A Word About Texture

Trying foods with different textures helps babies learn how to handle foods in their mouth. Babies who stay on pureed foods too long may be less willing to eat textured foods. So it's important to vary both tastes and textures when serving foods. Your baby will start on pureed food. Next, progress to lumpy pureed, then mashed or minced food as baby gets older. Even with few teeth, babies can chew and swallow lumpy, mashed or small pieces of food.

Here is a guideline to help you determine what texture to try with your baby.

Your baby's development Texture of food
Sits with support
  • pureed, mashed foods
  • semi-solid foods
Sits on own
  • soft mashed foods without lumps
Crawls
  • ground or soft mashed foods with tiny soft noticeable lumps
  • foods with soft texture
  • crunchy foods that dissolve (such as baby biscuits or crackers)
Walks with assistance
  • coarsely chopped foods, including foods with noticeable pieces
  • foods with soft to moderate texture
  • toddler foods
  • bite-sized pieces of food
  • finger foods

Makes the transition to the family diet at about 12 months of age.

Fun Fact

Sometime between 7-10 months, your baby will develop the pincer grasp, which is the ability to pick up small items between his thumb and forefinger. This puts him on the road to independent self-feeding.

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