Pumpkin Stew

Steam, roast, or boil pumpkin until very soft, then mash to a smooth purée or offer a finger-length soft-cooked spear. Remove the skin and any seeds. Serve warm and skip salt and added sugar.

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.

Choose a ripe, soft tomato. Peel off the skin (it can bunch up and be hard to chew), scoop out the seedy core, and mash the flesh or stir it into a purée. If offering a piece to hold, give a soft finger-length strip of peeled flesh. Cherry and grape tomatoes are a round choking shape, so always quarter them lengthwise into small pieces and never serve them whole or halved.

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.

Stir a small drizzle of olive oil into a smooth purée or soft mash to add calories and richness. Use it as a cooking fat for vegetables or grains, or fold a little into the finished food just before serving.

Cilantro (also called fresh coriander leaf) has a bright, fresh flavor and is a simple way to vary early tastes. Finely chop a small amount of the soft leaves and stir it through purees, mashed beans, soft rice, or yogurt. Chopping it small lets it blend in smoothly with the food.

Use pasteurized, full-fat cheese and offer it finely grated or as a thin smear rather than in pieces. Sprinkle a little grated cheese over soft vegetables or stir it into mash or a soft pasta so it melts in. Choose a mild, lower-salt cheese where you can.

Offer pasteurized mozzarella finely grated over soft food or melted into a purée, mashed vegetables, or a soft cooked dish so it stretches and softens. Avoid mozzarella balls, chunks, or thick slices at this age.