Starting Solids: A Messy, Magical Milestone – Tips for Mums with 6-Month-Old Babies

So, your baby is six months old…They’ve started eyeing your sandwich, trying to grab your fork, and giving you that look every time you eat something without sharing.

It’s time. Time for mushy bananas, pureed carrots, and food on the floor (and the walls, and possibly your hair). Starting solids is a huge step and like everything in motherhood, it comes with a million questions.

Black and White picture of a Baby Girl, By Wigan Newborn and Family Photographer

Here are some gentle, mum-to-mum tips to help you ease into this exciting (and chaotic) stage:

1. Watch for Signs of Readiness (Not Just the Calendar)

While six months is the general guideline, look for signs like:

Sitting up with little to no support

Good head control

Bringing hands or toys to their mouth

Showing interest in food (aka staring at your plate like a hungry puppy)

Every baby is different, and it's okay if yours needs a bit more time.

2. Choose Your Approach — Or Mix It Up

Some parents go for purees, others for baby-led weaning (BLW), where babies feed themselves soft foods from the start. You don’t have to pick a side. Many families do a mix, offering spoon-fed porridge one day and steamed broccoli florets the next.

What matters most is that baby explores textures, flavours, and independence at their own pace.

3. Keep it Simple at First

Start with single-ingredient foods like:

Mashed banana

Steamed sweet potato

Avocado

Baby porridge

Offer one new food at a time every few days, it helps identify any sensitivities and keeps things less overwhelming (for both of you).

4. Use Helpful Tools — Like the Solid Starts App

If you’re looking for a handy, trusted guide to track what your baby eats and discover new foods safely, the Solid Starts app is fantastic. It offers a huge database of baby-friendly foods, allergen info, and personalised suggestions, perfect to keep things simple and organised during this busy stage. My favourite part is that it tells you exactly how to cut and prepare different foods based on your baby’s age, making starting solids a lot less confusing and much safer.

5. Expect the Mess (and Embrace It)

This is where it gets real. They’ll throw spoons. Rub porridge into their eyebrows. Look personally offended by a green bean. It’s all part of learning.

Put a splash mat down. Strip them to a nappy if needed. Grab your phone for a quick pic. These are the moments you’ll laugh about later and they make the cutest milestone photos, too.

6. It’s Okay If They Don’t Eat Much

For now they will only eat a few spoonful, my daugther started with 1 spoonful on the first day of trying pures. Food is mostly about exploration, not nutrition. Breastmilk or formula is still their main source of food until about 12 months.

If they’re licking, squishing, or even just playing they’re learning. No pressure.

7. Sit, Eat, Talk Together

Let them join you at the table, even if they’re not eating much. Watching you chew, talk, and enjoy meals is part of how they learn.

Talk about what you're eating, name the food, and show excitement. You're building more than just habits, you're building connection.

8. Trust Your Gut (It Knows More Than Google)

You’ll hear a hundred opinions, from your mum, your health visitor, or that one random mum on Facebook. But at the end of the day, you know your baby best.

Take what feels helpful, leave what doesn’t. There’s no one perfect way.

Want to Capture Those Proud Sitter Moments and Cheeky Grins?

If your baby is learning to sit up and exploring the world with curiosity and personality, I offer relaxed sitter milestone sessions in my Wigan home studio.

We’ll capture all those adorable smiles, little poses, and natural moments that show off who they really are right now.

No pressure, no stiff poses, just your baby being their wonderful self.

Message me today to book your sitter session 💛

Book Your Session Now