When should solid foods be introduced?

Most infant feeding experts suggest solid foods should be introduced at around six months of age (but not before four months). Your Child and Family Health Nurse will help you decide when it's best for your child to begin solids. Reasons include:

• Your baby's natural iron and zinc stores begin to decline.
• Energy requirements can no longer be met by milk alone.
• It is important to encourage chewing to develop the muscles that are required for speech.

If your baby is satisfied with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding and there is a strong family history of food allergy, it is better to delay introducing solids until six months of age.

Do not introduce solid foods before four months. Breast milk or formula is ideal up to this age and your baby's digestive system is not mature enough to cope with solids and presents a higher risk of allergy. If solid foods are given too early, your baby may not drink the amount of milk they require.

Breast milk or formula should be the main part of your baby's diet in the first 12 months.

When is an infant ready to begin solid foods?

Some of the signs your baby is ready to start on solids (at around six months) are:

• They can hold their head up.
• They show interest in what the family eats and grab for food.
• The tongue-thrust reflex (where they poke their tongue out when offered food) will have ceased.
• They look for more food after a full feed.

Remember, not all babies develop at the same rate so if your child doesn't appear ready, don't rush it - their time won't be far off.

What foods should be introduced?

Although there are no set rules, the introduction of foods generally starts with iron-enriched infant cereals and cooked, pureed vegetables and fruits. Meats, poultry and fish are added gradually after six months as your baby is better able to tolerate the protein at this age. Do not add salt or strong spices.

An increasing range and quantity of food should be offered to provide more energy and ensure adequate nutrient intake. By age 12 months, your baby should be consuming a wide variety of family foods, even though they may be pureed or mashed, to help form the foundations of healthy eating habits.

Golden Circle's baby foods in the First Foods range have been developed specifically to meet the taste and texture requirements of your baby for their first foods.

How should I introduce solid foods?

It is best to start with bland foods that are easily mashed or pureed. The first food is usually iron-enriched baby cereal. Cooled boiled water, breast milk or infant formula can be used to mix with the cereal. Cow's milk should not be used as a drink until an infant is 12 months.

1. Introduce foods one at a time, every five to ten days. This way, if your baby experiences a food allergy or sensitivity, you'll know which food has caused it. If your baby does react adversely to a particular food, speak to your doctor or child and family health nurse. It may be possible to try that food again later when it's likely your baby will have grown out of the sensitivity.
2. Start at a relaxed time just after your baby has been breastfed or had a bottle. Begin slowly with only one or two teaspoons at a time, gradually increasing the amount.
3. Once your baby is able to eat about quarter to half a cup at one meal, you can offer solid food after another breast or bottle-feed, for example, the mid-afternoon feed.
4. At about 8-9 months of age, you can offer solids before breastfeeding or a bottle, and introduce a third solid meal such as breakfast.

What texture should the foods be?

The first foods you introduce at four to six months should have a soft, smooth texture. All Golden Circle baby foods for this age group are finely pureed.

Click here to view the Feeding Timeline.

What can my baby drink?

The only fluids your baby should drink at around six months is breast milk, formula or cooled boiled water.

When can I give my baby cow's milk?

Breast milk or formula is recommended as a milk drink until your baby is at least a year old. Cooled boiled water should also be provided to maintain hydration. Cow's milk, goat's milk, soy drinks or other alternatives are not recommended, as they do not meet your baby's nutritional needs.

Cow's milk will not meet your baby's growth requirements and is too high in protein and salt for their kidneys. Only after 12 months of age can full cream cow's milk or calcium fortified soy drinks be given.

What do I do?

• While your baby is around six months, always give breast milk or baby formula before solids.
• Start solids slowly. Offer half a teaspoon of solid food at a time using a small soft spoon. Refusing food is normal in the beginning, until your child becomes used to the sensation and taste of new foods.
• Once your baby is used to the feel and taste of food from a spoon, you can gradually increase the amount. When they are having about a quarter to half a cup at one meal, you can offer solid foods at a second, and later, a third feed.
• To avoid confusion and rule out the possibility of food allergy or sensitivity, offer single foods over five to ten days before moving on to another single food or mixed foods.
• Depending on your baby's appetite, they may eat up to four tablespoons of food at a sitting. To prevent wasting food, only put the estimated amount into a serving dish and keep the rest in a sealed container in the fridge for later.
• It is not recommended to feed your baby direct from the can or storage container unless you intend to use the entire contents in one sitting. The saliva from your baby's mouth can break down the food, making it runny - and you risk contamination.
• You should start with iron-enriched infant cereals, then fruits such as apple and pear followed by vegetables such as pumpkin, potato and carrot.

What to avoid

• To minimize allergies, don't use egg white or wheat until after 8 to 9 months and delay shellfish and cow's milk until after 12 months of age.
• If there ia a family history of allergy, it is best to delay peanuts until three years of age.
• Do not give your child honey until they are a year old, as it may contain harmful bacteria that may cause food poisoning.
• Meat products should not be given until six months, as your baby's kidneys are unable to cope with large amounts of protein.
• Avoid hard foods that are likely to cause choking. These include nuts, chips, popcorn, celery, raw apple, carrot (grated or cooked is fine), sausage or Frankfurt skins, whole peas, corn, beans, seeds or grapes.
• Salt, fat or strongly flavoured spices should not be added to food. If preparing desserts, use only minimal sugar. Although the food may seem bland to an adult, a baby's taste buds are keenly sensitive.

Hints and tips

• Establish a routine when meals and snacks are served to ensure good eating habits.
• Never put cereal or any other food with milk in a bottle - your baby needs to establish the difference between food and drink.

The Golden Circle range for this age

The 1st Foods range of products suitable as first foods for babies from around six months of age and have blue labels.