Table Foods and Your Older Baby
As your baby masters pureed foods, he may want lumpier, mashed foods. Next, he will be able to eat ground foods and small pieces of bread, crackers and soft table foods. By the time your baby is one year old, he will be eating a variety of table foods. Choose healthy foods that will give him the nutrition he needs. He will want to eat the same foods as you do, so make healthy meals the whole family can enjoy!
7 to 8 Months
- Slowly add mashed foods. Soft foods can be mashed with a fork.
- Your baby may want to touch foods and get a little messy.
- Mealtime is over when she shakes her head “no” or loses interest.
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Mashed soft vegetables like sweet potatoes -
Mashed soft fruit like bananas -
Mashed avocado -
Mashed soft-cooked beans
8 to 10 Months
- Start to add chopped soft foods.
- Cut everything up into small pieces so baby doesn’t choke.
- Your baby can hold her spoon now but still needs help.
- Baby gets excited when she sees food and will grab the food to feed herself.
- Meal time is over when she throws food or pays attention to other things.
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Chopped soft peeled or cooked vegetables and fruits (carrots, green beans, peaches, pears) -
Chopped cooked egg -
Ground beef, chicken, turkey, or soft tofu -
Cottage cheese or yogurt -
Mixed foods (ground beef with rice, yogurt with fruit)
10 to 12 Months
- Baby may be ready for small pieces of table food that your family is already eating.
- Start with soft foods, then try foods that are a little firmer.
- Baby can pick up food with her thumb and forefinger and can chew really well.
- Meal time is over if she starts to play with her food or whines during mealtime.
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Soft cut fruits and cooked veggies (strawberries, melon, cooked squash, steamed broccoli) -
Soft cooked meats (chopped chicken or turkey) -
Finger foods like dry cereal, crackers, tortilla pieces -
Small pieces of cooked pasta, noodles or rice -
Mixed foods (toast with avocado, tortilla with beans)
Tips for Safe Feeding
Place your baby in a safe, upright sitting position.
Watch your baby during feedings to make sure he doesn’t choke. Don’t leave your baby alone while he eats.
Stay relaxed.
Pick a time of day when you are not rushed and when it is okay for your baby to “play” with his food. Be patient! It’s okay if things get a little bit messy.
Keep foods plain.
Your baby does not need salt, spices, sugar, artifical sweeteners, sauces, or other added flavors.
Use a small spoon.
Let him hold the spoon so he can get used to it. A soft rubber-tipped infant feeding spoon is best.
Feed baby from a bowl, not a jar or pouch.
Germs from his mouth can spoil the food. Throw out any leftover food. Don’t hand the pouch to your baby to feed himself.
Don’t put baby food in a bottle.
Do not feed solid foods to healthy infants from a bottle or infant feeder, like a mesh bag.
Have any questions?
