Your baby is growing and changing at a rapid rate

All the nutrients required for this growth can be supplied by your breast milk in the first 12 months of life. This is why it is so important that you are eating well and feeding on demand

All babies are different so they will display an interest in solid foods at different ages

By the time your baby can sit is generally when they become interested in solid food. If they see you eating healthy, nutritious foods then they will copy you

This also applies if you are eating rubbish foods. They will copy this behaviour as well

It’s best to hold off on the grains until molar teeth appear as this indicates that the body is ready for chewing

If grains are given before the molars appear this can set your child up for allergies in the future as the body is not able to digest grains without the pre digestive enzymes produced when chewing food in the mouth

Babies that are given grains too early can suffer from a constant runny nose and over production of mucous in the respiratory system

Beneficial first foods to try with your baby are fresh raw fruits in season such as mashed paw paw or mango or some banana. In the cooler months try some mashed pear or grated apple

Vegetables such as sweet potato, carrot, zucchini and pumpkin can be lightly steamed and offered to your baby

I would seldom make foods especially for my babies. Usually I would offer them small tastes of the foods I was eating. This made me make better food choices, hence your children become your teachers if you pay attention

Babies will only require small amounts of food initially, the volume increasing as they grow

Offer your child small amounts of different foods at each meal and they will develop their instinctive eating habits by choosing the foods that their body needs

This is how they develop their appreciation of the different tastes and textures of food

Do not create tension around meal times as this will interfere with the digestion and absorption of nutrients