When and how to feed your baby

You can offer your baby a small amount of food when they show interest. It is best to give them something you are eating yourself, as long as it is suitable.

When you feed your baby, you should:

• sit them up to eat
• stay with them

You should avoid feeding your baby when they are tired.

You can offer finger-shaped pieces of food for your baby to pick up in their hands to eat.

When your baby is around 8 to 9 months old, they will start to pick up smaller pieces of food with their thumb and forefinger.

You can also offer soft or mashed foods on a spoon.

You should 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

To reduce the risk of choking, you should cut up small round food such as cherry tomatoes, strawberries, grapes and sausages.

Your baby will show you how much they want to eat and how often. You can start by giving them a few pieces of finger food or a few teaspoons of food.

Your baby will want more food as they get older. By the time your baby is 1 year old, you should be giving them:

• three small meals
• two healthy snacks

These meals should be healthy home-cooked family foods that have different textures.

You can also start giving your baby water and formula using a free-flow and non-valved cup.

This type of cup:

• allows water to come out if you turn it upside down
• helps babies learn to sip
• develops the muscles used when talking
• makes tooth decay less likely

Page last updated: 9 June 2023