What Do the Stages of Baby Food Mean?

The introduction of solid food to a baby's diet is an important step. Baby food comes in different "stages," consisting of different tastes and textures. Some parents do not pay much attention to stage levels, and instead look for what they think their baby would like the most. But when introducing baby food, timing is important. Introducing baby food too early can increase your baby's chance of allergy problems. Understanding baby food stages is easy once you know when each stage should be introduced.

  1. Stage One

    • Stage-one baby food is made of a fine, watery consistency that is typically introduced between 4 and 6 months of age. Stage-one food tends to be pureed, bland and easy to digest, allowing your baby to get used to eating solids. Common stage-one flavors include bananas, applesauce and carrots. Many pediatricians recommend holding off on solid baby food until your baby is able to sit up supported.

    Stage Two

    • Stage-two baby foods have a thicker consistency and a slight burst of taste. Stage-two foods are typically introduced once your baby is sitting independently and include a wider variety of tastes than the stage-one food. Popular examples of stage-two baby food include pureed peaches, squash and apricots.

    Stage Three

    • Stage-three baby foods have a thicker consistency and require a baby to attempt to chew to break down the food. Stage-three foods also have increased flavor that may excite your baby. Common stage-three foods include meats, fruit blends and vegetable combinations. Stage-three baby foods can be introduced once your baby begins to crawl.

    Stage Four

    • Stage-four baby food moves your baby up from pureed meals to small pieces of food. Stage-four foods can be introduced once your baby begins to walk. Examples of stage-four baby food include meat-and-vegetable combinations and simplified versions of adult comfort food such as macaroni-and-cheese, lasagna and ravioli.

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