Eating tips for children (1) - babies

Summary

Babies can start eating solid foods from about six months. Breast milk (or infant formula) remains a baby's main source of nutrition for their first year. First foods for babies can include infant cereal, mashed or pureed fruit or vegetables and well-cooked meats, lentils or beans. Babies should not drink cows milk until they are twelve months old.

Babies grow quickly in the first year of life, so they need plenty of energy (kilojoules) and nutrients. A child’s growth isn’t always steady and even, which means that appetite and hunger can be unpredictable.

The amounts of foods eaten by your baby and their interest in food may be a little different from day to day. This is normal and shouldn’t cause any concerns if your baby is growing well.

Introduce solids at about six months of age

Breast milk is an important food for babies until at least 12 months of age, or longer if the mum and baby desire. Infant formula is important until 12 months. By about six months of age, a baby’s iron stores are low and extra foods will be needed to maintain healthy growth and prevent nutritional problems such as iron deficiency. Start to introduce solids around six months of age – when your baby starts showing interest in food.