Look for signs your baby is ready to start solids
Include iron rich foods
Babies need foods that are high in iron to help brain development. Offer iron rich foods most days. Examples are:
Give your baby a variety of foods
Variety is important. Introduce foods in any order, starting with a teaspoon. Introducing vegetables before fruit may improve acceptance of a wider variety of foods than if sweeter options are offered first. Examples are:
Introduce allergenic foods to avoid allergies later in life
Introduce allergenic foods one at a time. The common allergy causing foods are:
Once you’ve fed your baby these foods (and they haven’t had a reaction to them), it is important to include them in meals and snacks with different textures regularly. For more information about allergies, visit the Nip Allergies in the Bub website.
Drinks
- Continue breastmilk or formula while introducing food to your baby.
- For many babies, offering food after breastmilk or formula means that they are happy and relaxed.
- Start offering boiled tap water that has been cooled. Using an open cup is best.
- Do not worry about how much food your baby eats. Breastmilk or formula still provides almost all the nutrition your baby needs at this age.