Graphic for post - Guide to Baby Food Stages - purees thru finger foods with baby led weaning. Images are a grid of bowls full of the different stages.

Larn everything yous need to know about Babe Food Stages in this easy-to-read, comprehensive guide. It explains the dissimilar feeding stages, going over what every stage — Stage 1, two, and 3, Finger Foods, and Baby-Led Weaning — is all about.

Graphic for post - Guide to Baby Food Stages - purees thru finger foods with baby led weaning. Images are a grid of bowls full of the different stages.

Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Baby Food Stages

Are you lot finding the infant food feeding stages confusing?

Well, you are non alone!

Stages i, two, 3, table foods, finger foods, baby-led weaning… ahhh… help! What does it all fifty-fifty mean? 🤯

Don't worry; I'k here for yous!

I broke down each stage into an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-assimilate (pun intended) guide. 👊

What is in this guide:

  1. Baby Food Ages
  2. When Can Baby Outset Solids?
  3. Overview: Purees – Stages 1, two and iii
  4. Overview: Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods
  5. Phase 1 Purees
  6. Stage ii Purees
  7. Phase three Purees
  8. Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods
Lineup of spoon and a fork with different stages of baby food on it.

Baby Food Ages

  • Stage ane Purees: 4-6+ months
  • Stage 2 Purees: 6+ months
  • Stage 3 Purees: nine+ months
  • Finger Foods: 10+ months
  • Baby-Led Weaning: 6+ months

WHEN Can Baby Starting time SOLIDS?

When a babe can showtime on solids is determined past their ain rate of development. Generally, information technology occurs between 4-6 months of age for purees and 6+ months for infant-led weaning. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to kickoff solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and cervix, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you lot swallow (encounter my guide here). Only recall, before you showtime infant on solids, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally set.

Spread of the different baby food stages one, two, three and baby-led weaning or finger food stage.

Purees – Stages 1, 2, and three

And then, to start, Baby Food Purees are grouped into 3 different stages — Phase One, Stage Two, and Stage Three. Without a doubt, they all consist of baby nutrient purees. Just they really range from single-ingredient smooth purees to chunky combination purees filled with soft-cooked foods. Here'south a quick reference:

Phase One

  • the showtime stage of feeding
  • single-ingredient thin purees
  • smooth and like shooting fish in a barrel to swallow
Stage I Products We Beloved
  • loftier chair
  • suction bowl
  • spoons
  • bib with food catcher

Stage Two

  • slightly thicker
  • combination purees made up of several different ingredients similar fruits and vegetables
  • may also include yogurt, grains, and proteins

Stage Three

  • combination purees with soft-cooked chunks of food
  • perfect for babies that need to practice chewing and swallowing foods

A Note TO FIRST-Time BABY FOOD PREPPERS

Hold on, is it your first time making homemade baby food? If you answered yeah, and so I propose you start this journey by reading my in-depthGuide on How to Make Homemade Baby Nutrient. The detailed article goes over all the essential information such equally the all-time cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, knowing when your baby is ready for solids, introducing purees, making the best first foods for babe, and more! You tin likewise bank check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes.

Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods

Basically, Baby-Led Weaning and Finger Foods are the same types of food; they're merely served to your babe at different times. Infant-Led Weaning is a newer approach to feeding your baby where you skip the puree stages altogether. Rather, you serve infant chunks of cooked nutrient. Whereas Finger Foods, or sometimes referred to as Table Foods, are typically served to your baby later they principal Stage iii baby food purees.

In short, finger foods are served at ten+ months and baby-led weaning starts at 6+ months.

You lot tin can read more here: The Ultimate Guide to Finger Foods for Baby-Led Weaning.

Baby-Led Weaning Products We Beloved

  • high chair or clip-on chair
  • mat for nether loftier chair
  • suction plate
  • cocky-feeding spoons
  • long-sleeved bib

Stage one baby food graphic - with single ingredient puree for baby.

Stage 1 Purees

Stage 1 baby food is the first type of puree yous will be introducing to your baby. Made with a single ingredient and pureed until smooth, these simple purees are perfect for your budding eater. Besides, they are nutritious and total of flavor!

  • age: 4-6+ months
  • unmarried-ingredient recipes
  • polish texture
  • can be thinned out (similar to a thick soup simply dripping off the spoon)
  • first bites tin exist fruits, veggies, or grain cereal

Here are a few tips:

  • first, offering your baby 1 puree at a fourth dimension to watch for any allergic reactions
  • as well, consider offering different colors of food and flavors to start developing their palette

Stage One Recipes

  • 15 Stage One Baby Food Purees (4-half-dozen months)
  • four Homemade Baby Cereal Recipes (4+ months)
  • 36 Good for you + Homemade Babe Food Recipes (4+ Months)
Stage 2 Baby food puree - a combination puree for 6 months and up.

Stage 2 Purees

Meanwhile, Phase ii purees will make your baby's mealtime more exciting with multiple ingredients. This fourth dimension, you can focus on exposing your babe to various fruits, veggies, grains, and proteins. Plus, you tin can also add spices and herbs to come up up with appetizing and unique flavor combinations.

  • historic period: half dozen+ months
  • combination of multiple-ingredient purees
  • smooth texture
  • tin can accept a thicker consistency than stage ane purees
  • great fashion to expose your infant to a variety of flavors and nutrient colors
  • may include plain yogurt, grains, and proteins

Phase Two Recipes

  • eighteen Phase 2 Baby Food Purees (That Infant Will Really Eat)
  • 15 Fast + Easy Babe Nutrient Recipes (made in under 15 minutes!)
  • xviii Breakfast Ideas for Infant (half-dozen+ months)
Stage three baby food combination puree for 9 months and up.

Stage 3 Purees

In contrast, Stage 3 is total of hearty meals with multiple-ingredient purees plus soft-cooked chunks of food. This stage is all about giving your baby time to learn how to chew and swallow pocket-size pieces of soft foods. Then the next step will be finger foods or table foods.

  • age: nine+ months
  • combination purees and soft-cooked chunks of food
  • also a great fashion to expose your baby to various food flavors and colors
  • features wholesome fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, yogurt, fifty-fifty spices
  • easy to make — only pulse your own meal with a blender to turn it into a baby repast

Stage 3 Recipes

  • 18 Phase 3 Infant Food Recipes (Piece of cake, Delicious + Bootleg)

Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods

As mentioned, Infant-Led Weaning is actually a newer arroyo to feeding your babe where yous skip the puree stages birthday. Instead, you lot serve small chunks or strips of cooked food right from the very starting time. Ultimately, you would be feeding your baby the verbal food you are having at that meal.

Yet, finger foods can be served to your baby after Stage iii.

To sum upwards, finger foods and the food y'all serve to baby for Infant-Led Weaning are the aforementioned foods. But they are served at different times during your babe's eating journeying. Finger foods are served at x+ months, while baby-led weaning starts at vi+ months.

If you want to acquire more, check out my Ultimate Guide to Finger Foods for Baby-Led Weaning.

  • baby-led weaning age: vi+ months
  • finger food age: 10+ months
  • both include chunks of cooked foods
  • can be served in 2-3 inch strips or chopped to pea-sized pieces

Recall, avoid hard foods such as hot dogs, popcorn, stale fruit, nuts, etc., that can be choking hazards.

Infant-Led Weaning (Finger Food) Recipes

  • 125 Infant Led Weaning Foods (Starter Foods + Recipe Ideas)
  • 8 Baby-Led Weaning Meal Ideas for Infant + Toddler
  • 6 Baby-Led Weaning Breakfast Ideas
Lineup of spoon and a fork with different stages of baby food on it.