What to feed your baby: 8 to 12 months old
Once your baby has mastered purees, you can start to add texture and lumps to their food. By 8 months, your baby can eat:
- A variety of mashed fruits and vegetables
- Small pieces of meat and fish
- Beans, which need to be mashed if they are large
- Eggs and some dairy, including yoghurts
You can also offer a variety of finger foods at this stage. Your baby will enjoy playing with the different shapes and textures of the food you offer, and they will develop their fine motor skills as they practise picking up and eating food by themselves. Start with:
- Small pieces of soft fruit
- Softened carrot sticks
- Cooked pasta pieces
- Cereal or cereal puffs
- Teething rusks
By 10 – 12 months, your baby can try eating most of the foods you eat now. You just have to make sure that they are cut up so that your baby can safely chew and swallow.
As you and your baby get more confident with the weaning process, you can introduce new foods all the time. Just make sure you never give your baby anything that could be a significant choking hazard, such as grapes, cherry tomatoes, or hot dogs, สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน unless you’ve cut them into very small pieces. You should also avoid giving your baby honey until they are at least 1 year old, because it poses a risk of infant botulism, which can be serious.
The goals of weaning
Try not to get frustrated by the weaning process. It should be a fun, special time for you and your baby to enjoy. Even if your baby refuses foods, it’s part of the learning journey. If you are concerned about starting to introduce food or how your baby is handling solids, you can see your paediatrician for advice that suits your child.
While you are weaning
Don’t avoid giving your baby foods that are common allergy culprits, just monitor them closely the first few times they try them. It’s important to introduce one new food at a time and wait for 3 – 5 days to observe for allergic reactions such as rashes, difficulty breathing, diarrhoea or vomiting. Foods to keep an eye on include peanuts and other nuts, eggs and shellfish. If you suspect your baby is having an allergic reaction to something they eat, take them to the Urgent Care Centre (UCC). You may work with a doctor or dietitian to identify the specific food allergen.
Continue to give your baby breast milk or formula. This will be your baby’s main source of calories and nutrition until their first birthday, and if you eliminate it too soon your baby will be at risk of nutrient deficiencies and delayed development.
Avoid giving your baby cow’s milk until they are 1. Only breast milk and infant formula are recommended until then.
Your baby does not need any water before 6 months, and they won’t need a lot of water even when they begin to eat solids. They will get most of their hydration from breast milk or formula. You can offer a small amount of water in a sippy cup at mealtimes, but not too much until they’re fully weaned.