When your baby reaches six months, breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet their energy and nutritional needs. This is when complementary feeding begins — but "complementary" means it supplements, not replaces, breast milk. The WHO recommends continuing breastfeeding until age two.
Signs of Readiness for Solid Foods
Reaching six months isn't the only criterion. Your baby should show these developmental signs:
- Can sit with or without support
- Tongue-thrust reflex has diminished
- Shows interest in adults' food, opens mouth
- Good head control
These signs typically appear between 5.5-6.5 months. Solid foods should never be started before four months.
First Foods: Month 6
Start with single-ingredient, smooth purees. Introduce each new food alone for 3-5 days to monitor for allergic reactions:
- Vegetables: Carrot, zucchini, potato, sweet potato, peas (boiled and pureed)
- Fruits: Apple, pear, banana, avocado (cooked or mashed)
- Grains: Rice cereal, oat porridge (no sugar, no salt)
Important: No added salt or sugar in the first year. No honey before 12 months (botulism risk). Cow's milk as a drink is not recommended before 12 months, though small amounts in cooking are acceptable.
7-8 Months: Texture Transition and Protein
Move from smooth purees to mashed and lumpy textures:
- Protein sources: Well-cooked chicken, turkey, lamb (finely minced/mashed), lentils, chickpea puree
- Eggs: Well-cooked whole egg can be given. Eggs are now recommended for early introduction
- Iron-rich foods: Red meat, dark green leafy vegetables — iron stores deplete from 6 months, dietary iron is critical
9-11 Months: Finger Foods and Family Table
As your baby develops the pincer grasp, transition to finger foods:
- Soft-cooked vegetable sticks (carrot, broccoli stems, zucchini)
- Banana slices, soft pear, ripe avocado pieces
- Small pasta, rice, small bread pieces
- Cheese cubes, thinly sliced meat pieces
12-24 Months: Full Family Meals
After one year, your child can eat most family meals:
- 3 main meals + 2-3 snacks daily
- Cow's milk can begin as a drink (full-fat, max 400-500 ml/day)
- Raw fruits and vegetables can be given sliced (choking-safe sizes)
Approaching Allergenic Foods
Current guidelines recommend early introduction of allergenic foods (from 6 months). Delaying doesn't reduce allergy risk — it may actually increase it:
- Eggs: From 6 months, well-cooked
- Peanuts: As thin peanut butter (whole peanuts are a choking hazard) from 6 months
- Dairy: Yogurt and cheese from 6 months
- Wheat: As bread and pasta from 6 months
- Fish: Well-cooked, boneless from 6-7 months
BLW (Baby-Led Weaning)
Instead of spoon-feeding, BLW offers soft food pieces the baby can grasp independently. This supports motor development and helps babies recognize their own satiety signals. If choosing BLW:
- Foods should be finger-sized and soft
- Baby must always eat sitting upright
- Know the difference between gagging (normal, protective) and choking
- Avoid: whole grapes, whole nuts, raw carrots, sausage rounds
When to See a Doctor
- Rash, swelling, vomiting, or diarrhea after any food (allergy suspicion)
- Baby consistently refuses solids after 6 months
- Inadequate weight gain or growth curve deviation
- Signs of iron deficiency anemia (pallor, fatigue, poor appetite)
Every baby's food journey is different. Be patient, encourage variety, and make mealtimes an enjoyable experience. Contact our clinic if you have nutrition concerns.
