When should I introduce solids to my baby?

The infant feeding schedule changes over the first year and solid food is introduced as well as the milk. Solids should not be introduced until your baby can hold up his head himself, which is usually between 4 and 6 months of age.

Never give your baby solids before 4 months of age, and some babies can wait until they are 6 months of age. Solids being introduced into the diet is referred to as weaning.

How do I start to introduce solid food to my baby?

There are a few key points to remember for the infant feeding schedule when solids are first introduced:

• choose a time your baby is most relaxed and content
• give the milk feed first - giving food first can overfill your baby's stomach
• at the end of the milk feed, give a teaspoon of solid food to begin with
• after a while, slowly increase the food at the end of the feed up to 3 or 4 teaspoons
• sit your baby upright when feeding solids
• introduce one food at a time

It's important to start with small amounts of solids given after the milk feed.

What foods should I introduce to my baby?

First foods in the infant feeding schedule need to be soft, smooth and plain. Try the following:

• baby rice or infant cereal
• pureed apple, pear, apricot or peach
• ripe mashed banana
• pureed vegetables, such as potato, sweet potato, kumara, pumpkin, carrot, avocado

Make sure the food is smooth - use a blender or push the food through a fine sieve with a wooden spoon. Use milk, either expressed breast milk or formula to make the food more liquid and easier to digest for your baby.

How often should I introduce a new food?

Introduce one food at a time and try a new food every 5 days.

When can I give my baby lumpy foods?

Finely pureed meat and chicken can be given from 6 to 7 months of age once your baby is used to solids.

By 8 to 9 months of age, your baby will be able to have slightly lumpier food, so that finely chopped, rather than pureed, meat and vegetables can be added to the infant feeding schedule.

From 6-7 months of age, your baby can have finger foods, like a rusk or toast. Always watch your baby when he is feeding as he could choke.

When do I start to give solids before the milk?

Once your baby is 8 or 9 months, you can give solids first before milk. Give finger foods as this will encourage him to learn to feed himself.

Are there any foods I should avoid giving my baby in the first 12 months?

Yes. Foods that should be avoided in the infant feeding schedule include:

• honey before age 6 months
• cow's milk before age 12 months
• fruit juice before age 6 months
• whole grain bread before 15 months of age- babies can only digest white bread

When should I start dairy products?

Dairy products include cheese, yoghurt and ice cream. They should not be started until your baby has been on solids and is eating a range of other food. Generally this will be around 9 months of age.

If there is a history of allergy in the family, it has been previously suggested that the introduction of some foods, like eggs and cheese, should be delayed even up to 12 months of age. However, studies have not shown that there is clear benefit in doing this and some suggest it may be better to start before 12 months of age.

So if you are concerned about your baby getting eczema, avoid dairy (cheese, yoghurt, ice cream) products in the first 6 months of life completely, and if you decide not to delay introduction of them until after 12 months of age, wait until around 9 months or so before trying them.

For more information on food allergies, click here.

Remember, do not give cow's milk before 12 months of age.

When should I start egg?

Egg yolk (yellow) can be started once your baby is having a variety of foods, so usually after 7-8 months of age.

If there is a history of allergy in the family, it has been previously suggested that the introduction of some foods, like eggs and cheese, should be delayed even up to 12 months of age. However, studies have not shown that there is clear benefit in doing this.

So if you are concerned about your baby getting eczema, avoid eggs in the first 6 months of life, and if you decide not to delay introduction of them until after 12 months of age, start with egg yolk (yellow) after 8 months of age.

For more information on food allergies, click here.

---

References

• Ministry of Health, New Zealand. Eating for Healthy Babies and Toddlers 0 -2 years. June 2006. http://www.moh.govt.nz/childhealth
• AAP Committee on Nutrition. The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics. Pediatrics. May 2001. 107(5): 1210-1213
• Filipiak B et al. Solid Food Introduction in Relation to Eczema: Results from a Four-Year Prospective Birth Cohort Study. Journal of Pediatrics. August 2007. 10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.05.018

---

To read about the infant feeding schedule before solids, click here

To read about food after 12 months of age, click here

To go to the Newborn Baby page, click here

To go to the Growing page, click here

To return to the Home page, click here

---

Last reviewed 22 February 2008

We comply with the HONcode standard for health trust worthy information: verify here.