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Weaning and baby foods: What can the child eat and when?
06th January, 2026 08:04 AM
Weaning is an exciting milestone in your baby’s development; it’s the gradual process of introducing solid foods alongside breast milk or formula.
Knowing what to feed your baby and when can feel overwhelming, but with the right timing and choices, it can be a smooth journey.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
What foods can I start with?
The ideal first foods are fruits and vegetables. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash are all easy vegetables to start with, as well as potatoes, which can be pureed easily.
Meanwhile, fruits such as apples, pears, and bananas work well too.
Start by offering single fruits and vegetables, and then move on to a combination such as carrot and potato.
Remember not to add any sugar or salt to your baby’s meals.
Nutritionists suggest that after the first few weeks of weaning, consider giving your baby foods from all the food groups, which are:
- Starchy foods such as rice, pasta, potatoes, cereals and bread
- Protein foods such as meat, fish, beans, pulses and egg
- Dairy foods, including yoghurt, custard and cheese
- Fruits and vegetables
A balanced diet from these groups will help them get all the vitamins, minerals, fats, and protein they need, although milk provides most of this in the early stages.
Iron is particularly important, as they’ll have low stores of it at around six months of age. Try and include iron-rich foods in their meals, such as meat, chickpeas, kidney beans, and butter beans, as well as fortified breakfast cereals.
What foods should you avoid?
Salt and Sugar
Avoid adding salt to your baby’s foods as well as giving them too many salty foods, such as bacon and baked beans. Also, avoid processed foods that are high in sugar.
Honey
This may contain bacteria that could harm your baby, so avoid it if they are less than 12 months old. Once they’re a year old, they can be freely included.
Nuts
Ground nuts or smooth nut butters can be given around six months of age. Whole nuts should be avoided until they’re around five years old, as there is a risk of choking.
Cheese
Many cheeses, such as cheddar and cream cheese, are fine, but some, like brie, camembert, and blue-veined cheeses, may contain bacteria and should be avoided.
