foil and roast for 1 hour. Set the beets aside to cool, then cook the beets and the apple together in the Beaba as per the instructions above.
Green Pea + Split Pea + Spinach or Kale
- 1/2 c. dried split peas
- 1 c. frozen green peas
- 1 c. loosely packed baby spinach leaves (or kale, ribs removed)
Directions: Rinse the split peas, place in a small heavy bottomed pot (I used a mini Staub rice cooker, worked perfectly), cover with about 2 inches of water, and cook over medium heat until the peas are soft, about 30 minutes (stir the peas occasionally and add more water if needed). Drain the peas, place them in the Beaba with the remaining ingredients and cook according to the directions above.
PART III: Top 9 Infant Feeding Questions and Answers!
I wanted to share some of the top infant feeding questions that come up on a regular basis and my answers.
Note: these guidelines are in-line with Canadian recommendations and are based on my professional opinion coupled with latest evidence. Always speak with your healthcare provider (i.e.: doctor or dietitian) if you have any concerns or questions. The information provided is not meant to replace any personalized advice you may get from your healthcare provider.
1. When will I know that my baby is ready to eat food?
At about 6 months, most babies are ready for other foods. Some babies are ready a bit before, some are ready a bit after. However, you don’t want to wait more than a couple of weeks past the 6 month mark, as babies’ iron stores are depleted around that time, and breastmilk and formula alone aren’t sufficient to meet their needs. Of course, along with other foods, you can continue to breastfeed until your baby is 2 years and beyond (at this stage when you are introducing your baby to solids, continue to breastfeed or formula feed your baby). You’ll know baby is ready to start other foods when he or she:
- Seems hungry earlier than usual.
- Can sit up without support, and has good control of his neck muscles.
- Holds food in his mouth without pushing it out on his tongue right away.
- Shows interest in food when others are eating.
- Opens his mouth when he sees food coming his way.
- Can let you know he doesn’t want food by leaning back or turning his head away.
(Source: Canadian Pediatric Society website)
2. What should I feed my baby first?
Iron rich foods should be the first thing that you introduce to a baby, as your baby’s iron stores are depleted at around 6 months of age. Commercially prepared iron fortified baby cereals, beans, lentils, tofu, meat, fish, and eggs are all good choices (texture appropriate, of course), and should be offered to your baby at least twice a day. Maintaining adequate iron is essential to infant growth and development (iron is a critical nutrient in brain development), and iron deficiencies in infancy and childhood can lead to serious irreversible effects.
3. When is the best time of day to introduce solids?
Morning is typically the time of day when babies are most hungry. It’s best to introduce a new food in the morning to give you time throughout the day to monitor for any possible reactions, including allergic reactions.
4. Should I delay introducing any certain foods to help prevent allergies?
Current evidence supports introducing a variety of foods, in no particular order (other than iron rich foods above), including foods with a greater allergic potential (i.e.: peanuts, eggs, wheat, fish). Talk with your healthcare provider should you have concerns surrounding the introduction of certain foods and allergies. Honey should not be offered to babies under a year of age due to the risk of food poisoning (botulism).
5. How often and how much should I feed my baby?
Between 6-9 months, it’s recommended to feed your baby pureed and well mashed foods without lumps 2-3 times a day.
After 9 months it’s safe to start introducing more texture, including whole grain crackers and foods that dissolve in the mouth, family foods, ground or soft mashed foods with tiny soft lumps, and finger foods. Offer your baby food 3-4 times per day. If you’re introducing cow’s milk to replace breastmilk or infant formula, wait until your baby is 9-12 months in age.
How much your baby will eat is up to him or her. Your baby may only eat a teaspoon when you first introduce solids, but will increase the volume consumed as he or she gets older. This will vary from meal to meal so don’t get too fixated on the exact volume so long as your baby is growing and developing well.
6. When should I start offering water, and what about other liquids such as juice or milk?
Water should be offered throughout the day once your baby starts solids. There is no need, or benefit, to giving your baby juice, and juice may cause stomach upset and tooth decay. Milk (start with homogenized if you are introducing milk before two years of age) is not necessary to introduce until your baby is no longer being breast or bottle fed with formula or breastmilk.
