Before Week One

Consider this your unofficial pre-solids appointment.

Most parents don't think about solids until their pediatrician brings it up at the 4-month appointment and says "start thinking about it around 6 months!" and then leaves the room. Cool. Super helpful. Thanks.

So here you are, Googling at 10pm, adding things to your Amazon cart, and wondering if you're already doing something wrong. You're not. You just need someone to tell you what actually matters before week one, and what's a total waste of your time and money.

That's what this page is for.

What you actually need

• ✓A high chair that sits your baby fully upright. Hips at 90 degrees, not reclined. This is the most important setup detail most people skip. How your baby sits directly affects how safely they can swallow. Feet supported is ideal but not always possible this early. Upright is the non-negotiable.
• ✓A few basic supplies. I put together an Amazon storefront with everything I actually recommend so you don't have to guess. Check it out here.
• ✓A few soft foods to start with. You do not need a menu plan.
• ✓A relatively calm mealtime vibe. Your nervous energy is more contagious than you think.

What you do not need

• ✕A baby food maker. A fork and some ripe avocado works fine.
• ✕A freezer full of homemade purees before you've even started. Make one thing. See what happens.
• ✕Twelve different pouch flavors 'just in case.'
• ✕A strict solids schedule for a baby who has never eaten food before.
• ✕To have already picked a 'method.' BLW vs. purées is not a decision you need to make right now. That whole debate is way more complicated than it needs to be, and we'll get into it in the main guide.
• ✕To be ready. You will not feel ready. Start anyway.

The one mindset shift that actually helps

Solids at 6 months is not about nutrition. Milk is still doing almost all of the work. What you're doing right now is teaching your baby that food exists, what it feels like, what it tastes like, how to move it around in their mouth. It is messy and slow and kind of boring at first and that is completely normal. You are not failing if your baby spits everything out for three weeks straight. That is literally what is supposed to happen.

Ok, ready to actually start?

Head back to the main guide. Start with the readiness checklist, and don't skip it even if you think your baby is ready. Age alone is not the signal.