This is part 2 of transitioning your baby to table foods, since I had so much to say on the subject! In the last post, I taught you how to start off with puffs and moving to soft cubed foods like bananas and cooked vegetables, if you missed it, check it out here. In this post, I will lay out how to completely make the transition off of baby food, avoid choking hazards, and what to do when it isn’t going well.
And, look out for the free printable cheat sheet if your baby is having a hard time transitioning to table foods at the end!
Transitioning from Baby Food to Table Food
How do you know they are managing (eating) foods well? When they are chewing it with little to no coughing, choking, or gagging, and swallowing easily (not hard gulps), consistently, for a week or two.
Some examples of softer foods to move onto are (increasing in difficulty): avocado, banana, scrambled eggs, boiled potatoes, muffins, pasta, deli meat, cheese.
At this point you can also try pairing crackers and other crunchy foods with spreads like jelly, hummus, and cream cheese to maximize exposure to table foods and different textures. Spread right on the cracker or show them how to dip it into a glob on their tray. Then, start giving them these foods first, before the baby food, at a meal and allow them to eat as much as they want or will.
Continue to present a larger variety of table foods slowly and as they eat enough of them give less and less baby food during the meal. There will come a meal when you will say, “I think they ate enough of the toast, eggs, and strawberries. I don’t think they need the baby food.” Once you reach this point, it is okay to dip back into baby foods for a meal here and there, but ultimately you have to take a leap into letting go of the security baby food gives. Keep trying different table and finger foods. If you are looking for finger food inspiration, see my Mega List of Table Foods.
I have been mostly focusing on actual cubed food that babies can easily feed themselves, but as they eat those softer foods and the spreads well, you can start to slowly experiment with mixed textures like soups and casseroles. Again, you will want to keep this slow, maybe starting off with macaroni and cheese, and then moving to spaghetti and meatballs and then chicken noodle soup. The latter has a lot more changes in consistency in one bite of food. You can give baby a couple of pieces on the tray of these types of food, but will probably be mostly feeding by spoon.
The Big Picture: Step by Step Introducing Table Foods to Baby Guide
Let’s sum up everything we’ve talked about in this saying bye bye to baby foods series with a list that you can use a quick guide. Remember to ONLY move onto the next step once your baby is safely and consistently eating the previous step for a few days to a week or so, depending on your comfort level and the time it takes your baby to learn, which varies widely.
- Give baby puffs (this is my favorite brand) as their very first table food. (Follow instructions in part 1)
- Give other food that have a crunch but melt easily, like cheese curls and graham crackers. (See full list in part 1)
- Give soft foods that you’ve cut into a small cube.
- Give soft foods with irregular shapes like scrambled eggs, noodles, and ground meat crumbles.
- Give crunchy foods that don’t melt as quickly like cheerios, toast (add toppings like hummus, avocado, etc.)
- Give mixed foods like casseroles and soups (start off with foods that don’t have a lot of chunks in theme and monitor closely)
Helpful Tips for Babies Learning to Eat Table Foods
- The best way to present most of these foods is in a small cube shape. This will make it easier for them to pick up and control the size of the bites they are eating. Babies will often choke as they are learning to eat, it is normal, but we can minimize risk by giving them smaller pieces until they are ready to manage more.
- Puffs have next to no calories. They are great to use when they are just starting on table foods, but as you pull away from baby food they don’t offer enough to fill their little bellies.
- I am using the word “transition” intentionally. Getting your baby onto table foods is a process that is a little like a dance, taking a few steps forward and then one back. Many parents find this to be a challenging time.
- Hot dogs, grapes, marshmallows, large dollops of nut-butters, nuts, lettuce, popcorn, hard candy are all potential choking hazards. Hot dogs, grapes, and marshmallows can be cut into small pieces. Spread nut-butters thinly on foods. Food larger than a pea could get lodged in the airway.
