Thanksgiving is a time for family, togetherness, and, of course, plenty of good food. If your baby is starting solids or in the middle of transition feeding, you might be wondering how to safely (and enjoyably) include them in the holiday meal. The good news? With a few simple adjustments, your little one can be part of the feast, too.
Understanding Transition Feeding
Transition feeding typically begins around 6 months, when babies start exploring textures beyond milk or formula. Every baby’s readiness looks different, but signs often include showing interest in food, sitting up with support, and being able to move food from a spoon to the back of their mouth.
At this stage, the goal isn’t how much they eat, it’s about exploration. Let your baby taste, touch, and play with textures. The experience itself helps build feeding skills and confidence.
Thanksgiving Foods Babies Can Try
Many classic Thanksgiving dishes can be made baby-friendly with small tweaks:
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Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Naturally sweet, full of vitamins, and easy to mash smooth or serve as soft chunks for self-feeding.
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Plain Turkey: Offer finely shredded or minced turkey without added salt or gravy. For younger babies, you can puree it with a bit of breastmilk or formula.
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Mashed Potatoes: Perfect if made with little or no added salt and butter. You can thin them with breastmilk, formula, or water.
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Steamed Vegetables: Soft-cooked carrots, peas, or green beans make great finger foods for babies practicing pincer grasp.
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Pumpkin or Squash: Silky and mild, these are wonderful first foods that can be mixed with a bit of cereal or mashed fruit.
Avoid foods that pose choking risks (like nuts, whole grapes, raw veggies, or sticky foods), and go easy on added sugar and salt, babies’ kidneys are still developing.
Making Mealtime Meaningful
Let your baby join the family table. Even if they only take a few small bites, the social experience of eating together is a powerful part of learning. Let them explore new tastes and textures at their own pace- mess and all!
How Woddle Can Help
The Woddle Smart Changing Pad and app make it easy to track your baby’s feeding journey, before, during, and after the transition to solids.
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Log every feeding whether it’s breastmilk, formula, or first foods.
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Monitor growth trends to see how your baby’s intake aligns with healthy development.
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Track new foods and note any reactions or preferences, helping you and your pediatrician identify patterns with ease.
With Woddle, you can stay connected to your baby’s progress and enjoy the season with confidence, knowing you’re nourishing their growth one bite (or spoonful) at a time.
A Thanksgiving to Remember
This Thanksgiving, celebrate every new taste, messy smile, and tiny milestone. Whether it’s their first spoonful of sweet potato or their first time at the table, your baby’s feeding journey is something to be thankful for, and Woddle is here to support you every step of the way.
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