18 Foods Your Baby Should Try When Introducing Solids

Berries

Babies eat with their eyes, just as grown-ups do, and what's more beautiful than bright red strawberries or dusky blueberries? Serve small or chopped berries as finger foods, or blend them for a scrumptious puree that's as good spread on toast as it is off a spoon.

Salmon

Babies' growing brains crave DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that’s essential to cognitive development—and salmon is packed with it. Mash some cooked, flaked fish into a puree, or bread it and bake it for salmon nuggets.

Peanuts

Guidance from the AAP, says introducing babies to peanuts around 4 to 6 months could actually prevent peanut allergies, especially if they’re at a high risk of developing them.

Instead of giving your baby whole peanuts or a spoonful of peanut butter (both of which are choking hazards), spread a little peanut butter on toast sticks or stir a bit into a puree.

Cooked Onions and Garlic

Who says you need to stick with traditional baby food? Try including small amounts of onion, leeks, scallions, and garlic into your baby's diet. When cooked, these flavor-boosters add a mellow, savory quality to purees and chunkier baby meals.

Spinach and Other Leafy Greens

Most babies are open to trying new foods. Sometimes they'll make a funny face or turn away, but don't give up offering—especially when it comes to nutrient-packed leafy greens. Soon enough your little one will become accustomed to the earthy taste of spinach, kale, and chard, and you'll go a long way toward building a more adventurous eater in the future.

After cooking, you can make these into a puree or mince them and add them to food to make them safe for your little one to eat.

Beef

If your family eats meat, don't shy away from beef. Full of protein and zinc, it's an ideal early baby food. Serve it pureed on its own or mixed with potato, sweet potato, or a green vegetable puree.

Whole Grains

There's no reason to limit your baby's starches to old-fashioned rice cereal, which can increase the risk of exposure to arsenic, a naturally occurring substance that has been associated with negative health issues. Try cereals made from oats, quinoa, brown rice, or other whole grains—which generally have more fiber and often more flavor.

Squash

Mashed butternut squash is a classic baby food for good reason: The flavor is sweet, so it's usually an instant hit with little ones, and it's packed with Vitamin A.

Eggs

With six grams of protein, healthy fats, and choline for eye health, eggs are a great baby food. And they're also perfectly easy to prepare; simply blend a scrambled egg with a vegetable puree, cut up an omelet as a finger food, or chop a hard-boiled egg for easy eating.

Lentils

Did you know lentils are an amazing source of iron? Unlike dried beans, they require no soaking, and they combine well with a variety of savory add-ins like veggies, mild curry powder, and fresh herbs.

More Baby Food Options To Consider

Continue to expand your infant's horizons with these baby food options:

• Peaches
• Zucchini
• Lamb (this is also a good source of protein and zinc if your family doesn't eat beef)
• Beets
• Basil and other herbs
• Pumpkin
• Yogurt
• Cheese

Always speak with your child's health care provider if you have any concerns or questions about these foods or any others you want to feed your little one.