What to do if Baby Won’t Eat Table Food
Some children have a hard time moving onto table foods. Often these babes were pros at baby food, but turn their noses up and refuse many or all table foods. It is common for this to be related to sensory defensiveness and/or difficulty chewing. Generally speaking, as every child has specific instances and circumstances, it would be helpful to encourage play with food.
If there is sensory defensiveness, this will help break it down. Try bins of dry foods like rice, beans, and birdseed first. As they tolerate this, move onto wet bins such as cooked noodles (Check out Sensory bin ideas and instructions). Depending on the age of your child, this will require close supervision.
Also, try playing with their food during a meal. Take the pressure off of eating and make a game out of those bananas they won’t touch. See Exploring New Foods for more help on this.
Lastly, your baby watches you closely and will be motivated to imitate. Show them how to chew by leaving your mouth open and dramatically chewing for them to see. Be positive about foods they try, even if they refuse or spit it out. Keep presenting it over and over, at least 12 times. And, if your baby allows you to, place small bits of food (at whatever table food stage you are in, see the list above) directly onto their gums, where their molars will be.
Some babies have a very sensitive gag reflex if that’s the case head to What You Need To Know About Baby Gagging, you’ll find tips for how to overcome and when to know if it’s a problem you need help with.
If you continue to struggle with moving forward with this process, consider feeding therapy. If you are in the states you may qualify for free help from Early Intervention.
Do you feel like your ready to tackle table foods?
Still Have Questions? Get the Free Printable!
I totally get that when your baby or toddler isn’t eating table foods it can feel super stressful. That’s why I have the free Learn to Eat Table Foods Cheat Sheet printable . I’ll send it right to your inbox.
Click here to get your free printable and put those worries to rest.
More on Baby Table Foods
The Best High Calorie Foods for Babies
The Ultimate List of Baby/Toddler Meal Ideas
Ultimate List of Mealtime Must Haves for Baby
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There’s a lot of info in this post, you might want to get to it quickly again later!
Thanks so much for the info! It’s very clear and practical amongst a sea of information on the internet about babies and feeding. I’m just wondering, when you say to cut soft foods into small cubes, about what size is this? A cube small enough for them to put into their mouth all at once, or big enough that they can’t put it all in their mouth and have to take bites out of it? It’s probably obvious but I’ve been a little confused. I have an 8 month old who skipped the baby food stage completely. He’ll take pureed food really well every now and then but much prefers the texture. Thank you in advance!
You want the cube to be cut small enough to fit into their mouth at one time. This will also help lower the risk that the would choke on the food too.
Thank you for your post. My son is 9.5 months old. Since one month or so he eats very well. A couple of weeks ago I started to give him some table food and he manages it very well (although he has still no teeths!). I gave him bread, lentils burgers, little meatballs, polenta sticks, some steamed vegetables. He still struggle with fruits, so I put tiny pieces of fruits directly in his mouths.
My question is the following. Usually we give him pureed food at lunch and table food at dinner; at breakfast sometimes purees sometimes bread. When I am at work, he is with his grandmother, and she gives him only pureed food (I don’t feel comfortable with her giving my son table food, as he’s beginning with it). I wonder if he could feel confused, as sometimes food is pureed and spoon fed, sometimes there are pieces… I’d like to get rid of pureed food by 12 months.
I also struggle to give him proteins, carbs, vegetable each meal. For example, at dinner, how could I give him meat or fish? He’s still improving his pincer grasp and I don’t feel comfortable to give him meat without teeth. Any suggestion?
Is it bad to help him feeding himself? I mean, putting tiny pieces of food in his mouth if he isn’t able to grasp them.
Thank you in advance
It’s absolutely fine to help him feed himself, and at his age, I don’t think he’ll be confused. You could include purees with meat, but don’t have to yet. You want to be working towards meals that include all three food groups. Keep in mind, babies don’t need teeth to eat, of course not a steak, but tender pot roast – once he’s chewing a variety of foods is totally appropriate! You’re on track! Good job!!
