6 Sanity Saving Tips for Starting Solids

Looking for tips for starting solids for your baby?

Starting your baby on solid foods is an exciting milestone—but let’s be honest, it can also feel like a total whirlwind of purees, splatters, and second-guessing. 

Between the mess, the worry over what’s healthy, and the pressure to “do it right,” it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. 

As a mom of two littles, I know those feelings all too well. But a little trial and error has left me with some strategies that keep me from losing my mind when my babes need to eat (for what feels like the fifty-seventh time that day.)

That’s why I’m sharing some of my sanity-saving tips for how to make starting solids less stressful. You’ll learn to navigate this new chapter with a a little less stress and a whole lot more confidence. 

From simple strategies to keep the mess manageable to easy ways to nourish your baby with healthy foods, this guide is all about how to make starting solids less stressful for both of you.

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Let me start by dispelling any ideas that I’m some baby feeding expert. I’m just a stay at home mama of two girls whose also done a lot of babysitting and nannying over the years.

I’ve had tons of trial and even more error over the last few years of being a mom to littles, and learned quite a few tips for starting solids with babies.

So, let me be the guinea pig you can learn from. 

I’ve developed tricks and tips for starting solids that I want to share with you. I want to help you work smarter not harder. I want to save your sanity so you have more time and energy to give to your babies. I know how precious it is.

While I’m no “expert “on how to start solids with your baby, I am a mama who’s successfully nurtured and fed two babies without losing my mind. Hopefully, you’ll get a couple tricks to stick up your sleeve by reading this post and be able to walk away from starting solids with your sanity still intact, too.

So, without further ado, here are the six sanity saving tips for starting solids that you’re really here to read about.

Let’s get one thing straight: there is no one-size-fits-all “right” time to start solids.

You don’t need to rush into it just because your aunt, your pediatrician, or the stranger in the Target baby aisle keeps asking when you’ll start. The truth?

You get to choose what feels right for you and your baby.

Some babies show signs of readiness at 5 months, others closer to 7 or 8, and either is okay. Do your research, talk with your pediatrician if that helps you feel confident, and know that waiting until you’re both ready will make this new phase feel way less stressful.

For my first baby, I started right at 6 months on the dot because I thought it was what I was supposed to do. It ended up working well for us, but we waited with our second baby until she popped her first tooth. I’d read this is a readiness sign from babies’ bodies and, I will say, we had less tummy trouble with the second go-round.

Moral of the story: start whenever you both feel ready.

And when it comes to how to start? There’s no purity test here. Whether you’re drawn to traditional purées, baby-led weaning, or some magical mash-up of the two, you have permission to mix methods to fit your life.

The goal is a nourished baby, not a perfect label for how you got there! 

Baby-led weaning stressed me out as a first time mom, so I mostly stuck with homemade purées and graduated to chunkier consistencies over time. By my second, I was a pro at the whole “baby feeding” thing and went more of the baby-led weaning route. 

Again, moral of the story: do whatever feels right for you and your family!

Once you’re offering solids more than once a day, here’s a sanity-saving hack: designate one meal as the really “messy” one. That means the yogurt face masks, the spaghetti squish-fest, the avocado hands all happen at one predictable time.

This helps you mentally prepare (and protect your furniture) while still giving your baby the sensory and independence benefits of hands-on eating.

I usually pick dinner as our “messy” meal because we can go straight to bath time afterwards. But, if we have a slower day or I know dinner won’t be a mess, I’ll do something messy like yogurt or hummus for breakfast or snack.

The worst time for a messy meal? When you have something major you need to do right after mealtime.

Think nap, school drop off or pickup, or going to an appointment. Your stress of cleaning up and your baby’s potential stress of being wiped up is  not worth it.

For other meals and snacks not designated the “messy one”, serve things that are a little tidier and more controlled. Some of our go-to’s are puffs, frozen yogurt melts, shredded or ground meat, and smashed peas. 

Friendly reminder, there’s no award for most food-splattered baby at every meal. 

Messy meals are important and should be offered because they are so good for babies’ development, but there’s no need to make yourself crazy every time yoru baby needs to eat!

Cute bibs are adorable in theory, but if you’ve ever tried to wipe up a baby covered in blueberries with a terry cloth bib, you know they’re more aesthetic than functional.

Here’s what actually works: ditch the shirt, keep them in just a diaper (if it’s warm enough), or get a full-coverage smock-style bib that covers their arms and lap.

