Skip to main content
  • Contact us
Login
Home
  • Products
    • Product Range
      • Menevit
      • Elevit Pre-conception & Pregnancy
      • Elevit Probiotics
      • Elevit DHA & Choline Pregnancy
      • Elevit Breastfeeding
    • Elevit Comparison Chart
  • Planning
  • Pregnancy
  • Mum & Baby
  • Nutrition & Diet
  • Community
  • Available Resources
    • Tips and resources for you
      • Ovulation Calendar
      • Your Week by Week Pregnancy Journey
      • Guide to Sleeping While Pregnant
      • Pre-Pregnancy Checklist
      • Pregnancy Checklist
      • New Mums Checklist
      • Baby car seat guidelines
      • NZ Govt. financial support
Bayer Cross Logo

Mum & Baby

Starting solids

Baby reaching for food

This article may help answer:

When should a baby start eating solid food?

What foods do you introduce to baby first?

What foods could my baby be allergic to?

Get ready for life to get a bit messy. If your baby is between four and six months old, it’s time to introduce solid foods. At this age your little one is probably able to sit upright without too much help and may be able to hold their own neck and head up quite well. 

Your little one’s digestive system is also developed enough to tackle solids and they have probably started showing an interest when you’re eating. 

It’s important to know that breast or formula feeding should continue while introducing solids, and should remain your baby’s primary source of liquid until 12 months. Introduce other liquids as follows: 

At 6 months: Cooled boiled water can be offered in a cup.

At 9 months: Cow’s milk can be offered in small amounts on cereal, but not as a main milk source.

At 12 months: Breast or formula feeding may continue, but cow’s milk can now be used as a main milk source.Reduced fat milks are not recommended for children under 2 years.

Find out more:

    First foods for a baby
    Rice porridge

    Many parents choose to mix breast milk or formula with iron-fortified rice cereal as baby’s first introduction to solid food. The familiar taste of the milk will appeal to bub as they get used to this strange new consistency. You can find this kind of cereal at your pharmacy or in the baby aisle of the supermarket.

    Fruits and veggies

    Finely mashed or pureed fruits and vegetables are perfect for a young baby. Don’t add any sugar, salt or spices – you’ll know from tasting it yourself that pureed veg like carrot and fruit such as pear is packed with flavour. Watching your baby’s face screw up with confusion or light up in delight as they taste new food can be a wonderful experience.

    Finger foods

     

    Do not give your baby hard pieces of fruit or vegetable and do not leave them alone while eating

     

    Don’t worry if your baby rejects the first solids, or seems to push more out of their mouth than they swallow. As well as being a new experience for them taste-wise, they need to master how to use their tongue to keep food in their mouth. 

    Finger foods

    From around the age of eight months your baby might be ready to start feeding themselves. Finger foods, such as soft pieces of banana or melon, soft cooked pasta, toast fingers or baby crackers are a great way for your little one to try new things independently.

    Finger foods

     

    Do not give your baby hard pieces of fruit or vegetable, popcorn, nuts or other hard foods, and do not leave them alone while eating as choking can occur. 

    Refer to this St John’s Ambulance NZ guide for what to do if your baby is choking. 

    What foods could my baby be allergic to?

    Research shows that the sooner certain foods are introduced to your baby, the less likely they are to develop allergies. Introduce well-cooked egg and peanuts (usually in the form of peanut butter) before 12 months.

    Other foods considered to be high-risk allergens are:

    •  fish
    •  shellfish
    •  sesame
    • wheat
    • dairy, such as cow’s milk 

    It’s a good idea to introduce any new food to your baby during the day so that you can see if any reaction occurs. 

    If your baby starts to have a reaction – such as a rash, swollen lips, trouble breathing or vomiting – stop feeding and seek medical help. Call 111 if the reaction looks severe or life threatening.

    You’ve read advice on:

    Starting baby on solids

    Good first foods for baby

    Allergens and when to introduce them

    See the new mums checklist

    Read more on:

    Recovering from labour 

    Breastfeeding tips 

    New mums checklist 

    Diet & breastfeeding 

    Read more on mum & baby:

    Mum and bub portrait

    Recovering from labour

    LEARN MORE
    Woman breastfeeding a tiny newborn baby

    Breastfeeding tips

    LEARN MORE

    New mums checklist

    LEARN MORE
    Ripe avocado fruit

    Diet & breastfeeding

    LEARN MORE
    Home
    • Products
      • Planning
      • Pregnancy
      • Mum & Baby
      • Nutrition & Diet
    • Community
      • Available Resources

    © Copyright Bayer. All rights reserved. This website is intended for audiences in New Zealand only.

    CH-20230413-07

    • Contact Us
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy
    • Imprint
    • References
    • Sitemap


    Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. Vitamin and mineral supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet. If you have a baby with a neural tube defect/Spina Bifida, seek specific medical advice. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional. Elevit Preconception & Pregnancy Multivitamin contains (per tablet) 800 mcg folic acid, 60 mg iron, 220 mg iodine plus a range of other beneficial vitamins and minerals - For full active ingredients, see the label. If you have any pre-existing conditions, or are on any medications always talk to your healthcare professional before use. Bayer New Zealand Ltd., Auckland.