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How do I get the Solid Starts App?

You can download the app on Apple or Android.

Is the Solid Starts App free?

The Solid Starts app is free to download and free for you to search for foods, read about each food, and explore new foods. There are paid features, like tracking which foods you've served or marking foods as favorites, that are under a subscription, but you do not need a subscription to view and read about the foods in our First Foods® database.

Which features are free and which features require a paid subscription?

The app is the free First Foods® database and like on the website, it will always be free. Within the app, if you'd like to customize the database to your needs (e.g., track which foods your baby has tried, which foods are your favorites, which baby had a reaction to, which foods you'd like to try later, or to take notes on any food), that is all part of the paid subscription. Information about all foods (and all database recipes!) is free. Personalization is optional and part of the paid subscription.

Will the database still be available on the website?

Yes! The First Foods® database will always be free and waiting for you on our website. It is also free and available to use on the app. You get to choose how you prefer to use it.

I have bought one of your bundles, does that include access to the premium (paid) features of the app?

No. Our bundles and guides are purchased directly through our website but the app subscription is handled completely through either Apple or Google. Because of how the payments are managed, we are not able to combine them. The app's optional subscription is for those who want to customize the free First Foods® database to their needs and be able to track foods and allergic reactions, etc.

Will I be able to view my bundles/guides on the app?

Unfortunately, no. While the bundles/guides are managed through our website, the app subscription is fully paid for and managed through either Apple or Google (depending on your phone). If we want our app to be on the App Store or the Google Play Store, we have to play by their rules which means that the app has to be completely separate from anything on our website.

Can I still make a donation?

Yes, thank you so much for your support! You can make a donation at any time via our donations page to help us keep our First Foods® database free forever! ♡

How can I add a food as a favorite?

You'll need to have the premium version of our app to add favorites. Once you've subscribed, you'll be able to tap the little heart icon on any food to add it to your favorites. You'll also be asked if a food is one of baby's favorites upon tracking it for the first time. You can check on your favorites list any time within the tracker.

How can I track that baby has tried a certain food?

Once baby has tried a food, just tap the plus sign to add it to the tracker, where you'll be asked if you'd like to add it as a favorite, if you'd like to add it to try again later, or if baby had a reaction. You'll also be able to make any notes about that food.

How can I track reactions baby has had to foods?

Once you’ve added a food to the tracker, you’ll be asked if baby had a reaction. From there, you can note which symptoms baby experienced. To see a main list of all foods that elicited reactions to share with family, caregivers, or doctors, simply tap the “Reactions” button on your Tracker page.

How can I add a food to a list to try later?

Once you're viewing any food, you can tap the repeat icon to add it to your list to try later. Lots of people use this as their shopping list as well :)

How can I mark that a food no longer is an allergen?

Click into the food in which you would like to remove the reaction. (You can find the food either via the calendar or by clicking “Foods Tried” on your home screen). Click on the “x Tried” button in the rectangular box under the food name, which will bring you to the food’s note page. Click into the note that contains the reaction, and you will be able to delete the reaction.

Where can I see what size to cut a food for my baby?

First, search for the food. From the food entry, click on "How to serve". That's where you'll find all of the information on how to cut, prepare, and serve each food for baby depending on their age.

The food I was looking for is not there.

We are adding new foods every day! It's a slow process because each food needs to be reviewed by several licensed professionals but we're doing our best to have every single food in the database. Feel free to send an email to [email protected] with your suggestions for new foods to add. We’d love to hear your ideas!

Where can I find recipes?

We include a recipe on each food for how to serve that food for the first time. Just search for a food and click on "Recipe". If you're looking for more recipes, you can check out our Meal & Recipe Ideas Kit for over 200 breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas, plus 100 healthy snack ideas!

How can I add an additional child profile?

From your Profile page, click on the “Add Profile” button that appears in the upper right. You can add a maximum of three child profiles and easily switch between these profiles by clicking on the food icon in the top right corner.

Can I edit the date/note/reactions of a logged food?

Yes! Open your food tracker and click on the date that has the food you want to change, then click on the food name at the bottom of the screen. Click in the "Your Notes" field. There, you can click on the date (underneath the food name at the top) and change it to whatever date you want. You can also edit the food’s notes and reactions on this screen. Click the blue "Update" button when you are done making changes.

What is a “poop friendly” food?

“Poop friendly” means whether a food has qualities that help baby poop.

How is the nutrition rating determined?

Each food is analyzed by a team of pediatric dietitians and nutritionists through the lens of the nutrients a 6- to 24-month-old child needs. Foods with high scores will have adequate amounts of iron, protein, fat and minerals like zinc that babies need; foods with low amounts of iron, protein, fat and certain minerals will have lower scores. Other factors include whether the food typically has toxins (such as mercury in fish). For example, tuna nutritionally is a fantastic food. But it's high in mercury, a toxic metal to which babies are particularly susceptible so it will have a lower rating. Aim to offer one to two 4- or 5-star foods daily. Otherwise, focus on a wide variety of whole, colorful fresh foods as budget and time permit.

Can I share my account?

Yes! The same login credentials can be shared across multiple devices, whether Apple or Android. This makes it super easy for parents/caregivers to coordinate the baby’s solid food progress with each other.

