Dr. Chheda – When your baby reaches 6 months old and you’re advancing to solids, they can eat almost everything – with just two important exceptions:

No honey. No whole milk (though whole milk products like yogurt and cheese are okay).

These restrictions apply until they’re a year old. But beyond that, the world of food opens up! Your baby can have: all fruits, all vegetables, all meats, all spices, pizza, pasta, sushi, Indian food, Chinese food. Important preparation notes: Everything must still be mashed up. Food should be soft enough to swallow. No raw carrots. No whole grapes.

Why introduce diverse foods early? Helps prevent your child from becoming a picky eater later (we don’t want a “mac and cheese kid” at age five). Helps prevent food allergies later in life. Introduces varied flavors and textures early.

Allergy Note: If there is a documented food allergy in the family, please talk to your physician first. But for a normal, developing child with no medical conditions, everything except honey and whole milk is okay at 6 months of age.