Starting Solids: How I Introduced My Baby to Real Food + Our Favourite Silicone Feeding Products
- gigglesproutshub
- Oct 19
- 7 min read
Introduction
I still remember the day my older daughter had her very first spoon of “real” food. A tiny bit of mashed sweet potato. She looked confused, made the funniest face, and then tried to spit it out like, “Mum, did you just put kitchen paper in my mouth?” She looked so offended. 😂
Well, to be fair, for the first six months of her life, milk was her only food!
But I kept trying for a couple of weeks, and slowly she started accepting it. Even showing a little interest. That tiny moment of curiosity felt huge, like a whole new world had opened up for both of us.
Starting solids is one of those milestones that’s both exciting and a little overwhelming. There are so many opinions about when to start, how to start, and what to use. But after going through it twice now, I’ve learnt it doesn’t have to be complicated (or stressful!).
In this post, I’ll share how I introduced solids with both of my girls. And yes, their beginnings were completely different (haha). I’ll also talk about the feeding products that made life easier (and a little less messy), and why I fell in love with silicone baby feeding products during this stage.
When We Started Solids
Both of my girls started solids around six months old, right around the time they began watching us eat, grabbing spoons, and making those adorable “mmm” sounds whenever food appeared.
With my first, I was so excited! I planned every purée, bought all the bowls, and basically turned the kitchen into a baby-food science lab. I steamed and mashed everything: carrots, peas, broccoli, a little meat… each meal felt like a high-stakes taste test.
👩🏻: Mashed carrot? 👶🏻: ❌ Nope.
👩🏻: Mashed broccoli? 👶🏻:Hmm… maybe.
👩🏻: Mashed meat? 👶🏻: ❌ Big no!
It was exhausting. She rejected most of it. I spent forever preparing food, and the dining area looked like a vegetable explosion. I worried she’d go hungry, so I either ate her leftovers or threw them away. (Let’s just say my diet became 80% puréed veggies for a while.) 😅
By the time my second daughter was ready, I’d chill out a lot.
I followed her pace, let her explore textures, and leaned more towards baby-led weaning. This time, no stress and no guilt. I also used ready-made baby food with different ingredients in the beginning. Honestly, it saved so much time. Once she got better at chewing, I started making small homemade meals again. And bonus: the dining table stayed much cleaner!
Every baby is different. Some dive right into solids; others take their sweet time. What matters most is following your baby’s cues. If they can sit steadily, hold their head up, and seem curious about food, that’s a great sign they’re ready to try.
And please, don’t ever feel guilty for using shop-bought baby food. You’re not a “bad mum.” Most ready-made meals are well-balanced and nutritious. In those first few weeks, your baby might only eat a spoon or two anyway, barely a rice-sized amount! So take it easy, and trust yourself. 💛
How We Introduced Food (and Survived the Mess!)
Our first few days were… let’s just say messy but memorable. There was food in the hair, on the floor, on the wall. Basically, everywhere except the spoon.
At first, I focused on single-ingredient purées, simple things like sweet potato, carrot, or pear. Then I gradually introduced different textures and let my baby explore food with her hands (which she absolutely loved).
Here are a few things I learnt along the way:
Start simple: soft vegetables or fruits work best.
Offer one new food at a time: it’s easier to spot any sensitivities.
Eat together: babies learn by watching you. It’s adorable how they copy spoon movements!
Don’t stress the mess: it’s all part of the fun (and the learning).
The Broccoli Drama: When We Both Learnt a Lesson
One of my most memorable experiences was with my older daughter and broccoli. The first few times, she screamed and cried miserably every time she tasted it! I couldn’t understand why until I spoke with my cousin, who also has two children. She explained that steaming vegetables can make them taste slightly bitter, and babies are often sensitive to that flavour. Since then, I’ve always boiled veggies until they were soft, and later, when my daughter was older, she finally accepted steamed ones.
And again, every baby is different.
My older daughter didn’t like mashed food at all, so she started on larger pieces of solid food quite early. But my younger one? She’s happy to eat any texture. (Thank you, second baby!) 😅
Our Favourite Feeding Products
After a few months of trial (and a lot of wiping down), I finally figured out which baby feeding essentials made mealtimes smoother and far more enjoyable for everyone.
Here are a few baby feeding products I truly love:
Silicone suction bowls and spoons
These are absolute essentials for starting solids. The bowls stay put on the table (well, most of the time!) and the soft silicone spoons are gentle on little gums. Perfect for tiny hands learning to scoop and explore textures.
I love that silicone bowls and plates stick firmly to the table, stopping babies from using them as flying toys to attack everyone nearby! 😂
When they do end up on the floor, they don’t break or make a loud noise.