Thank you very much for your kind reply. I have the impression that he prefers pureed food, because it’s easier to eat. In the last few days he has refused to eat breakfast, as I have only offered him finger food. I was wondering if he was already full or still sick (he was sick last week), but today, after having offered him soft homemade oat cakes with no success, I have offered him cream cereal for breakfast and he has eaten it without any objection. The transition won’t be as easy as I tought.
Hi and thank you for this helpful information. My son is 11 months old. He is interested in eating from 6 months, and I startedbwith BLW as with my daughter even but I’ve offered him babyfood occasionally. But even though he loves to put things in his mouth (food, papper, toys) and he chew on veggies, baby biscuits and ect., he never swallow. He takes a bite, chews and spits. If something goes to his throat most of the times he gags. He eats breastmilk mainly. Unfortunately in my country we don’t have food evaluation and such. I took him to speech therapist but he hasn’t found the problem yet. We decided to reduce the times that I breastfeed him in order to keep him a bit hungry but it didn’t work so next thing was to start all over with stage 1 babyfood but he doesn’t want to try it. He spits all types of puree. I’m trying to understand whether is something sensory or gagging problem but can’t figure it out. I would be grateful if you share your thoughts.
Hi Vanya, it’s hard to say exactly what’s going on, but something sounds like it is… my guess would be sensory. Did you see in this article about using a toothbrush, I’d definitely start with that. Swallowing is a skill in an of it self. I like to offer a drink before they spit out- if that makes sense!
Did you see the free printable in this post, I think it will be helpful.
Hi, I started with the toothbrush a while ago, and now I’m trying to offer water. But meanwhile we have a breakthrough: one day after he has refhsed his babyfood again I started to eat my lunch (fish soup) in front of him and he ate a couple of veggies with the liquid. That’s how I discovered that he likes to have pieces in liquid in his food. So I started from that. And now he’s better with swallowing. He eats tablefood and is getting better and better in chewing and swallowing hard pieces (a few days ago ate a little apple). Still doesn’t like puree and mashed textures though. Your blog was really helpfull for me. And I would like to thank you again. Best regards!
That’s so great Vanya! I’m glad you are starting to see improvements!
Hi,I am a first time mom of 18 month old boy.He achieves his all milestone a little late.He started walking at when he was 15 month old.The main issue is that he never never put any thing in his mouth himself even his teether or toys..He never hold his feeder or sippy cup.He does not eat himself any thing.He is a good eater and eat everything but by my hand.I try everyday to put puffs,fruits ,crackers in his tray but he only play with them,crush them with his fingers and then throw everything. What do you think?Is it some medical issue?.My mom says that he will learn eventually but i am worried.Any advise would be appriciated.
Some kids will do this and it could be for a sensory reason or that they simply haven’t made the connection. As you read in the post I’d strongly encourage you to get some teethers in his mouth. I also have a post on teaching to self-feed, I’d check that out too. Pay close attention to getting him to play in a puree and bringing it to his mouth! It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a feeding eval done though, too. See the link in the post for that:)
Hi Alisha – I have a 15 month old who still eats pureed food. She will eat a bit or two of the table food or the puffs that melts in the mouth and then throw everything away. I tried giving her toast with Peanut butter and banana circles today . Please advise how i can move my baby to eat normal food.
Hi
Thanks so much for your blog. I have a 10 1/2 month old girl with a super strong gag reflex. We are now onto beginning stages of finger foods. She will only eat happy baby yogis broken in half or puffs. She won’t let me spoon feed her anymore and I don’t think she’s getting enough to eat. I try different food at each meal. I let her play with the food. I am positive and encouraging. She still has 24 oz of formula daily. Any advice or just keep trying?
