In the first six months babies get all the fluid and nutrients they need from breastmilk or from infant formula. There is no need to introduce any other foods before this time.
Starting solids means gradually introducing a variety of foods to your baby alongside breast milk or infant formula until they are eating the same healthy foods as the rest of the family. Sometimes this is called weaning, introducing solids or complementary feeding.
Suitable and unsuitable milks (including follow-on milks)
First foods and textures to get you started
Episode 2 - Practical Tips looks at:
When to offer solid food and how much
Introducing a variety of foods and textures
Brief information on food safety, including foods that may be choking risks, and where to go for more detailed advice and support
Episode 3 - All About Textures and Suitable Drinks for Your Baby
What drinks to offer your baby and what sort of cup to use
Ways to introduce texture to your baby's food and the importance of getting your baby used to more lumpy foods
The importance of full fat dairy in your baby's diet, and key information on non-dairy drinks
Episode 4 - More Healthy Meals & Snacks and a Note on Food Safety
What sort of foods should your baby be eating as they approach 12 months
Why you should avoid sugary and salty foods for your baby, including watching out for hidden sugars in shop bought baby foods
Food safety when freezing food
Saving money by making your own baby food at home
Episode 5 - First Teeth (Oral Health)
The importance of tooth brushing as soon as your baby's first tooth comes through
What brush and toothpaste to choose
Helping young children brush their teeth
Watching out for sugar in foods, drinks and medicines
Using a free-flowing cup for drinks
The ChildSmile Programme
Episodes 6-13 are cookalongs with community chef Sandra showing you how to save money by making food for your baby at home, which include lots of helpful information about introducing solids, cooking advice, as well as short video recipe demonstrations,
Information for parents concerned about allergies
Some parents are concerned about the risk of allergy when starting solids. Current advice is to introduce complementary foods (solids) at around 6 months, including those known to cause food allergy, such as egg and peanut.
Recent evidence has shown that if you introduce these foods to your child early and offer them regularly in their diet, then you can significantly reduce the risk of food allergy developing later in life. This is even more important if there is a strong history of food allergy in your family.