• How do I know when it's time to start solids - Each child is different in their need for solids, but there are several things you can be on the look out for
   
  • He/She will still be hungry after you've fed them
  • He/She is in control of their mouth and will open their mouth to receive the spoon and close once the spoon is in
  • They have head control
  • They watch you eating your food and may reach out to try to grab it
     
• What should I feed - There are different ideas about what type of food should be offered first; some health professionals prefer baby cereals whilst others recommend starting with fruits and vegetables
  First Foods can include:
   
  • Commercially prepared baby cereals
  • Cooked and pureed vegetables. Root vegetables are best eg: kumara, pumpkin, carrot, potato, taro. Do not add any salt or butter
  • Pureed fruit eg: cooked apple, pear, ripe banana, peach, apricot
  • Prepared canned baby foods. Do not add any sugar
  • Leafy vegetables such as silver beet and spinach are best left until after 12 months.
    
     

  Once your baby is eating a good variety of foods at around seven months you can introduce thicker purees with small soft lumps or mashed.
  New foods to start once baby is eating a good variety of first foods

• Cooked meats; lamb, chicken, beef
• Melon, pears, nectarine (no skin or pips)
• Cooked vegetables; broccoli, taro, yams, watercress, courgettes, green beans
• Wheat and oatmeal infant cereals, whit toast, plain crackers, rusks
   

• Tips
  • Leave out salt, sugar and butter
  • Avoid dairy products (cheese, yoghurt and custard) until around 8 – 9 months of age.
  • Avoid cow's milk and egg white until one year of age