Homemade baby food made easy: a guide for parents

Deciding to make your baby’s meals at home is exciting! You get to choose all the recipes and ingredients, have control over the texture, experiment with flavours…

Then reality sinks in:

Wait, what do babies eat first? What’s safe for when they’re starting solids? How much food do I make? What if my baby doesn’t like the food? How do I store these meals? What do I shop for? What if… How do… Can I…

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by questions, you’re not alone! And you’ve come to the right place.

This homemade baby food guide is here to help you every step of the way.

We’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from meal prep safety to choosing the right ingredients, preparing balanced meals, and making homemade baby food a simple part of your routine.

In this guide, you’ll find:

What foods to start with
Readying your space for meal safety
How to prepare baby food without stress
Quick safety and storage tips
Common beginner questions and gentle reassurance to get you started

What foods to start with

So, your baby is now around 6 months old. Hooray! They’ll start to benefit from an introduction to the world of solid food.

The good news is that most babies begin with simple, familiar ingredients you probably already have at home.

You can start with smooth, iron-rich purées like pumpkin, sweet potato, lentils, or chicken (well-cooked and thoroughly blended), along with soft fruits and vegetables such as pear, apple, or avocado in purée form.

From there, you’ll gradually move to thicker textures and small, soft pieces as your baby learns to chew.

Begin with smooth, single-ingredient purées.
Move on to mild blends (like pumpkin + chicken or carrot + lentil). Experiment to see what your baby likes!
Offer soft textures and finger foods around 9-10 months. Think: steamed (and cooled) veggie sticks like zucchini and carrots, mini pancakes, flaked fish, etc.
Keep it simple and with virtually no added salt or sugar. Avoid processed food or overly-seasoned food.
Absolute no-nos:

Honey, as it poses a risk for botulism. It’s ok once baby turns 1 year old.
Small hard foods like whole nuts, popcorn, or candy. These are choking hazards.
Cow’s milk as main milk. It’s ok as a supplementary ingredient in recipes.
Undercooked animal products like eggs, meat, or fish.

👉 Visit our Recipes Page for delicious homemade recipes you can make for your baby!

Readying your workspace for baby food safety

Now that you’ve got your ingredients, it’s time to get to meal prepping. Here’s a neat little checklist of everything you need to make this a seamless, easy experience:

Clean workspace and utensils: Wash hands, surfaces, and equipment thoroughly. Keep everything sterile because little tummies are very sensitive to germs.
Wash produce thoroughly: Clean fresh fruits and veggies very thoroughly to remove impurities and other potential contaminants. Best way to do this is to wash and rinse produce in water with some white vinegar.
Pots, bowls, spatulas, etc: A steamer or pot, spatula, and mixing bowls are must-haves; sterilise your equipment by boiling them in water or pouring boiling hot water over them in the sink.
Blender: First foods have to be smoothly puréed for babies. You’ll need a great blender or baby food maker.

💡Tip: Investing in a multipurpose baby food maker is a game-changer and time-saver. For instance, the KiddoKook Pro is designed to steam, blend, defrost, and reheat baby food. Bonus: it sterilises itself and is also very easy to clean!

Baby-portioned storage: We highly recommend investing in small containers for single-serve portions for baby (a few teaspoons or tablespoons). Silicone freezer trays (such as the PureePops Tray), baby-friendly jars, and labels for dates and flavours help keep wastage at a minimum.
Time reality check: An hour of prep can cover several days of meals, even if you’re just starting out! Once you’re in the swing of things (and with a very good baby food maker), it might even be quicker.
Bonus helpers: Baby-friendly kitchen tools and trinkets make feeding fun. Products like the SiliSqueeze Pouch (for on-the-go meals) or the Lil’ Keepers Straps (to keep baby’s things off the floor) are just some of the ways Kiddo Kitchen can help you make mealtimes more seamless.

How to prepare baby food

Step 1: Pick and shop for a few stage-appropriate recipes
Start small with 2-3 recipes for the week. Ideally a mix of:

One vegetable combo (e.g. pumpkin or sweet potato purée)
One fruit combo (e.g. pear or apple purée)
One combo meal (like carrot + lentil or chicken + pumpkin)

This gives your baby enough variety to explore new flavours without overwhelming you in the kitchen.

Step 2: Prepare ingredients
Clean fresh produce thoroughly. Wash, peel, and chop produce into small chunks for even cooking.

Step 3: Cook until soft
Steam or boil until tender. Steaming is the best way to retain nutrients and natural colour. If cooking any kind of raw meat, save it for the very last! Sterilise and wash tools as often as needed.

Step 4: Blend or mash
Use a blender, food processor, or your baby food maker. Start smooth, then gradually move to thicker textures. Add a little water, breast milk, or formula if needed.

Step 5: Cool and portion
Let the food cool quickly; try not to leave it out on the counter. As soon as it is cool enough to handle, portion purée into 30–120 g serves, depending on your baby’s appetite.

Step 6: Store safely
Depending on the food type, you can refrigerate for up to a few days (max of 3 days) or freeze for up to a few months. Always label your containers with the date and flavour; our non-toxic Chalk Pens are helpful here! Here’s our complete guide to storing baby food.

Safety and Storage Basics

Chill and store within two hours of cooking.
Label appropriately so you know what’s in storage in your fridge and freezer.
As a rule of thumb, fridge portions can stay there for around 2 days, and freezer portions will keep its quality for 2-3 months.
Reheat once only, and always test temperature before serving.
For more details, see our “Baby food storage: fridge vs freezer” guide.

Reheating + serving: a checklist

Before serving homemade baby food (whether from the fridge or freezer), a few quick safety checks go a long way.

Heat food until it’s steaming hot. Stir well to avoid hot spots. Tip: your KiddoKook Pro already has a reheat function!
Cool to baby-safe temperature before serving. To check, stir thoroughly then drop some food on the inside of your wrist: you’re looking for comfortably warm, not too hot or cool.
Serve baby food only once. Reheat if it came from cold storage, but anything uneaten after that should be thrown away; you don’t want to give bacteria a chance to grow.
For solids like muffins, patties, or pancakes in later stages: warm until hot all the way through, then let cool slightly.
Never leave food sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if it’s hot weather).
For travelling or bringing on-the-go baby food: pack meals in small containers, in an insulated bag with an ice pack, until you can reheat them. If there’s no option to reheat, pack cold snacks (like fruit purées) instead. A mess-free pouch like the SiliSqueeze Pouch comes in handy for easy sipping.

Common Beginner Questions

Do I need a baby food maker?
Not essential, but it’s a serious lifesaver. The KiddoKook Pro steams, blends, and cleans up fast, letting you focus on baby instead of dishes.

Can I use frozen fruits and veggies?
Yes! They’re just as nutritious when steamed properly, as long as they don't contain additives or preservatives.

What if my baby doesn’t like a food?
Totally normal. Try again in a few days, or mix it with a favourite flavour!

How much time does this take?
Your first session might take an hour, but once you find your rhythm, it’s quite easy and quick, especially with batch prep and the right tools.

How many ingredients should you shop for?
Prepare 4 to 5 different ingredients for the week. You can mix and match ingredients and flavours as you go.

Wrap-Up: You’ve Got This

Making your baby’s food from scratch is one of those small wins that feels big. You get wholesome ingredients and real flavours, and a sense of fulfilment from knowing what’s going on in each bite.

Start simple, prep small, and celebrate every new flavour your baby tries. You’ll quickly find your rhythm and maybe even enjoy the process along the way.

You’ve got this! Homemade baby food is easier (and more rewarding) than it looks.

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