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Once a baby is ready for solids, "what do I actually feed them" becomes the daily question. The good news: most homemade baby food is genuinely simple — a handful of base recipes, mixed and matched, cover most of a week without much extra effort.
Basics before you start
- Start with single ingredients before mixing, so it's easier to notice a reaction to any one food.
- Texture should match your baby's stage — smooth purees early on, progressing to mashed and then soft finger foods as they develop.
- No added salt, sugar, or honey (honey isn't safe before 12 months).
- A little breast milk, formula, or water can thin a puree that's too thick.
A simple weekly menu
| Day | Idea |
|---|---|
| Monday | Sweet potato mash |
| Tuesday | Avocado & banana mash |
| Wednesday | Pea & pear puree |
| Thursday | Oatmeal with mashed apple |
| Friday | Carrot & sweet potato mash |
| Saturday | Soft scrambled egg (once introduced) |
| Sunday | Butternut squash puree |
This is a starting template, not a rule — repeating favorites, swapping order, or sticking with one food for several days in a row are all completely fine.
Five easy recipes
- Sweet potato mash — steam or roast peeled, cubed sweet potato until soft, then mash or blend with a splash of water or milk to the right consistency.
- Avocado & banana mash — no cooking needed; mash ripe avocado and banana together with a fork until smooth.
- Pea & pear puree — steam peas until tender, blend with a peeled, cooked pear until smooth; strain if a finer texture is needed.
- Oatmeal with fruit — cook plain infant oatmeal per package instructions, stir in mashed banana, apple, or pear for natural sweetness.
- Carrot & sweet potato mash — steam peeled, chopped carrot and sweet potato together until soft, then mash or blend.
Batch cooking and storage
- Cook a larger batch of one food, then portion into ice cube trays for single servings.
- Once frozen, pop cubes into a labeled freezer bag — most purees keep well for about 1–3 months frozen.
- Refrigerated purees are generally best used within about 2–3 days.
- Thaw in the fridge overnight, or gently warm — always test temperature before serving.
Foods to hold off on
Honey (before 12 months), added salt and sugar, whole nuts, and choking-hazard shapes (whole grapes, hard raw vegetables, chunks of meat) are common ones to avoid at this stage. See our toy safety checklist for a related look at choking-hazard sizing, and talk to your pediatrician about safely introducing common allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need special equipment to make baby food at home?
Not really — a steamer (or a pot with a steamer basket) and a blender or food processor cover almost everything. A fork is enough for very soft foods like banana or avocado.
Can I mix multiple foods together right away?
Many parents introduce single ingredients first for a few days each, to make it easier to spot a reaction, before combining foods. Ask your pediatrician about the pace that makes sense for your baby.
How do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?
In the early stages of solids, breast milk or formula is still the main source of nutrition — solids are about practice and exposure at first. Your pediatrician can guide you on quantities as your baby progresses.