My go-to if I know a meal may stain clothes is just a diaper and a silicone bib because it’s so easy to wipe down. If it’s too cold to just do a diaper, we’re out where it’s not exactly kosher to be clothesless, or I just plain don’t want the hassle of undressing the baby, I go with a smock bib. I have two kinds I love: the easy to put on and off short-sleeve smock bib and the heavy-duty, full coverage long-sleeve smock bib. Bonus of these bibs is they double as an art smock for messy play.

My other tip for protecting the clothes is invest in a stain remover spray that actually works because you will forget to rinse that marinara stain until the next day. Trust me.

I’ve started keeping stain remover in the kitchen to make treating stains early easier. But I also keep this works-like-a-charm stain remover for the stubborn stains or when I do inevitably forget to treat the stains right away. I won’t like, it is pricier than most but it’s also never failed me. To me, it’s worth it for not having to replace a whole outfit.

Paper towels are easy, yes, but they add up fast. And halfway through the week, you’ll find yourself muttering “didn’t I just buy these?” while wiping oatmeal off the high chair again.

Here’s the better option: use what you already have.

Cut up an old T-shirt, grab those washcloths you never use, or repurpose worn-out dish towels. Not only is it softer on your baby’s face (no more paper towel scrapes!), but you’re just tossing them in the laundry you’re already doing 24/7 anyway. Or skip the laundry and just toss in the trash them like you probably were going to anyways! Budget and earth-friendly win.

In a season where cutting stuff up feels like too much to add to the the to-do list? Another great option is to use these awesome reusable wipes. They’re literally designed for wiping up baby messes. I’ve gone this route, too, and it works great!

Cutting up cotton baby clothes that are already too stained is my favorite option. I don’t feel as bad throwing them away, they’re already stained so who cares if they get messy, and I still have a way of using my favorite pieces.

Half kidding. But not really.

Because once your baby discovers gravity and the joy of watching you pick up dropped food over and over, you’ll either need a dog, a good sense of humor, or a cleanup system that doesn’t make you want to cry daily.

I truly don’t know how we’d do it without our dog. We’ve (mostly) trained her to “leave it” on the floor if it’s a food she shouldn’t eat, but otherwise she’s the best clean up crew in the house. She can gain a few extra pounds during the food throwing phase, so we make sure we adjust her kibble intake or throw in some extra walks to keep her healthy.

If you’re not into pets, try a few of these: place a large high chair catcher tray or splat mat underneath the seat, invest in a wet vac-style mop for quick swipes, or even spread out a cheap plastic tarp you can hose off outside.

My go-to when I’m visiting someone? An old bath towel I can shake out over the trash and toss in the laundry when I get home. No judgment here—just survival strategies!

Of all my tips for starting solids, meal prepping is the most game-changing one.

This isn’t about whipping up gourmet baby meals or Pinterest-perfect freezer trays.

This is realistic, low-key prep to make mealtime quicker and easier.

Pick a few staples for the week and prep them in one go. Roast sweet potatoes, mash some avocado, steam broccoli, boil eggs. Whatever your babe will eat! Store them in containers so when your baby is ready to eat (again), you just grab, serve, and breathe.

One of my favorite tricks? Just make extra of whatever you’re already cooking and modify it to fit your baby’s stage.

If you’re having roasted veggies, pull some aside before seasoning. Making chicken? Shred or finely chop a piece for baby. It doesn’t have to be complicated to be nourishing.

Need inspiration? Think: “Taste the rainbow.”

Offering different colors can be a simple way to get a variety of nutrients—and make the plate more interesting. Or aim for a balance of a fruit or veggie, a protein, and a healthy fat or grain in each meal.

One big thing that helped save my sanity when figuring out what and how to serve solids was the Solid Starts app and their Instagram. It’s a fantastic resource with free food directory for  when and how to serve foods at different ages, and even has a paid premium plan where you can track foods baby eats and get recipe ideas and meal plans. I highly recommend it (an no, I’m not just an affiliate pushing this)!

Don’t worry, mama. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a few go-to tricks, a healthy dose of patience, and the confidence to trust your gut.

I hope some of the sanity saving tips for starting solids I’ve shared has given you some of those tricks and a little more confidence to help you and your baby navigate this stage with your sanity intact.

Remember, your baby doesn’t need perfection. They just need you, showing up, one sticky meal at a time.

From one messy mama to another, you’ve got this! Happy feeding!

P.S. Got a teething baby? Teething and starting solids usually happen around the same time. If you’re looking for some teething relief, check out my post on “Teething Toys for Babies: 10 Types for Teething Relief” to help you out!