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Start by offering a small amount of mashed vegetable, fruit or cereal mixed with milk after a milk feed or in the middle of one, if this works better. If the food is hot, allow it to cool, stir it and test it before giving it to your baby.
Some babies take time to learn to eat new foods. Your baby will be finding out about different tastes and textures. Be patient, let your baby touch the food if they want to, and be prepared for the mess!
- Start by offering just a few teaspoons of food, once a day
- Use a little of your baby’s usual milk (breast or formula) to mix the food to the desired consistency
- Allow your baby to feed themselves, using their fingers, as soon as they show an interest
- Give your baby a range of foods and textures to taste
- Don’t force feed your baby. If your baby doesn’t seem to want it, wait and try again later
- If you are using a spoon, wait for your baby to open their mouth when the food is offered
- Let your baby touch the food in the dish or on the spoon
- If you are bottle feeding, don’t add any foods (including rusks, cereal or sugar) to the milk
What are good First Foods?
You could try:
- Cereals such as baby rice mixed with milk
- Mashed cooked vegetables such as parsnip, potato, sweet potato or carrot
- Mashed banana, avocado, cooked apple or pear
- Pieces of soft fruit or vegetables small enough for your baby to pick up
Use mashed-up family food when you can. Your food is best for your baby; you know the ingredients of the food and your baby will get used to the food that you eat. Don’t add salt or sugar to your baby’s food though.
More foods to try
Once your baby is used to eating vegetables and fruit your should offer other foods, such as:
- Puréed or mashed-up meat, fish and chicken
- Mashed rice, noodles or pasta
- Lentils (dhal) or pulses
- Full-fat diary products, such as yoghurt, fromage frais or custard.
- We recommend Muller Little Stars which are made from 100% natural ingredients
See how your baby responds to the different flavours and textures. Offer your baby finger foods such as small pieces of fruit and vegetables or toast. How much your baby takes is less important than them getting used to the idea of food other than milk.
Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t like something. Just try again another time, the chances are they will like end up liking it.
My little one would shake her head profusely every time I offered her Bolognese – I don’t think she was keen on the texture and I think she thought if she shook her head the food in her mouth would go away. I didn’t give up and from about 10 months, she was loving her spagbol! – Sarah, Mums Spaghetti
Finger foods
Encourage your baby to chew, even if they don’t have teeth, by giving finger foods. For example, cooked and cooled green beans or carrot sticks, cubes of cheese, toast, bread, pitta bread or chapatti, peeled apple and banana. Some babies prefer food they can hold to mashed foods, so offer your baby finger foods from the beginning. Finger foods provide chewing practice and encourage babies to feed themselves. Chewing is also good exercise for the jaw and it has been said that this can aid in speech in development. Avoid sweet biscuits and rusks so that your baby does not get into the habit of expecting sweet snacks.
How much do I give my baby and how often?
Try to react to your baby’s appetite by giving a little more if you think they are still hungry. Your baby is the best guide to how much solid food you need to give. Gradually move from offering solid food once a day to solid food at two and then three feeds. There is no hard and fast rule as to when you introduce more solid foods other than be guided by your baby and by offering small amounts gradually, this process will happen quite naturally. Offer different foods at each of the three meals to give more variety.
Begin to add different foods and different tastes. Use the foods that you are cooking for the family. Just mash a small amount with no added salt or sugar and give it a try.
Offer foods from each of the following food groups:
- Starchy such as potatoes, sweet potato, rice, butternut squash or bread
- Fruit and vegetables
- Protein meat, fish, eggs, tofu or pulses such as beans and lentils
- Red meat (beef, lamb and pork) is an excellent source of iron
- Eggs are quick and nutritious source of protein, but make sure they are thoroughly cooked until both the white and yolk are solid
Next: Which foods to avoid
