Starting solid foods after six months

What to feed your baby

You should give your baby a variety of foods from the different food groups.

You should also continue giving your baby Healthy Start vitamins.

Vegetables and fruit

You should give your baby vegetables before fruit so they get used to a wider range of flavours besides the sweet taste of fruit.

The vegetables and fruit you give your baby should be softly cooked or raw. Examples include:

  • broccoli
  • avocados
  • parsnips
  • pears

You should start by giving your baby vegetables and fruit once a day. When your baby is 1 year old, they should have vegetables and fruit five times a day.

Starchy food

Examples of the starchy food you should give your baby are:

  • rice
  • potatoes
  • pasta
  • chapattis
  • bread
  • toast

You should start by giving your baby starchy food once a day. When your baby is 1 year old, they should have starchy food four times a day.

Protein

Examples of protein you should give your baby are:

  • cooked beans and pulses like lentils (daal) and peas
  • eggs
  • strips of tender meat
  • chicken
  • fish

You should start by giving your baby protein once a day. When your baby is 1 year old, they should have protein up to two to three times a day.

Dairy

Examples of dairy you should give your baby are:

  • cheese
  • yoghurt
  • tzatziki or raita
  • white or cheese sauce
  • fromage frais or custard

You should start by giving your baby dairy once a day. When your baby is 1 year old, they should have dairy up to three times a day.

Foods you should avoid feeding your baby

  • Foods with added salt and sugar
  • Whole nuts if your baby is under 5 years old — you can use nut butter without added salt or sugar or as an ingredient
  • Honey, if your baby is under 1 year old
  • Eggs that do not have the British Lion mark
  • Low calorie or low fat foods
  • High fibre foods which fill up your baby's stomach too quickly
  • Tea or coffee because they reduce iron absorption and contain caffeine
  • Dairy and alternatives as a drink, such as rice, oat, soya milk, or cow's milk — if your baby is 6 months old, full fat cow's milk can be used in cooking, such as in sauces

You should also avoid pouches of baby food because they:

  • do not help your baby chew or recognise foods
  • are low in nutrients
  • increase the risk of tooth decay

Page last updated: 9 June 2023

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