What is baby-led weaning?

Baby-led weaning is a method of introducing solid food to babies whereby purées and spoon-feeding are skipped entirely in favor of finger foods that a baby self-feeds. We have a lot more information on what it is, how to do it, FAQ's, and troubleshooting on our Baby-led Weaning page.

How do I know if baby is ready to start solids?

There are clear signs you're looking for. See our page on readiness for more detail.

Do you offer guides on how to start introducing solids?

We sure do! We have a whole slew of guides available from 50 fantastic foods for babies starting solids to 25 foods you should avoid, how to introduce allergens, baby-led weaning for caregivers, and more. Plus recipe books for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas for your family to share meals with baby. They can all be found on our guides page.

How much of a food should I offer to baby?

We really encourage parents to stay away from exact measurements, counting milligrams, etc. because we find it can actually lead to underfeeding or overfeeding. The range for each baby (just as it is with breast milk or formula) can vary dramatically. Instead, we recommend serving food family style (on the table, where baby can see it and reach or grunt for more) and letting baby eat as much or as little as they want. Babies are incredibly good at regulating their own appetite--even from birth! They are excellent at telling us they want more or that they are full. Trust that. As long as more food is in reach/sight, baby should get enough.

Where are the purees?

If you want to make some purees for baby, by all means do so! Any food can be pureed, but our First Foods® database shows you how to serve each food without the need to puree. Variety is key.

I am terrified that my baby will choke. What should I do?

Creating a safe environment for baby to start solids is crucial to your success. Read through our safety page and more information on choking hazards, safe food sizes & shapes, and gagging to prepare yourself.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Subscriptions can be managed through your profile within the app or through My Subscriptions in the App Store or Google Play Store on your device. We at Solid Starts cannot cancel your subscription for you.

Can I get a refund on the app subscription?

App payments are handled entirely by Apple or Google, so you’ll have to reach out to them directly to request a refund. If you need assistance with how to do this, email [email protected]

Can I share the personalized tracking of foods and reactions with my partner/family?

Yes! The same login credentials can be shared across multiple devices, whether Apple or Android. This makes it super easy for parents/caregivers to coordinate the baby’s solid food progress with each other.

How do I change my payment method?

You'll have to do that within your app account, either through Apple or Google Play. All payments are completely managed through them.

Does my subscription auto-renew?

Yes, if you selected this option upon sign up. Apple/Google will also send you a reminder email when it’s about to auto-renew, and you can cancel at that time if you wish.

What happens to the foods I've tracked if I cancel my subscription?

We are working on functionality to download your tracked foods and save them forever outside of the app, but they will always live within the app itself. So if 10 years from now you want to see them again, just subscribe again with the same email and password and they will all be there waiting for you.

I keep getting an error when trying to purchase a subscription.

Make sure you have in-app purchases enabled on your phone. Lots of parents disable this to prevent surprise purchases from little hands! If that's enabled, check that you have the most recent version of the app installed by going to the app store and seeing if there is an update for you to download.

What payment methods do you accept?

We don’t process app payments directly, it’s all done through the App and Play stores. We accept what they accept!

I forgot my password. What do I do?

1. Go to the log-in page on the website and click on the “forgot password?” link.

2. You’ll be redirected to a page that asks for your username or email address that you signed up with. Enter either.

3. Check your email for the confirmation link. If you still don’t see an email from Solid Starts after 15-20 minutes, remember to check your junk folder.

4. Once you have clicked the link, you will be redirected to a page to reset your password. There is a random password that has been assigned to you; however, if you would like to change it, you can do so by deleting the generated password.

5. Once your new password is set, click the “reset” button.

6. Your new password has been set, now go back to the Solid Starts login page and sign in!

7. If you don’t receive the password reset email, contact [email protected] for help

Does nut milk or yogurt count as introducing nuts as allergens?

Sorry, no. Nut milks don’t contain much of the actual protein from the flesh of the nut itself, which is what causes the allergic reaction. So to rule out a nut allergy it’s best to introduce the nut via nut butter (mix with breast milk, formula, applesauce or yogurt if dairy has been introduced to reduce the choking risk) or sprinkle finely ground nut on fruit, etc. More here.

When can babies have juice?

We strongly recommend you avoid juice until your child is at least two years old, and even then, to think twice. Consumption of juice, soda, flavored milks, and other sweetened beverages can lead to a preference for sweet foods (and rejection of other drinks like water and plain milk) and increase the risk of excess weight gain, heart disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

Does it count that baby tried a food if I served it but baby didn't actually eat any of it?

That's really for you to decide, but probably not in our books.

Baby has no teeth, does this change the sizes that I should cut things?

Believe it or not, no. You can loosely follow the size guidelines based on baby's age.

Still have questions about the app? Send us an email to [email protected]

The content offered on SolidStarts.com is for informational purposes only. Solidstarts is not engaged in rendering professional advice, whether medical or otherwise, to individual users or their children or families. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or your medical or health professional, nutritionist, or expert in pediatric feeding and eating. By accessing the content on SolidStarts.com, you acknowledge and agree that you are accepting the responsibility for your child’s health and well-being. In return for providing you with an array of content “baby-led weaning” information, you waive any claims that you or your child may have as a result of utilizing the content on SolidStarts.com.