Starting solids is an exciting milestone, but it can quickly become a lot to keep track of.
Which foods has your baby already tried? What did they enjoy? Which allergens have you introduced? What should you try next?
The 50 First Foods approach gives parents a simple goal: help your baby explore 50 different foods, while also introducing a variety of flavours, textures, and common allergens.
You can start for free with our printable checklist:
Download the Free 50 First Foods Checklist →
Or make tracking even easier with the 50 First Foods app:
What are the 50 first foods?
Instead of worrying about perfect meals, focus on gradually giving your baby opportunities to experience a wide variety of foods. There isn’t one perfect order.
A varied first-food journey might include vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, proteins, dairy, eggs, fish, nut products prepared appropriately for babies, herbs and mild spices, and different textures.
Rather than asking “What should my baby eat today?”, you can ask:
“What new food could we explore next?”
When can babies start solid foods?
Most babies begin exploring solid foods at around six months, once they are developmentally ready. Early feeding is also about taste, texture, smell, and the experience of eating — not racing through a checklist.
50 foods is a journey, not a deadline.
Why introduce lots of different foods?
The first months of eating are a chance to discover sweet and savoury flavours, mild bitterness, aromas, smooth and mashed foods, soft finger foods, temperatures, and new combinations.
A baby might happily eat avocado one day and throw it on the floor the next. That’s normal. The goal of 50 First Foods isn’t a baby who loves every food — it’s keeping opportunities to explore variety.
A baby first foods checklist makes starting solids easier
When you’re feeding several times a day, it’s surprisingly hard to remember everything they’ve tried. A baby first foods checklist helps you mark foods as tried, see what’s still waiting, track allergens, and get ideas when you don’t know what to serve next.
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
Want more than a checklist? Meet the 50 First Foods app
A printable checklist is a great place to start. Once you’re regularly introducing foods, the 50 First Foods app makes tracking quick enough for real family life — no spreadsheets, no accounts, no internet required.
Track foods, flavours, and allergens
Record dates, enjoyment, preparation, notes, and pairings. Explore 20 flavour ideas and separately track 10 common allergens. Always prepare foods safely for your baby’s stage.
Favourites and trying again
Foods can be Enjoyed, Neutral, or Disliked. Items that need another go appear under Needs More Exposure, so one messy attempt doesn’t erase a food forever.
Plan meals and prepped food
Use the weekly meal planner and keep track of batch-prepared portions so “what am I going to give them?” gets easier.
Add your own foods
After the original 50, add custom foods, family recipes, and cultural favourites. The checklist is a starting point — your baby’s journey continues from there.
Private and offline
Information stays on your device. No account, no cloud sync required for tracking.
Baby-led weaning or purées?
You don’t have to choose one philosophy. Whether avocado was mashed or an appropriate finger food, it can still become part of your baby’s food experience.
A simple starting solids routine
- Choose a food your baby hasn’t explored yet
- Prepare it appropriately
- Let your baby explore (touching and tasting count)
- Record the attempt
- Offer familiar foods again
- Keep building variety
Frequently asked questions
What are good first foods for babies?
There isn’t one required starter food. Gradually introduce foods from different groups. The 50 First Foods checklist is designed to encourage variety.
Do babies need to try foods in a particular order?
For most babies, no fixed sequence is required. Aim for a broad range of appropriate foods, tastes, and textures.
What if my baby doesn’t like a new food?
Don’t assume one attempt means never. New flavours can take time. Record it as needing more exposure and offer it again another day.
Is there a free baby first foods checklist?
Yes — download the free printable 50 First Foods checklist.
Take the next step
Download the Free 50 First Foods Checklist →
Or keep the journey in your pocket:
See the full app overview on the 50 First Foods portfolio page.