Food Before One Is (Not) Just For Fun

Sep 10, 2025Plate&Play Team
Food Before One Is (Not) Just For Fun
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Why Your Baby's First Bite is More Important Than You Think?

Starting solids isn't just about fun messy moments – it's laying the foundation for your child's lifelong relationship with food.

Here's why those early eating experiences are so much more important than you might realize.

1. It's All About Building Skills

Babies need time to not only get comfortable and familiar with new food, but also to hone their chewing and swallowing skills. Every squished banana and dropped avocado piece is practice for coordinating tongue, jaw, and swallowing muscles. The more exposure they get, the more confident they become at mealtimes.

2. The Magic Window: 6-12 Months

Research shows babies are naturally more open to new foods during this crucial period. Their brains are wired to accept different colors, textures, and flavors. Embrace the mess and offer variety – even if they only take one tiny taste!

3. Iron Becomes Critical After 6 Months

While breast milk or formula remains their primary nutrition, your baby's iron stores from birth start depleting around 6 months. Iron is essential for brain development and growth – and milk alone can't keep up with their needs.

4. The Allergy Prevention Twist

Delaying certain foods might actually increase allergy risks, not reduce them. Leading allergists now recommend introducing common allergens like eggs, peanuts, and fish before your baby's first birthday. 

Research suggests that by 9 months, babies who haven't experienced various food exposure are more likely to face feeding issues by the age of 7, including food allergies. Therefore, introducing solids once your baby is developmentally ready (usually around 6 months of age) is crucial for nutritional, sensory, social, motor, and overall development.

Final Thoughts

Starting your weaning journey can feel overwhelming, but remember – you're doing an amazing job. If you ever need a little extra support with nutritious meals for your little one, know that we're here cheering you on ✨

Frequently asked question

Baby-led weaning is a feeding approach where babies are given safely-textured table foods and allowed to self-feed, rather than being spoon-fed purees. It's associated with supporting oral motor development, pincer grasp and jaw development.

Yes. Meals are made with BLW-friendly textures, but every dish can also be blended down after reheating to a smoother, spoon-feeding consistency, so families can use whichever approach suits them.

Yes. Plate & Play meals can be blended down to a spoon-feeding consistency after reheating, so families who spoon-feed exclusively can use the meals just as easily as families doing baby-led weaning.

No, and they don't need to. Plate & Play meals are designed to be your baby's weekly staples, so cooking becomes something you do when you want to, not something you're obligated to do every day.

Yes. All Plate & Play meals are delivered frozen using cold-chain delivery. Someone needs to be available to receive the order and move it into the freezer promptly.

No. Plate & Play meals are made with no added salt, sugar or preservatives.

Plate & Play dishes are suitable from 6 months onward unless stated otherwise. Infant portions suit babies roughly 6-12 months, and Toddler portions suit 13-24 months, though bigger appetites can extend toddler portions to 3-4 years.

Choose a bi-weekly or monthly delivery frequency, select your meals, and Plate & Play automatically delivers baby and toddler meals on that schedule, so the weekly rotation is sorted in advance.

Meals can be reheated by microwave (3-5 minutes medium-high for dishes, 30-45 seconds for finger foods), double-boiling or steaming (10-15 minutes), or on the stovetop from defrosted (5-7 minutes covered). Air frying is not recommended for dishes.

Since the meals contain no preservatives, they're best consumed within one month of receipt when stored properly in the freezer. Once thawed in the fridge, consume within 24 hours.

Meals are delivered frozen via cold-chain delivery, Monday to Saturday, typically arriving within 1-2 working days between 3pm-10pm. Self-collection is also available at the East Village Mall store.

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