7. Is a vegan diet appropriate for my baby?
Technically, you can feed a baby a vegan diet if you are VERY vigilant about what you feed your baby. HOWEVER, I don’t recommend it. I know this may be controversial, but it is very difficult to feed your baby all of the nutrients that he or she needs at this critical stage where the brain and body are growing and developing at such a rapid pace with a vegan diet (i.e.: Vitamin B-12, Vitamin D, iron, zinc and calcium). Vitamin B12 is a specific concern as a shortage can lead to neurological problems. Vegan diets can also contain a lot of fiber, which fills you up quickly. Children have small stomachs, and the fiber they eat can fill them up before they get enough calories (frequent nutritious high calorie snacks can help).
Should you choose to feed your baby a vegan diet please consult a dietitian who specializes in this area prior to starting solids to make sure that your baby is getting the nutrition that he or she needs to grow.
Commercially prepared infant cereal is iron fortified, which serves as a significant source of iron for babies. I therefore don’t recommend making your own baby cereal.
9. What about Baby Led Weaning?
Baby Led Weaning (BLW), which is essentially ditching the purees for regular food that the baby feeds to him or herself, has gained enormous popularity in recent years. Parents typically choose this route of feeding because they perceive that it offers a range of benefits to the baby including enhanced enjoyment for the baby, greater participation in family meals, reduced risk of developing ‘picky eating’ habits, decreased cost of feeding the baby or accelerating the baby’s feeding abilities.
What is the risk? Choking. Young children don’t know how to chew food into tiny pieces. And they haven’t learned how to bring a piece of food back up when it gets caught going down. Note, choking and gagging are different as choking can be life threatening. I’ve had Max gag on foods (even simple pureed foods) more time than I can count which still scares me. Some babies may be able to tolerate a more varied texture earlier in life, each baby is different!
I think that the notion of Baby Led Weaning is seen as an ‘all or nothing’ type of approach, which I don’t agree with. Babies need to learn how to eat, and may not get all of the nutrition they need if left to fend for themselves with finger foods exclusively. I support a combination of pureed and mashed foods with the introduction of texture-appropriate finger foods when the baby is ready such as ripe avocado, strips of whole wheat toast, ripe pieces of banana and well cooked sticks of carrots.
Avoid foods that are likely to cause choking including those that are small, round or cylindrical in shape, like hot dogs, whole grapes, carrot slices, seeds and hard candy (avoid candy all together of course, but I had to put that in there). Always supervise children while they are eating, and make sure that they are sitting down to eat to decrease the risk of choking.
Thank you to the following companies for helping make this post possible!
Thanks to West Coast Kids for giving me a Beaba cooker, Stokke Baby for gifting me a Steps Highchair and Vitamix for the blender

Perfect timing for this post! My little one is 10 weeks old and I’ve just started thinking about the next step for his feeding Ina couple months. Thanks for sharing, very informative and the recipes sound great – especially the salmon one!
Congrats Marta on your new bambino, being a mom is the best gift ever!!!
Great blog post! I just started my little girl on solids a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been finding all the information on the web really overwhelming. Especially the whole puree vs BLW movement. This post sums up everything really nicely. I’m looking forward to trying those recipes!! Thanks!!
Hi Courtenay, thanks so much! Have fun with the feeding journey, there is so much information out there, it sounds like you’re doing a great job weeding through it and making good choices for your little girl!
This is an amazing post. Thank you for being so detailed. Our little guy is ready to start solids soon and I was getting really overwhelmed. This post will be extremely helpful 🙂
Hi Tanvi, yes it IS overwhelming! I’m glad this can help a bit! Good luck and have fun with the new stage!
Thank you for posting this Tori! Soo helpful 🙂
Very helpful and can’t wait to try some of the recipe’s XO
Thanks so much Anna would love to hear how they go! xx
Hi Tori! Love this post! Thank you for sharing 🙂 I have a question about infant cereals. Which ones would you recommend. Thank you in advance.
Thank you so much Tori for this post and your wonderful recipes. My little wee man is 8 months old and a hungry fella! I make everything from scratch and always concerned about what goes into his little tummy. I’ve been feeding him the same purées so It’s so nice to get a fresh new list of recipes for him to try. I have not done beets yet! I’m still breastfeeding exclusively and he eats 3 times a day, question: could I introduce kefir?I’ll be trying your recipes this week!
Thank you,
Jessica
Hi Jessica, well done! He’s a lucky little man to have a mom like you! I think it would be totally fine to introduce kefir as a part of his diet. Thanks for following along! Take care, Tori
How do you cook the chicken in the above recipe? Is it boiled along with the other veggie ingredients? Same question for the salmon? Thanks! Also curious how many oz is a decent benchmark. My little guy is having 3oz at breakfast, 3 at lunch and 4 at dinner; all simple fruit/veg purées. He’s 6.5 months.