Thanks again,
Katie
Absolutely, keep trying! Follow the steps in this article and I’d consider looking into feeding therapy- especially early intervention, you’ll see the links above. Right now her main source of nutrition is formula so you’ve got some wiggle room until she turns 12 months:)
Hi Alisha,
Thanks so much for putting together this website! We are trying to advance my 20 month old daughter to table foods. She has had reflux from birth and did not start having any solids until after her first birthday. When we tried to advance her to finger foods, we noticed she was just swallowing everything we gave her (sometimes she choked and threw up and we saw the pieces of food were the same size that we gave her). Then she just started keeping everything in her mouth in her cheek and wouldn’t swallow. Now we have her back on purees again. I saw your post on how to advance babies to table foods and since a week ago have been offering her puffs with her purees. She picks them up herself and puts them in her mouth. However, I don’t think she is chewing them. She moves it around in her mouth and just waits for it to melt and then swallows. It has been a week and she has not gagged or choked on them but she doesn’t seem to be chewing them either. So based on this, should I try to advance her to step 2 or wait longer?
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Gia,
I’m just getting to this, so you may have already advanced- which may be fine. If it were me though I’d try to put those crunchy meltable foods on her teeth for her for some bites and be dramatically demonstrating. Some kids will work around not chewing but it may make it difficult for them to explore other textures:)
Hi Alisha – first off, thanks so much for the information on transitioning to table food – this has been the most informative blog I have read so far.
Our son is 8 1/2 months old, and has been on the stage 2 and 3 Gerber food for some time. He has recently shown a lot of interest in our plates and has been eating puffs like they’re going out of style 😉
We are very interested in helping him make a safe transition to table foods, as he is very eager to feed himself, but we have a few questions.
With each of the pureed foods we introduced, we were instructed to keep a few days to a week before introducing the next pureed substance to screen for food allergies. We’ve been blessed, and not found any issues thus far, however we were a little unsure if the same process holds true for table food (waiting between each new food), as table foods tend to have more ingredients, and obviously he hasn’t been introduced to EVERY food in the pureed form.
Any light you could shed on this would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!
Thank you for your kind words! I’d say to go with your comfort zone, I’m sure some doctors recommend the wait and see for three days. And, since you’ve followed it so closely, it might be good to continue, especially the first time you introduce gluten, dairy, etc.
Hi Alisha, Thanks so much for the time you take responding to us all here. I was starting to feel very alone on this issue! My daughter is nearly 14 months and still on baby food. Between 8 – 11 months she was very ill with numerous bouts of brochiolitis and pneumonia. In dealing with all of that, we totally missed the transition. We initially tried with some puffs, then teething biscuits, but after her gagging I got too frightened and we went back to puree. Last night I cut up a tiny amount of tomato and gave it to her on a spoon, she gagged then vomited. She didnt seem to chew it at all! I have now found your precious advice and we will try to follow. I was just wondering if, given her age, there are any further steps we should follow or modify? Will it now be more difficult for her? She is able to eat the baby food with lumps but always coughs when using a sippy cup. Also, we live in Switzerland and so I was wondering how to choose suitable equivalent puffs/ teethers as we dont get Gerbers or any of the others here. Thanks so much. I wish pediatricians would give more info on this!
Hi Alisha,
I stumbled across your blog a couple weeks ago and am so glad I did. Thank you for sharing all the wonderful information. My little guy is 10 months old. He’s been eating baby food since about 6.5 months and we started him on puffs and yogurt melts around 8 months. He loves his puffs and yogurt melts and has no problems eating those. Over the last month we’ve been giving him some other table food – noodles, cheerios, eggs, ground turkey – and he’s struggling with it. We give him small pieces and he is able to chew everything up, but then he tends to hold the food in his mouth, and when he finally swallows (if he does at all) there’s usually coughing and gagging. I’m guessing we just need to keep at it, offering small pieces at each meal and not putting too much pressure on him to eat what he’s not ready for. When he’s ready, it will just happen. I just worry he’s progressing with it too slowly. If you have any other tips, please let me know!
