No Teeth? No Problem!

Why Gums Are Perfectly Good for Starting Solids

Spoiler: your baby’s gummy grin is more powerful than you think.

Prefer to listen?

Wondering If You Should Wait for Teeth Before Starting Solids?

Let me guess — your baby is six months old, sitting like a champ, reaching for your food…
But your mom (or your neighbor… or let’s be honest, Instagram) says:
“Wait until they have teeth!”

Here’s the truth:

“Babies don’t need teeth to start solids.
Their gums? Wildly underrated.”

So if you’ve been holding back, waiting on that first tooth to pop through — this post is for you.

Do Babies Really Need Teeth to Eat?

Not even close.

Most babies don’t get their molars — the teeth we use for grinding — until they’re 12–18 months old.
If we waited for a full set of teeth to offer real food? We’d be missing a huge window for learning.

By the time your baby is developmentally ready to start solids (usually shortly after six months), their gums are ready too. They're strong enough to mash soft foods and begin practicing the movements that lead to chewing, talking, and safe swallowing.

So no teeth? No problem.

Here’s What Gums Can Do

Imagine this:

  • Your baby mashes a strip of ripe banana between their tongue and gums

  • They gnaw on a soft piece of roasted sweet potato

  • They explore scrambled egg with their hands and mouth

Even without teeth, your baby is:

  • Building oral motor skills

  • Learning to move food around

  • Developing muscles for chewing and speaking

It’s not about how many teeth they have.
It’s about how many chances they get to practice.

The Best First Foods for Babies Without Teeth

Great options for toothless eaters:

  • Soft roasted sweet potatoes or carrots

  • Ripe avocado or banana

  • Scrambled eggs

  • Soft, shredded chicken

  • Cooked lentils or mashed beans

You can also offer resistive foods like a strip of steak (yes, really!) — not to bite and chew, but to gnaw and explore. These offer:

  • Iron exposure

  • Flavor exploration

  • Oral motor practice

“If you can squish it between your thumb and forefinger, your baby’s gums can likely handle it.”

Let’s talk textures.
Because in baby-led weaning, texture matters more than teeth.

Use the squish test:

A Quick Word on Choking Hazards

It’s easy to assume that the lack of teeth increases choking risk.
But here’s the thing:

“Choking hazards exist with or without teeth.”

It’s not about dental status — it’s about texture and safety.

Avoid:

  • Raw apples

  • Bagels

  • Tortilla chips

  • Round food like grapes

  • Popcorn

  • Anything hard, dry, or sticky

Just because something is “finger-sized” doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Texture is everything.

Chewing Is Learned — Not Instant

You wouldn’t wait until your baby could walk perfectly before letting them try to stand, right?
Same goes for chewing.

Chewing is a learned skill, and it starts with:

  • Gumming

  • Mouthing

  • Moving food around

  • Practicing at their own pace

That’s what baby-led weaning is all about:
Letting your baby explore, build confidence, and develop feeding skills — one squishy bite at a time.

Let’s Recap: Starting Solids with No Teeth

Here’s what to remember:

  • ✅ Teeth aren’t required to start solids

  • ✅ Gums are strong enough to mash soft textures

  • ✅ If it passes the squish test, it’s fair game

  • ✅ Avoid crunchy, sticky, and rubbery foods — it’s about safety, not teeth

  • ✅ Don’t be afraid of resistive foods (like steak strips) for practice and iron

And most importantly:

Trust your baby. Trust their body. And trust yourself.

Ready to Start Solids with Confidence?

Whether your baby has no teeth or a couple of tiny nubs, you don’t have to figure this out alone.
Let’s walk through it together in my free class:

🎓 Orientation Day: Baby-Led Weaning 101

Inside, you’ll learn:
✔️ When to start (teeth or not)
✔️ What to serve first
✔️ What safety really looks like
✔️ Why baby-led weaning works—even for gummy babies

✨ Click here to watch Orientation Day and get the clarity you’ve been craving.

Let’s Talk — Has Your Baby Started Exploring Without Teeth?

Come say hi on Instagram @babyledweaningacademy and tell me what foods your little one is loving (or launching) right now. I love hearing what’s working for you or where you’re getting stuck. 💛