Starting your baby on solid food
Letting your baby try various ingredients while breastfeeding or bottle feeding will help set them up for a lifetime of healthier eating. Watching them taste new things can be wonderful. As you prepare to introduce your baby to solid foods, here are some tips to help you all have a great experience.
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Starting solid foods
Your baby might have already shown an interest when you’re eating, and it’s a good idea to introduce them to solid foods between four and six months old. At this age, they can probably sit upright without too much help. In addition, their digestive system will be developed enough to tackle solid foods.
Your baby should continue to be breastfed or bottle-fed while you introduce solid foods and this should remain your baby’s primary liquid source until they are 12 months old.
Many parents mix breast milk or formula with iron-fortified rice cereal as an introduction to solid food – combining the familiar taste of milk with a new consistency. You can find iron-fortified rice cereal at your pharmacy or in the baby aisle of the supermarket.
You can offer your baby other liquids at the following ages:
6 months old: A cup of cooled boiled water.
9 months old: A splash of cow’s milk on a small serving of cereal. However, cow’s milk should not be their main milk source.
12 months old: Continue breastfeeding or bottle feeding, if you choose to, but cow’s milk can now be their main milk source. Reduced-fat milks are not recommended for children under two years old.
Introducing fruit and vegetables
Finely mashed or pureed fruit and vegetables – like pear or carrot – are perfect for a young baby and these flavour-packed ingredients don’t need any sugar, salt or spices.
Don’t worry if your baby rejects solid foods or pushes more out of their mouth than they swallow. As well as being a new taste experience, they still need to master using their tongue to keep food in their mouth.
Remember, don’t give your baby hard pieces of fruit or vegetable, and do not leave them alone while they’re eating.
Learning to feed themselves
From around eight months old, your baby might be ready to start feeding themselves. Finger foods such as soft pieces of banana or melon, pasta, fingers of toast or baby crackers are a great way for your little one to try new things independently.
Do not give your baby ingredients that could cause them to choke, like popcorn, nuts or other hard foods, and always supervise their feeding times. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with what to do if your baby is choking.
Could my baby have a food allergy?
Research often shows that the sooner certain foods are introduced to your baby, the less likely they are to develop allergies.
Give your baby well-cooked eggs and peanuts – usually as peanut butter – before they are 12 months old and think about when to introduce them to other foods considered high-risk allergens, like fish, shellfish, sesame, wheat and dairy such as cow’s milk.
Introducing new food to your baby in the morning as opposed to before they go to bed will help you spot an allergic reaction, such as a rash, swollen lips, trouble breathing or vomiting. If symptoms occur, stop feeding and seek medical help – and call triple 0 (000) if they have a severe reaction.
Take a first aid course for babies
Starting solids can feel daunting for new parents. Be prepared by taking a first aid course so you can remain calm and in control if any situation with gagging or choking arises.
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