Getting Started
Take it slowly
Your baby will still be getting most of the goodness they need from milk, so your main aim at the beginning is to help them get used to new tastes and textures and make it an enjoyable experience. Start with a small taste of individual foods when they’re hungry before a milk feed and don’t worry if some days they’re not that interested – just leave it until the next milk feed and try again.
Solid foods and milk
Carry on breastfeeding or giving your baby first infant formula – there’s no need for follow-on formula. As your baby eats more solid foods, they will gradually want less milk and may drop a feed altogether.
Foods to start with
It’s best to get babies enjoying vegetables and other savoury tastes before introducing fruit and other sweet foods – they’re much more likely to happily ‘eat up their veg’ in the months ahead if they learn to like them now.
First Steps Nutrition Trust has lots more ideas for first foods.
If you are on benefits you may qualify for Healthy Start. This gives you free vitamins and free weekly vouchers which you can spend on milk, fruit and vegetables.
Spoon or finger foods? Be guided by your baby
Try a mix of finger foods and small amounts of food on a spoon. Some babies will be ready and eager to feed themselves, others may prefer to start with smooth foods.
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Smooth
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Mashed |
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Finger Foods
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Babies like what they know It can take a while for a baby to get used to new tastes and textures, so offer small amounts of the same food (without forcing) over a few days. Don’t be surprised if you get a worried face to start with – by the 6th or 7th go, most babies are happily eating food they spat out to start with! |
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Eat together Babies enjoy watching you eat and copying. If you want them to grow up liking healthy foods, one of the best things you can do is let them see you eating and enjoying them. Make eating a sociable and fun experience – chat to your baby and gently encourage them. |
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| Mess is normal!
Getting hands-on with food is one of the ways babies learn about this new experience. So let them have a go at feeding themselves – and covering the floor with a sheet of plastic can make clearing up easier! |
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Stop when they’ve had enough Your baby’s tummy is tiny – about the size of their clenched fist. They’ll let you know when they’ve had enough and lost interest – they might turn away, clamp their mouth shut, push the spoon or food away, throw it on the floor… |
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Introducing more tastes and textures once your baby has got the hang of eating
Getting your baby into healthy eating habits – as well as the rest of the family