Your baby needs to start eating foods other than breastmilk or formula at around 6 months of age. This is because your growing baby can no longer get enough iron, zinc and energy from breastmilk or formula alone. However, breastmilk has important nutrients for growing and should be continued until 12 months and beyond for as long as you and your baby want. The aim is that by 12 months your baby will be eating a wide range of healthy foods with the rest of the family. Show
What foods can my baby eat?
Feeding from around 6 monthsAll babies are different and will start eating foods in a different order and rate that is right for them. Here are some tips to help you start introducing your baby to complementary foods:
Feeding from 7 to 12 monthsBy now your baby is eating baby rice cereal and pureed meats, grains, fruit, vegetables, some dairy and breastmilk or formula.
Are there any foods that are not good for my baby?It is important to offer your baby a wide range of foods with different flavours and textures. Some foods are not needed and are best to be avoided at this age to reduce the risk of choking or illness:
Tips
Sample menu (6 to 7 months)This sample menu might guide you when starting your baby on solid food. This is a guide only. Babies may vary how much they eat each day depending on growth and activity. BreakfastBaby cereal (1 tablespoon) mixed with breastmilk or formula Mashed fruit (1/2 tablespoon) Yoghurt (1/2 tablespoon) Breastmilk or 100mL infant formula Mid morningBreastmilk or 150mL infant formula LunchBlended/mashed meat (1 tablespoon) Blended/mashed vegetables (1 tablespoon) Bread cut into pieces (1/2 slice) or pasta/rice (1 tablespoon) Breastmilk or 100mL infant formula Mid afternoonBreastmilk or 150mL infant formula DinnerBlended/mashed meat (1 tablespoon) Blended/mashed vegetables (1 tablespoon) Pasta/rice (1 tablespoon) Breastmilk or 100mL infant formula Sample menu (7 to 12 months)This sample menu might guide you when starting your baby on solid food. This is a guide only. Babies may vary how much they eat each day depending on growth and activity. BreakfastBaby cereal (about 3 tablespoons) mixed with breastmilk or formula or cow’s milk Mashed fruit (1 tablespoon) Yoghurt (1/2 tablespoon) Breastmilk or 100mL infant formula Mid morningBreastmilk or 150mL infant formula LunchBlended/mashed meat (1 tablespoon) Blended/mashed vegetables (1 tablespoon) Bread cut into pieces (1/2 slice) or pasta/rice (1/4 cup) Breastmilk or 100mL infant formula Mid afternoonBreastmilk or 150mL infant formula DinnerBlended/mashed meat (1 tablespoon) Blended/mashed vegetables (1 tablespoon) Pasta/rice (1/2 cup) Breastmilk or 100mL infant formula Resources for parents, families and carersBooklet: Child Health Information, Queensland Government (given to parents of every baby born in Queensland with the Personal Health record) Growing Strong—Starting solids, Queensland Government Breastfeeding your baby in Australia, Queensland Government—including booklet, poster and fact sheets for Sudanese, Burundian and Congolese communities Healthdirect Australia—Introducing solid food, Australian Government Raising Children Network—Introducing solids, Australian Government Brochure: Giving your baby the best start, Australian Government Brochure: Get Up and Grow, Australian Government Starting family foods, New South Wales Government Brochure: Starting solids, New South Wales Health Baby’s first foods, New South Wales Government Eating tips for babies, Victoria Government Booklet: Guide to foods—baby’s first year, Victoria Government Fact sheet: Foods in the first year of life, Victoria Government Healthy eating for babies and young children, South Australia Government Foods for babies (solids), South Australia Health Booklet: First foods, South Australia Government Drinks for children, South Australia Government Booklet: Baby’s first food, Western Australia Government Fact sheet: Baby’s first food, Western Australia Government Booklet: From milk to more… Introducing foods to your baby, Australian Capital Territory Government Booklet: Start them right—A parent’s guide to eating for under 5s, Tasmanian Government Related contnetIntroducing complementary foods: Feeding from 12 months Introducing complementary foods: Recipes for babies How children develop: Food and nutrition (1 to 5 years) Healthy eating and weight control in children Iron for toddlers and children AcknowledgementThis information is drawn from:
This fact sheet is also the result of input and effort from many health professionals in Queensland. Their assistance with the content is greatly appreciated. This information is provided as general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or medical advice. Professional and medical advice should be sought for particular health concerns or events. Best efforts have been used to develop this information, which is considered correct and current in accordance with accepted best practice in Queensland as at the date of production. The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not accept liability to any person for the information provided in this fact sheet nor does it warrant that the information will remain correct and current. The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not promote, endorse or create any association with any third party by publication or use of any references or terminology in this fact sheet. |