Around 6 months old, your baby takes their first steps into the world of complementary foods. From then on, they will gradually enjoy exploring various new flavors. Here are our suggestions to help guide this future little food critic!
Suitable age
For the first six months of a baby's life, breast milk or formula can meet all nutritional needs and provide optimal protection against food allergies. However, starting at six months, a baby's digestive system matures and can accept other foods. Sometimes, a pediatrician may recommend introducing complementary foods a little earlier, around four months: please follow your doctor's advice. In any case, the transition should be gradual, and milk should remain the foundation of your baby's diet for some time.
Where to begin?
For months, your baby may have been watching you eat with curiosity, perhaps even a little jealous. Their first solid food is a moment to celebrate for both of you! A whole new sensory world is about to unfold. Start with a few spoonfuls of a single vegetable puree (carrots, green beans, or steamed scallions, pureed without salt) and observe your baby's reaction: this way, if skin allergies or digestive problems occur, you'll know which vegetable is causing it! After a few days, try a different vegetable, and only start mixing vegetable purees after you've tested all of them. You can also alternate with unsweetened fruit purees (apples, pears, peaches, bananas), avoiding exotic fruits. If your baby is a little constipated in the first few days, don't worry: their digestive system just needs time to adjust to the new diet. Initially, you can introduce solid food before lunch, followed by breastfeeding or bottle feeding, gradually adding it during afternoon tea while maintaining a milk-based diet in the morning and evening.
Subsequent stages
A few weeks later, you can start adding very small amounts of meat to the vegetable puree: about 10 grams of beef, veal, chicken, ham, or lean lamb, blended into a fine puree (about one tablespoon). If there is a family history of allergies, it is recommended to wait until your baby is 12 months old before introducing eggs and fish. Please consult your pediatrician regularly for guidance on how to gradually expand your baby's diet.
Commercially available groceries or homemade?
Of course, nothing tastes better than homemade puree made with fresh vegetables. But commercially available baby food uses high-quality ingredients and provides balanced nutrition: you can use it with confidence when you don't have time to make your own. Freezing vegetables is also a great way to save time, and consider making a large batch of vegetable puree at once, portioning it out, and freezing it for convenient use when you're busy.
