There are six signs of developmental readiness to watch for before introducing solid foods: your baby is around 6 months of age, shows interest in food, reaches for objects, can grasp objects and bring them to their mouth, has steady head control while chewing, and can sit up with minimal support. Feeding therapists recommend waiting until your baby is showing all six signs to ensure that starting solids is safe and developmentally appropriate. If your baby was born prematurely, readiness should be based on their adjusted age rather than their chronological age.

Baby-led weaning (BLW) skips purees entirely and starts babies on soft finger foods that the rest of the family is eating, allowing them to self-feed from the very beginning. The traditional method introduces solids through spoon-fed purees before gradually progressing to finger foods. In clinical practice, more parents are gravitating toward BLW because it supports independence, fine motor development, and a positive relationship with food from the very start.

The six expert-recommended tools to start BLW include the Oral Development Tools, Tiny Pops, BLW Food Cutters, an open cup (like the Tiny Cup), suction tableware (like the Tiny Plate, Tiny Bowl, or Tiny Placemat), and the Tiny Spoons. Each product is designed to support a specific feeding milestone - from developing the palmar and pincer grasp to practicing sips from an open cup. ezpz's Pediatric Feeding Specialist Dawn Winkelmann, M.S., CCC-SLP, recommends these tools because they are properly sized for a baby's developing mouth and hands.

One of the most effective ways to reduce mealtime mess is to serve food on a suction plate rather than directly on the highchair tray, which helps prevent babies from sweeping their plate onto the floor. Using a waterproof bib-apron like the BapronBaby Bapron also makes cleanup significantly easier without the sensory discomfort of traditional bibs. It is also important to resist wiping your baby's face mid-meal, as frequent face wiping can cause sensory aversions and lead to food refusal over time.

ezpz's Pediatric Feeding Specialist (Dawn Winkelmann, M.S., CCC-SLP) recommends starting solids around 6 months of age or once all six signs of developmental readiness are present. She advises using properly sized tableware like the Tiny Plate, Tiny Bowl, or Mini Mat, which have a suction feature that keeps food at midline to reduce choking risk. Early use of the Oral Development Tools before the first bite can also help prepare a baby's mouth for the sensory and motor demands of eating solid foods.