During the first few months, your baby only needs breast milk or infant formula. From the 5th month, you can theoretically start introducing solid foods. Why theoretically? Not every baby is ready at that time. Some are very observant very early on and really want to try what you are eating, while other babies are perfectly satisfied with milk. However, by the 7th month at the latest, you should gradually start introducing solid foods, as your baby simply needs more nutrients from that point on. From the 8th month, you can also start using bone broth in your baby's meals. Nevertheless, it is important that the baby has a say in getting started. Click here for the nutrition plan for a baby's first year. 

Introducing solid foods takes time. Depending on your baby's age, you will start introducing purees step by step. You start with vegetable puree for lunch, followed by, for example, cereal for dinner or fruit puree in the afternoon. 

1. It watches closely as Mom and Dad eat and shows a clear interest in it

2. It reaches for your food

3. With a little support, it can already sit upright

4. When you come with the spoon, it opens its mouth

5. The initial reflex to push the food out of the mouth with the tongue has disappeared

If your child clearly signals to you that it wants to eat solid food, you should consider whether you want to feed purees or whether you prefer to start with the baby-led weaning method (more on that below) or simply combine both methods. 

Baby food can be roughly divided into three groups: 

• Vegetable purée,
  
• Fruit purée, or
  
• Cereal purée or porridge
  

Whether it's a puree made from vegetables, fruit or cereals - if you cook it yourself, it does take more effort, but you know exactly what's in it. However, the quality of organic fruit and vegetable puree in jars is also so good that you can feed it to your baby with complete confidence - or you can look for other great alternatives such as baby food from the freezer.

You can find cereal purees in the form of instant purees or as baby porridge. The ready-made instant puree simply needs to be mixed with hot water. 

Cereal puree to be boiled or baby porridge is a tastier option. Because boiling it enhances the flavour and can encourage babies to enjoy eating.  

You should have a small spoon, a bowl, and a baby bottle or sippy cup – and then you can get started.

You can start with a vegetable purée at lunchtime, for example carrot, sweet potato, pumpkin, or parsnip. To rule out intolerances or allergies, you should introduce the vegetables to your baby one at a time:

For example, carrot purée in the first week, another vegetable in the second week, and so on. If the vegetables are well accepted, you can add meat to the vegetable-potato purée in the following weeks. Cereal flakes are a very good vegetarian alternative. It is important to make sure that it is whole grain cereal.

Since eating baby food can be tricky at first and more is likely to end up on the bib than in your baby's mouth, your child shouldn't be extremely hungry. They could quickly become impatient and start crying. Being tired is also not a good idea, as eating with a spoon is a new skill to learn and can be very tiring for your baby.  

At the beginning, offering just a few spoonfuls of baby food is enough. If your baby refuses the baby food, do not force them to eat. Introduce it very slowly together.

So you don't have to throw away too much baby food, you can freeze the freshly cooked vegetable purée in an ice cube tray. At the beginning, your child probably won't eat more than one ice cube-sized portion.

The Baby-Led Weaning Method or Solid Food Without Pacifiers

If you have decided on a baby-led weaning approach, this means that your child will eat what you eat as a family. The same rule applies here: there should be signs that your baby is ready for solid food.

Unlike with the baby food method, you don't have to follow a specific order here. Your child can simply sit at the family table and eat with everyone. Steamed vegetable and fruit sticks are a good start, but plain bread or waffles (of course without sugar or honey) usually work well too. Make sure to salt the food only after you have taken out your baby's portion.

Your baby should feed themselves with their hands as much as possible. Prepare for a bit of a mess, as your baby will very likely want to play with the food too. Basically, feel and taste it.

Since your baby can easily choke, you should not leave them unattended while eating. Often, the little ones will simply spit out pieces that are too large.

Babys Ernährungsplan für das erste Lebensjahr.