Foods by age

Introducing the right diet is key to your child's early growth and development. From breastfeeding and beyond, here’s a general introduction to foods you may want to experiment with (and foods to avoid) as your baby grows.

Four to six months

• Gluten-free baby rice.

• Puréed fruit and vegetables – try sweet potato, pears, carrot, butternut squash and apples.

• Breast or formula milk (16-20 ounces a day).

• Cooled, boiled water.

Seven to nine months

• Wheat-based cereals (after 12 months if you have a family history of food allergies).

• Lentil purée.

• Mashed fruits and vegetables, such as banana, avocado, potato, carrots, parsnips.

• Full-fat yogurt and fromage frais.

• Finger foods such as toast slices, pita bread, rice cakes.

• Breast or formula milk (16-20 ounces a day).

• Cooled, boiled water.

10 to 12 months

• Soft cooked pasta pieces

• Well-cooked minced/chopped eggs (after 12 months if you have a family history of food allergies).

• Bread.

• Oatmeal.

• Chopped meat and flaked white fish.

• Finger foods as before, plus soft cooked diced vegetables, pieces of soft fruit.

• Breast or formula milk (12-16 ounces a day).

• Cooled, boiled water.

If you have any unanswered questions, use our feeding and food answers page to get tips from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy or baby-related niggles. Remember you can upload photos of your baby into one of our galleries, which include I love my baby and just like my Dad!

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.