Creamy Green Pasta

Cook pasta until very soft, well past al dente, and serve plain or with a smooth, low-salt sauce. Larger soft shapes like penne or fusilli are easy to grab; you can also mash it. Wheat pasta is a common allergen, so offer it on its own first. Enriched pasta adds iron and folate.

A ripe avocado is one of the easiest first foods. Peel it, remove the pit, and mash the soft flesh smooth, or leave it slightly lumpy as your baby gets used to texture. You can also offer a thick finger-length wedge to hold and gnaw on. It is naturally soft and squishes easily between two fingers.

Onion is usually a flavor base rather than a food on its own at this age. Cook it down until very soft and blend it into purées, mashes, or sauces. Raw onion is sharp and firm, so keep it out for now.

Parsley is a fresh herb used to flavor food, not eaten on its own. Wash it well, finely chop or mince it, and stir a small pinch into purées, mashed vegetables, yogurt, or eggs. A whole sprig or raw leaf can bunch up, so chop it small or blend it in.

Lemon is very tart, so it is usually a flavoring rather than a food on its own. Squeeze a little juice into purees, plain yogurt, or cooked vegetables, or stir a small amount of finely grated zest into a dish. Remove all seeds first and wipe baby's face afterward, since the acidity can redden delicate skin.

Use a splash of plain coconut milk to enrich a smooth purée, porridge, or vegetable mash. It adds creaminess and works well stirred into the food rather than offered on its own.

Garlic adds depth to early meals without any salt. Finely mince or mash a small amount and cook it soft into purees, mashed vegetables, beans, or sauces. It is a seasoning rather than a finger food, so a little stirred through a dish is all a baby needs. Skip raw garlic and whole cloves at this stage.