Getting Started
Preparing baby food
Freshly prepared food tastes, looks and smells better than that from jars. However, there is a role for both in feeding babies and meeting their nutritional needs. When preparing baby food ensure all the utensils are hygienically clean.
Introducing new foods
Always introduce new foods, one at a time, leaving a few days between each food. Soon there will be a wide variety of foods which your baby enjoys. Remember, they will not take to everything the first time they taste it.
Below are examples of foods that can be included in a child's diet at various stages:
4-6 months – first foods
First foods should be soft and runny with no lumps. Fruits and vegetables should be puréed or sieved. Suitable foods at this stage include:
- Baby rice
- Baby cereal (gluten free)
- Mashed potato
- Fruit purée
- Vegetable purée
- Chicken purée
- Meat purée
6-9 months – moving on
From six months, gradually move from puréed to thicker, lumpier foods. Here are some tasty suggestions to try out:
- Porridge/cereal with warm milk*
- Eggs (well cooked; both the yolk and white must be solid)
- Toast
- Cheese
- Custard
- Soft raw fruits (e.g. banana, kiwi)
- Soft cooked vegetables
- Minced meat/chicken
*Cow's milk should not be introduced as a drink until 12 months, but can be used in the preparation of food from 6 months of age.