When is the baby ready for raw crunchy vegetables like carrots and cucumbers - i don't want to steam them anymore?

Although many babies can eat and digest raw vegetables perfectly well from 6 months onwards, raw fruit and vegetables are actually harder to digest due to cellulose which is recognised by the body as a waste product. Therefore, giving your baby too much raw food may give your baby diarrhoea. Cooking them softens the vegetables to make it easier for your baby to eat. It also lessens the risk of allergic reactions and reduces the risk of choking. It's better if you start feeding raw food when his digestive system is mature or as Roshni has mentioned, after his molars come in. http://homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/fruits-and-vegetables-for-baby