Hi Sarah, he may very well work this out, but you definitely want to keep your eye on it. I’d focus on expanding more crunchy foods too, try the graham crackers, town house crackers, teething wafers (link in the post), etc. Give him some of these crunchy foods at each meal. When you do give soft foods focus on the cube shaped first and see if it improves then move onto the irregular shapes! Let me know how it goes
Hi there! I have a 15 month old who is a really really bad eater! (No exaggeration, he really is) He’s been like this since birth. Lack of interest in nursing (used to nurse for a couple minutes and done) or bottle (Getting 2-3 oz done is considered success). We thought it will get better once solids come in by 6 mos; didn’t change a thing. Every spoon of baby food that goes in takes work (distract with toy, singing, iPad). We introduced table food (puffs etc.) a little bit here and there, but he showed zero interest. At 11mo, our ped said we need to take his transition to table food seriously and put us on an exercise of – 1)Stop pureeing food completely, 2) Let him self-feed only. He went 4 full days with zero food (but 12 oz whole milk per day) and then started learning the whole chewing, swallowing thing slowly after that. So, there definitely was progress out of this exercise, but we couldn’t have continued with the zero food situation longer than a week and i got back to giving him pureed food. This time, i started making it chunkier (mixed texture) and he seemed to take it no different than that smooth puree. Currently, at 15 mos, our eating routing is – first, i let him eat his table food by himself and then i feed him the textured puree after he is done. My problem is – he is eating little to none of the table food i offer (i consistently offer it still hoping one day he will change) and thus i end up feeding him the puree. There are 2 things in the table food category he likes – Eggs (eats the full egg) and small berries (5-15 depending on hunger). I am worried how can i continue with such a small variety (not to mention the little quantity). I really cant wait to be done with pureeing/mashing. Please help!
Oh and we have already started our early intervention thing, it takes some time and we are in the process.
So glad you’re in EI, that’s perfect! Will he let you put food on his gums? Will he eat any of the crunchy, but meltable foods I talk about in the post? If you haven’t tried those I would. I’d also use that demonstration as silly as it sounds. And, another thing that sounds strange, but can be really powerful is I’d brush his teeth a couple of times a day, maybe even before a meal. When you do this make sure you get his tongue and inside of cheeks really well. This will improve awareness in his mouth and can have a big impact on chewing!
Thanks a ton for responding. To answer your questions –
When it comes to table food, he wont let anyone control that except him. So, no, he wont let anyone put in his mouth.
We’ve tried crunchy stuff and he likes them. Problem is – he is done after eating 1 or 2 sticks or half a cracker. How do i encourage him to eat a bit more so that i can count that as a snack or meal somewhat.
Demonstration – We do a little bit, but we dont get a chance to do it for every meal. May be something worth considering..
Brushing his teeth – Something we have never tried and I am definitely going to do this next per your recommendation!
Could you spread something very thin on the cracker? Maybe a little bit of cream cheese or hummus. As he tolerates that you could put a little more on. Also, make sure you have all the food ready at one time and then just put a few pieces of each food (around 3-4 total) in front of him and sit down to eat the same thing at the same time. It can be a little hard to get into this routine, but it will be worth it!
Thanks for all the information. I am having some issues with my 12mo old and table foods. She will not touch proteins or pasta (chicken, beef, pork, hummus, cheese, beans, cottage cheese, and any pasta-even baby star noodles). She does well with yogurt, but I don’t want that to be her only source of protein. She does well with crunchy textures, but seems to struggle with the slimy/soft textures. She will rarely even try bread. She just won’t even try meat/pasta/bean foods. She will play with them a little (which is progress) and then push them away and refuse to try them. Do I just keep offering these types of foods and hope she warms up to them? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Hey Amy, yes keep offering, follow these suggestions. But I’d also check out this article on sensory processing, follow the tips for using a toothbrush. A lot of babes that are having a hard time moving to other textures are sensitive to them. After reading that let me know if you have more questions!