Hi Alison, I used raw salmon and chicken, it all cooks together! Don’t get too caught up on the volume that he eats, if he is eating until he turns it away and his weight is stable (and you’re still feeding him breastmilk and or formula of course), there’s no need to worry. A healthy baby will eat what he or she needs, but for the record, those amounts sound good to me!
Thanks Tori! I’ll definitely be trying these. We love our stokke too! Wanted to add that my absolute favourite bib is the “Make My Day”. It cleans so easily and quickly (and super cute!). I’ve seen them at Weatcoast Kids and Chapters. https://makemydayproducts.com/collections/bibs
Love that thank you Pamela!!
Wondering if you had any tips on purred meats. My daughter is 7 months and I have puréed organic chicken breast that I boiled in water. I ended up pureeing them in the Vitamix until it looked like a smoothie consistency. When I thaw the cubes they are rubbery and stuck together and when I try to shred it as best as I can it ends up in small bits. My daughter doesn’t like the texture and she gags at it and won’t eat it but she loves all other food. Wondering if there’s a better way ?
Wow! Thank you for writing this post. my son is nine months now and he loves the Love Child Organics food but I also wanted to start making my own and this has helped me get ideas. Looking forward to trying the recipes!
Thanks Jessica would love to hear how they go!
Thank you for this great post! I’ve just started introducing solids to my second child– and I’m pretty overwhelmed! You’d think I would feel a little more confident being that he’s my second– but my first was NOT into food for months. So it was frustrating, and unmotivating. I set out planning to make all of her food– but after months of spending the time and energy making stuff that she wouldn’t eat, I gave up. We ended up having more success with non-pureed food with her… ultimately, “baby led weaning” (which I knew nothing about, it happened naturally). Now, my son seems to be more into food– which is so fun! But, I am at a loss of how to make nutritious, tasty, appropriate food for him (I’m not very domestic). This may be a silly question, but do you season anything for the babes??
Thanks again for an easy to follow guide! Would love any other recipes you have to share!!!
Hi Lindsey!
I know it can all be super overwhelming! Glad you found the information helpful! I do season Max’s food, not so much with salt but definitely with spices and herbs (not spicy). I like the idea of him getting used to a variety of flavours. I actually blend a lot of our dinners (I just blended up a lentil shepherds pie tonight, he loved it, I also tried it not pureed and most of it was a good texture)! Have fun and try not to stress out, you’re doing a great job! xx Tori
I love that you are talking about when to feed a child. Personally, cannot wait to start introducing foods and look forward to using a Babycook. The more I read about the product the more I can not wait to start the process
Hi Kaylene thanks so much for taking the time to comment I appreciate it! Congrats on the little one and have fun with the feeding adventures!
Hi Tori, loved this post! Can you do another one for 9-12 months? My daughter and I are in a bit of a rut because at 9 months she’s bored of lumpy and mashed meals but not quite ready for the next step chewing-wise. I’m pretty conservative with the dinner food types and sizes – would appreciate some tips!
Hi Autumn thank you very much for the feedback! I will add it to my list and try to tackle it, will do my best! I know it’s so difficult! Take care, Tori
Just starting to offer more solid foods to my
Little one! (7 months) This was a great post. Love your opinion on BLW as well. I don’t agree with the “all or nothing” approach either and once I didn’t worry about that it became much easier. She has some solid hand held foods and purées now. Can’t wait to try these recipes!
Thank you Alicia and sorry for the delay!!! Congrats on your little one such a fun age!!!
Love this article. My little guy Jack is just a little over 5 months and so far is loving baby cereal. I am so excited to slowly start trying new things with him as well. And I have already learned to have lots of bibs around! He is a messy little eater!
So sweet Sam, enjoy this precious (and messy) time!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Tori!
What is your opinion on how to offer food ? Our baby girl is 8 months and enjoys most foods. Typically, we offer fruit at the end of the meal. I’m wondering though, because she loves baked apples, for example, if she is continuing to eat even though she’s full just because she loves them so much. We don’t offer the apples until the end because I’m worried she won’t eat anything else or mostly fill up on baked apples but perhaps this is the wrong approach.
Thank you for all your posts! Xxxx
Hi Tori, Appreciating the time and effort you put into your website and in-depth information you offer. You’ve really covered up almost all the possible tips that mom should follow. Worth sharing! Please do continue sharing tutorials and tips on tricks! Thanks!