In the early stages of introducing solids, the main goal is for your baby to become used to taking food from a spoon and adjusting to the new textures and tastes that food brings to their world. Their most important source of nutrition will still be breast milk or formula, so you don't need to give your baby too much food initially.
Start by offering solids once a day, after one of your baby’s usual milk feed. Choose a time when you and your baby are both feeling relaxed, maybe after a mid-morning feed. Start with small amounts of a single ingredient food (only half to one teaspoon) on a small soft baby spoon. Very first food texture should be a runny smooth puree. Offer new foods one at a time, every 2-4 days. Gradually you can increase the amount of food you offer baby at this time. As a very first food, it's popular to use a rice cereal like Farex Baby Rice mixed with breastmilk or formula to give a familiar taste and a smooth, runny texture. Infant cereals are also iron-fortified so they give your baby extra iron which is necessary at this stage.
You can also try suitable fruit or vegetables cooked and pureed until smooth. Pumpkin, potato, kumara or carrot are all good choices, or if you're giving them fruit try cooked and pureed apple or pear. Try mashed smooth ripe avocado and banana.
As baby gets used to these foods, introduce iron-rich foods such as cooked pureed meat, chicken and fish - excellent as an iron boost because your baby's iron stores start to run low around 6 months.
A balanced diet is essential for good health, and offering your baby a variety of foods will encourage them to eat well and get plenty of nutrients. It’s also an opportunity for fun and exploration that could set them up with a lifetime of healthy eating habits. Later on you might find they’re wary of new foods and this is normal for toddlers, but teaching them to be open to new things early on could make life easier down the track. Including your baby at family meal times can encourage a more fun social experience.
Remember food is fun - your baby might want to play with their food and try to feed themselves – this is good thing! Let your baby get messy and encourage self-feeding by letting them hold the spoon. Food is a whole new world to be explored and your baby will want to experience it with all their senses; touch, smell, taste, and see!
Up until now your little one has just been used to the taste and liquidness of milk and so getting used to the texture and taste of solid foods will be quite an adjustment for them. It can take babies 10 or more times of tasting a new food before they get used to it and accept it. Babies have a lot more taste buds than adults do, so even bland food can be a flavour sensation. You don’t need to add fat, salt, sugar, honey, sweeteners or other condiments to their food.
Click here for our Watties Baby food suitable for this stage
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