How to Introduce your Baby to New Foods

Introducing a baby to new foods can be exciting, but it’s important to do it safely and in a way that supports healthy eating habits. There are many things you can do to ensure your baby’s safety and enjoyment!

You baby isn’t guaranteed to like everything you give them, but you can help them experience things they don’t like in a safe, controlled environment. This will build trust between you and your baby, and help them feel safer trying new foods (and new games/hobbies) as they grow.

Here’s our quick how-to on adding to your baby’s menu!

Avoid Unsafe Foods

Some foods are unsafe or risky for babies under 1 year old:

Honey (risk of botulism)
Large chunks of hard food, such as nuts (choking hazard)
Cow’s milk (safe in small amounts in foods, but not as a primary drink until 12 months)
Unpasteurized products
Highly processed foods
Sugary foods (fruits are fine, but avoid chocolates and candies)

Watch for Allergies

Signs of an allergic reaction can include rash, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling, or difficulty breathing. If you baby shows any unusual behaviour, or any new behaviour, you can ask your doctor about it. There’s no such thing as a stupid question!
Introduce common allergens (like eggs, peanut, or fish) one at a time and ideally after consulting your pediatrician, especially if there’s a family history of allergies.

Timing

Most babies are ready for solid food around 6 months of age, but always double-check with your pediatrician first.
When your baby can sit with support, has good head and neck control, and shows interest in food, you can start trying new things. Before this, they may not be able to focus enough on the food itself to know (or communicate) if they like it or hate it.
Start with smooth purees, then gradually move to lumpy textures, soft finger foods, and small pieces as your baby develops chewing skills (and teeth).

Encourage Variety but Start Simple

Single-ingredient foods are best at first—like pureed carrots, sweet potatoes, or apples. These foods have a healthy amount of sugar, and the puree makes digestion easier!
Wait 3–5 days between introducing new foods to watch for allergic reactions. Not all allergic reactions will be immediate or cause breathing issues.

Introduce a wide variety of foods over time to help your baby develop tastes for different textures and flavours.
Repeated exposure may be needed—it’s normal for babies to reject foods at first.

Keep Mealtime Safe

Always supervise eating—never leave a baby unattended while eating. Half of pretending the spoon is an airplane is for your baby’s entertainment. The other half is for your entertainment. Involve yourself in your baby’s meal to build closeness and have fun with your baby.
Always use a high chair or seated position.
Offer foods in small, manageable pieces. Baby spoons fit your child’s mouth perfectly, but they also offer the right amount of food at one time. Let your baby rest and breath between bites.

Raising a human takes time, a lot of time. The same is true for figuring out what they like to eat. Their tastes will evolve as they age, so this is a never ending task. Eventually, they’ll have words to tell you what they do and don’t like. For now, stay close to your child and watch them carefully when they eat. You’ll keep them safe and gain a natural understanding for what they enjoy!