Hi! My 12mo was eating most puréed baby foods that we spoon-fed her, but once we introduced appropriate table foods about three weeks ago, she will no longer let us feed her. This would be great, BUT she barely eats any table food herself — 1, 2 or 3 tiny bits per meal. I’ve tried some things over and over again and others just once. She likes cheese, but I obviously can’t let her eat only that. She was a preemie and is now *almost* up to the 5th percentile for height and weight, so I worry a lot about her nutrition and growth.
I totally get it Robyn, do you think she doesn’t know how to eat the table foods yet or does it seem like she doesn’t want to eat them? If it is the former, did you see part 1 of this post, too? It might be really helpful for her to practice learning how to eat these foods like I talk about there.
Shes choosing not to try things. She’s a champ with the puffs, and she likes bits of bread, too. I guess I’m just frustrated with seeing the pieces of sweet potato and blueberries and mashed-up beans HIT THE FLOOR when she inevitably rejects them. Perhaps it’ll just take more time?
Yes, keep giving her those things, but I want you to try and focus on the crunchy foods. Think about toast, and if she does that then spread a little hummus or avocado on it. Or try some homemade sweet potato or carrot chips for example. You can use this strategy to work towards new foods.
Alisha, please help me… My son is 13 months old and because of my fear of him choking and mostly my lack of know how, he is still on baby food. Don’t get me wrong, he has tried quite a few different table foods, just in very small amounts. He does well chewing and feeding himself but I only give him one or two pieces at a time because whatever I put on his table, no matter how much, he quickly picks up every single piece and in his mouth it goes. So I feel like I can’t just make him a plate and give it to him. I desperately need to figure out what to do because at meal times he has gotten to the point now where he refuses baby food and wants table foods, which is great, I just don’t know how to go about it so in turn… I feel like he ends up eating next to nothing. How can I make him a plate and get him to pace himself with it? Any foods/meals in paticular you can recommend? Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Hey Kimberly, it actually sounds like he’s doing great and what you’re describing is actually quite common. I’d suggest just having a main plate and giving him 1-2 pieces at a time as you sit and eat with him. I know its exhausting but it kind of comes with the territory at this age.
I’m totally okay with that! It is just great to hear that I’m not totally failing at this, lol. Thank you for the much needed reassurance!!
Hi,
I am so happy I found this site.
I have a 18 month old boy. He recently went through some bad teething and a sore throat. That’s when he stopped eating the baby food I was making for him. He was a great eater up to that point. In a week he lost almost 4 pounds and we finally got him to drink some Pediasure so he bounced back, but still refusing solid food, totally refusing being fed with a spoon. He starts crying if you insist. We put him at the table with us, he will show interest in some of our food, but not grabbing it to take it to his mouth, you have to offer it. He’s not taking any bites, just licking it. I don’t think he knows how to bite or chew. he’s happy to sit at the table with us, enjoys watching us eat, but still afraid to try. At this point he only drinks pediasure and licks some food. I know I made a mistake of not exposing him to diverse food, but I was happy he ate healthy and organic.
What to do to encourage him more?
Thank you.
Hi Violeta, he’s probably at an age that he’s really done with pureed, that happens for sure. Of course he still needs to eat some purees(yogurt, applesauce, etc.) Put some of that on his tray, a small amount and enourage him just to touch it, when he does try to get him to take his fingers to his mouth so he can lick it. This is to help him make the connection. Give a spoon and demonstrate this too! I’d also give him large foods like the whole carrot- did you see part 1? You’ll want to focus on him mouthing big foods like that that he can’t bite off. This will decrease his gag reflex, give him exposure to textures, and begin to facilitate chewing. Put those out on his tray and demonstrate too- this may take a couple of times. I’d also recommend brushing teeth, twice a day, getting all over his gums and mouth- a vibrating toothbrush could provide extra input. Lastly, and I don’t say this to freak you out, but if you’re in the states I’d really look at early intervention. That little bit of extra help could make all the difference. If you have any questions let me know!