My favourite brand is Mushie. We have their spoons, plates, and bowls!
Silicone bibs with food pockets
Total lifesavers! They catch nearly everything and wash up in seconds. My girls even know to check their bibs if they’re still hungry. They’ll peek in like, “Any snacks left in there?” haha!
Mushie is also the brand we liked!
🌟 Mum’s tip: Choose silicone bibs that are firm and sturdy around the pocket area. Firm pockets hold their shape and actually catch falling food, while soft ones collapse and let everything slide out. The Mushie bibs are my go-to — strong, durable, and one of the best baby feeding essentials for messy mealtimes.
Our Favourite Baby Water Bottle (Leak-Free and Easy to Hold)
My daughters use b.box, and it’s honestly the best one we’ve tried. I went through so many bottles before finding it. It’s lightweight, doesn’t leak, and easy for little hands to hold. I skipped training cups altogether. They’ll learn to drink from normal cups soon enough!
High Chair for Everyday Feeding
We love our Stokke Tripp Trapp chairs. I bought them second-hand. My older daughter used hers for years, and it’s still in perfect shape. We even got a second one for our younger daughter so they can sit side by side. It’s one of my favourite mealtime moments. Though yes, sometimes that means double the mess when they copy each other! 💕
Great Spoon and Fork Set for Little Hands
Once babies can hold utensils a bit better, a good spoon and fork set makes such a difference. I highly recommend the Doddl brand. Their design is short and small, with a lovely rounded grip that’s easy for babies to hold. It helps them scoop food confidently without awkward twisting.
We have two sets at home (and another for travelling!). One funny but slightly painful memory. We were once going through airport security, and the scanner picked up my daughter’s little Doddl fork. We had to throw it away! Lesson learnt: keep baby forks in the checked luggage, not your handbag. 😅
Why I Love Silicone Feeding Products?
After experimenting with all sorts of materials, I quickly fell in love with food-grade silicone for baby feeding.
It’s soft, safe, and durable. No cracks, no strange smells, and no worries about harmful chemicals. Most silicone products are BPA-, PVC-, and phthalate-free, which gives me so much peace of mind.
Here’s why I’m team silicone all the way:
✅ Safe and non-toxic for little mouths
✅ Dishwasher and microwave safe (thank goodness!)
✅ Doesn’t stain easily, even after tomato pasta days
✅ Lasts through multiple babies or stages
✅ Flexible and lightweight. Great for travel or picnics
The best part? Most silicone sets come in those soft, neutral colours that look adorable on the table and in photos (because who doesn’t take “first bite” pictures?).
⚠️ But here’s a very important tip!
Even though silicone products are technically dishwasher safe, I don’t recommend washing them that way too often. Silicone easily absorbs smells. After a few cycles in the dishwasher, the bowls and spoons can start to carry a strange scent that transfers onto food. And it’s not pleasant.
I even read a mum’s story saying her baby suddenly lost interest in eating, and later she discovered the food tasted odd because of the dishwasher smell! Since then, I always hand wash our silicone feeding products. It keeps them fresh and smell-free.
The food started tasting so weird after a few washes in the dishwasher.
Trust me! My husband and I even tried it ourselves! Definitely stick to hand washing; it’s much better.
What I’d Do Differently
With my first baby, I overthought everything.
How much she ate, whether she liked the flavour, and if it was “enough.” I’ve since learnt that feeding should be fun, not stressful.
It’s tough being a first-time mum. I understand how hard it is not to worry, but please, don’t be harsh on yourself. You’re doing your best, and that’s already more than enough. 💛
Now I see mealtimes as playtime with purpose. If more food ends up on their face, in their hair, or on the floor than in their tummy. That’s okay! They’re learning about textures, coordination, and independence.
If I could go back, I’d tell myself:
"It’s not about perfect meals, it’s about joyful moments. Relax! Your baby won’t suffer if they skip a meal or two. When they’re not eating much, just offer small amounts several times a day. Eventually, they’ll find their rhythm."
Final Thoughts
Starting solids isn’t just about introducing food. It’s about sharing experiences, building confidence, and embracing a whole new (and very messy!) chapter of motherhood.
Every spoonful tells a little story. From that first suspicious look at a purée to the proud smile when they finally feed themselves. It’s messy, unpredictable, and absolutely magical.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt through both of my girls, it’s that every baby goes at their own pace. There’s no “perfect” schedule or method. Only what works for your family.
So take it slow, trust your instincts, and don’t forget to laugh at the chaos. One day, you’ll look back and miss these food-covered faces and wobbly spoon attempts. Until then, keep the wipes handy, the camera ready, and your heart open, because these are the moments that make motherhood so beautifully real!
Comments