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Baby food texture by age
Choose your baby's age to see the texture most babies are ready for, with spoon-fed and finger food examples. Most babies start with smooth, mashed food at about 6 months, add soft finger foods by around 8 months, and eat family textures by around 12 months. Texture is a progression, not a deadline.
Find your baby's texture
Typical at 6 to 7 months
Smooth and mashed
Very smooth purées and mashed or strained food. Thicken it a little at a time as your baby gets used to eating.
- On a spoon
- Iron-fortified infant cereal, or vegetables, fruit, beans, and meat cooked soft and puréed or mashed until smooth.
- As finger food
- If your baby sits upright and grasps food: very soft pieces that squash easily between your fingers, such as ripe avocado or well-cooked sweet potato.
Ready for the next step when your baby:
- Swallows smooth food easily
- Moves food from the front to the back of the tongue
- Grasps food and brings it to their mouth
Typical, not a deadline. Source: CDC: When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods
Get meal ideas with serving guidance for your baby's age in BabyBites.
Get the BabyBites appBorn early?Ask your pediatrician whether to use your baby's corrected age when choosing textures.
Baby food texture by age chart
Ages are typical ranges based on WHO complementary feeding guidance. Every baby moves at their own pace, and different textures can share the same meal.
| Age | Texture | On a spoon | As finger food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 months Not yet | Breast milk or infant formula only for most babies. Solid foods usually start at about 6 months, and starting before 4 months is not recommended. | Ask your pediatrician before offering any solid food at this age. | Not yet. Wait for the signs of readiness first. |
| 6 to 7 months Smooth and mashed | Very smooth purées and mashed or strained food. Thicken it a little at a time as your baby gets used to eating. | Iron-fortified infant cereal, or vegetables, fruit, beans, and meat cooked soft and puréed or mashed until smooth. | If your baby sits upright and grasps food: very soft pieces that squash easily between your fingers, such as ripe avocado or well-cooked sweet potato. |
| 8 to 11 months Lumpy and finger foods | Thicker mash with soft lumps, plus soft finger foods. The WHO says most babies can eat finger foods by 8 months. | Food mashed with a fork instead of blended: lentils, egg, banana, or soft cooked vegetables with small soft lumps. | Soft pieces your baby can pick up: well-cooked pasta, soft cooked vegetables, ripe fruit, or shredded tender meat. |
| 12 to 17 months Family textures | Finely chopped, ground, or shredded versions of family food. The WHO says most children can eat the same types of foods as the family by 12 months. | Family meals chopped small or mashed with a fork: stews, rice, pasta, beans, and soft cooked vegetables. | Small soft pieces of what the family eats: cooked vegetables, soft fruit, cheese, or tender meat. |
| 18 to 24 months Table foods, cut safely | Most family foods, still cut small and cooked soft where needed. Shape and size still matter for choking risk. | Shared family meals with a spoon or fork, cut into small pieces. | Bite-sized pieces of family food. Keep avoiding whole grapes, whole nuts, popcorn, and hard raw vegetables. |
How to move to the next texture
Change one thing at a time. Mash a familiar food with a fork instead of blending it, leave a few more soft lumps, or offer one soft finger food next to a spoon-fed meal. The CDC says thicker and more lumpy foods can be introduced as your baby's ability to eat develops.
A softer texture does not make a hard, small and round, or sticky food safe. Keep your baby seated upright and supervised at every meal. For more detail, read the baby food texture progression guide and the food safety and choking guide.
Common questions
What texture should a 6 month old eat?
At about 6 months, very smooth purées and mashed or strained foods are easiest. The CDC suggests mashing or puréeing vegetables, fruits, and other foods until smooth, then introducing thicker textures as your baby's eating develops.
What texture should a 9 month old be eating?
Many 9 month olds manage thicker mash with soft lumps and soft finger foods. The WHO says most babies can eat finger foods by 8 months. Offer pieces soft enough to squash between your fingers and watch your baby while they eat.
When should babies move from smooth purées to lumpy food?
There is no single date. The CDC says thicker and more lumpy foods can be introduced as your baby's ability to eat develops. Move on one step at a time, for example by mashing a familiar food with a fork instead of blending it smooth.
When can a baby eat the same food as the family?
The WHO says most children can eat the same types of foods as the rest of the family by 12 months. Chop, shred, or mash family food so it suits your child's skills, and keep avoiding foods that are hard, small and round, or sticky.
Is gagging normal when my baby tries a new texture?
The CDC notes that babies may cough, gag, or spit up while they adjust to new textures. Keep your baby seated upright and supervised. Speak with your pediatrician about persistent coughing, trouble swallowing, distress, or difficulty moving through textures.
Should I use corrected age for a premature baby?
Ask your pediatrician. Guidance for babies born early varies, and your pediatrician can tell you whether to use your baby's corrected age when starting solids and moving through textures.