Why Starting Solids Feels So Stressful (And How to Make It Feel Calm and Confident)

If you’re approaching the stage of starting solids and feel a knot in your stomach every time you think about it, you’re not alone.

For so many parents, this phase feels unexpectedly stressful. What should be exciting—your baby’s first foods, first bites, first messy meals—quickly becomes overwhelming. You might find yourself wondering:

• Am I doing this right?

• What if my baby chokes?

• Should I be doing purées… baby-led weaning… both?

• Why does everyone online say something different?

Here’s the truth I want you to hear right away:
You are not anxious because you’re doing something wrong. You’re anxious because you’ve been given too much conflicting information and not enough clear guidance.

Why Starting Solids Feels So Overwhelming

Parents today are more informed than ever—and paradoxically, that’s part of the problem.

You’re likely absorbing advice from:

• Social media

• Parenting forums

• Friends and family

• Pediatrician handouts

• Influencers with strong opinions

Most of it is well-meaning. But when advice conflicts, your nervous system stays on high alert. Feeding becomes something you brace for instead of enjoy.

Add in the very real fear of choking, and it makes sense that many parents approach meals feeling tense rather than confident.

The Hidden Truth About Feeding Confidence

Confidence with feeding doesn’t come from “being brave” or pushing through fear.

It comes from understanding what your baby is ready for.

Babies don’t magically go from milk to table foods overnight. Feeding skills develop in stages—just like rolling, crawling, and walking. When parents aren’t taught what those stages look like, they’re left guessing.

And guessing during meals leads to:

• Anxiety

• Over-monitoring every bite

• Second-guessing textures

• Feeling like something is “wrong” when it isn’t

Calm Feeding Starts With a Clear Plan

When parents know:

• Which textures are appropriate

• What gagging actually means (and what it doesn’t)

• How posture and setup affect safety

• What signs show readiness to move forward

Everything shifts.

Meals become calmer.
Parents relax their shoulders.
Babies sense that calm and respond to it.

This is why I don’t believe feeding should be left to trial and error—or late-night Googling when you’re already exhausted.

You Don’t Need More Advice—You Need Support

Most parents don’t need more information. They need:

• Clear guidance

• Reassurance that they’re on the right track

• Someone to help them adjust when things feel off

That’s exactly what feeding coaching is designed to do.

Instead of asking, “Am I messing this up?”
Parents start thinking, “I understand what my baby needs right now.”

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If you’re reading this and thinking, “I just want someone to walk me through this,” you’re not alone.

That’s exactly why I created my feeding coaching program—to give parents:

• Clear, step-by-step guidance

• Reassurance when things feel uncertain

• Support during real meals, not just theory

Inside the program, I help you understand:

• What textures your baby is truly ready for

• How to move through feeding stages safely and confidently

• How to reduce stress and enjoy meals again

You don’t need to wait until feeding feels like a “problem” to get support.

👉 Learn more about my feeding coaching and see if it’s a good fit for your family HERE

A Gentle Reminder for You

If starting solids feels stressful, it doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It means you care deeply—and you deserve support as much as your baby does.

Feeding can feel calm.
It can feel confident.
And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

This is the foundation I help parents build inside my feeding coaching—step by step, at your pace, with clarity and confidence.

speechcoachcassie.com/feedwithconfidence