At around six months old, babies will have to be weaned off their solely milk diets and begin consuming solid food. This is because milk alone will not be enough to meet their developmental needs. So, in addition to milk, which babies will still need till their one year and maybe even beyond, parents will have the responsibility to come up with nutritious and palatable first foods for their offspring. An exciting endeavor indeed, so here are some info on which are the best foods for babies who are just beginning on solid foods.

By the time babies reach their six-month mark, their digestive and immune systems would have gradually gained strength and their little tummies will be quite ready to process certain solid foods. Here are some of the healthiest suggestions:

Cooked and pureed vegetables

Experts have advised that a babies’ first few solid food experiences should consist of healthy cooked and pureed vegetables and not mashed fruits. This is to encourage the development of infant’s young taste buds towards nutrient-dense vegetables and promote a natural liking for them while their still young. Babies’ tastes buds vary from infant to infant. They may take to this new experience easily, or may have to slowly get used to the taste and texture of their first few solid foods. Remember though, if parents were to introduce sweet-tasting fruits as their babies’ first solid food experience, it is quite likely that their babies might have a harder time trying to accept more complex taste of vegetables afterwards.

So, for baby’s first ever solid food experience, think along the lines of potato, cauliflower, butternut squash, courgettes or even broccoli, all cooked and pureed to a nice smooth consistency.

Fruit purees

There is no denying that fruits too are healthy and filled with nutrients. They taste good too, and ironically, that is exactly why parents should hold them off for a while when introducing their babies to solid foods. After babies have developed a taste for at least a small selection of vegetables and seem happy and comfortable with them, parent can begin to introduce those super tasty fruits. Think mashed banana, avocado, mango or papaya! You can also try cooked and mashed apple or pear.

Note: Some parents find that just a few teaspoons at the end of a vegetable puree meal is a good way to start, instead of a full fruit-based meal. At the end of the day, parents would ideally like to instill a taste for healthy fruits and vegetables as well, so any old tactic will do!

Baby rice

As Asian parents, we will have to, sooner or later, introduce our infants to rice. Many parents have found the good old merry trio of rice, carrots and potato, boiled to a congee and blended smoothly as one of the best ways to introduce babies to their first rice meal. You may also try mixing plain rice congee with baby’s milk for a healthy, wholesome meal.

Commercial baby cereal

There are many good brands of baby cereal in the market that can make good weaning foods for babies. They come in various natural flavours and blends that are both tasty and healthy. However, when it comes to commercial baby foods, it will be a good idea to check the labels and choose the products that are lowest in or void of salt and sugar.

Salt & Sugar

Resist adding salt to your baby’s food, because little kidneys can’t cope with it. Check all food labels too to make sure that baby gets no more than 1g of salt (0.4g of sodium) a day. Sugary foods and drinks are also bad for your baby’s overall health and oral health too. They might also encourage a sweet tooth. If you have to use sugar, use as little as possible and a light taste enhancer instead of a sweetener.

Feeding 7 – 9 month old babies

When babies are able to sit on a high chair, it will be a good idea to let them be with the family at the dining table during mealtimes. We at BabyTalk strongly recommend that you feed your precious little one home cooked meals. That way, you know exactly what your baby is consuming. You will be able to control all the ingredients and make certain of the nutritional value of all baby’s meals.

As food textures are concerned, your baby can now proceed to minced foods. Introduce lumpy mush to baby now, for babies who are first given lumpy food when they’re older than 10 months are more likely to reject it. This may make them reluctant to try different textures and tastes later on.

The best kinds of foods for babies between seven to eight months old are:

  • Rice: cooked to a congee consistency with minced meat and minced or shredded vegetables
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Couscous: cook in similar ways as rice
  • Bread: lightly toasted breadsticks
  • Pasta: cooked till soft and served with home-made pasta sauces
  • Oats: serve as porridge with vegemite for a savoury taste or apple sauce for a sweet taste
  • Fish: Choose only boneless fillets
  • Dairy produce:Milk, cheese, yogurts
  • Lean red meat and poultry: cook these well and shred into baby’s porridge and serve with minced vegetables
  • Lentils: high in protein and very versatile

Some babies this age might like to have their own finger foods to munch on. Try cooked carrot sticks, banana slices or even cheese sticks.

Milk will still be important for babies above seven months but they can start to try other drinks too, as long as it’s healthy and not too sweet. Try diluting one part fruit juice to ten parts water for a healthy vitamin-infused drink.

Some parents would like to start on follow up formula milk from this age on. If your baby however, is not a picky eater and you’re confident that he or she is already getting sufficient nutrients from everyday meals, follow up milk need not be as important.

Between 9 months to a year old

From nine months onwards, while babies can’t quite eat every single thing that their parents and older siblings can, they are ready however to get adventurous in trying out new foods. Let them try out as many new flavours of foods as possible. If babies don’t take a fancy to any particular food, it doesn’t mean that they will be that way forever. Parents can try again, perhaps preparing and serving it in different ways.

There are certain foods however, that should not be given to babies and they include:

  • Honey: This may contain bacteria that can damage your baby’s intestines, leading to a rare syndrome called infant botulism. Honey is also a type of sugar, which can be bad for little emerging teeth.
  • Some types of fish: Shark, swordfish, or marlin may contain traces of mercury. This can affect your baby’s growing nervous system. Also, don’t give your baby raw shellfish, to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
  • Uncooked or lightly cooked eggs: Make sure eggs are cooked through until both the white and yolk are solid.
  • Low-fat, low-calorie, and high-fibre food: These aren’t suitable as they bulk up and leave little room for more high-energy foods which babies need.
  • Whole nuts: These and other foods like small round fruits and sweets pose a serious choking threat to babies.