6-9 Months: Ready for Food - New Tastes and Textures (part 1)

With so many delicious, nutritious foods available, you can be forgiven for becoming confused about what your baby should and shouldn’t be eating. It’s a good idea to start slowly, and take your time in introducing new foods. Once your baby gets used to the idea that food can be fun and delicious, she’ll be an instant convert.

Q:	Should I put off introducing wheat until later?
A:	A Wheat can be introduced to your baby from six months onward. If there is a history of allergies in your family, you may wish to introduce new foods one at a time and over two or three consecutive days, so that if there is a reaction, you’ll know what has caused it.

When can I introduce dairy products?

By six months, it is perfectly safe to add some cow’s milk and
dairy products (such as yogurt, cheese, and butter) to food. You can
give cow’s milk with your baby’s cereal, or use it when making a cheese
sauce, for example. Again, if there is a history of allergies in your
family, follow the advice given above when introducing a new food.

Cow’s milk, and other
milks, such as soy, rice, and oat milk, can be used in the preparation
of your baby’s food, but should not be offered in place of his normal
milk feeds, which need to be continued until he is at least 12 months
old.

When cooking,
always use whole, rather than low-fat milk, until your baby is at least
two years old, as he’ll need the calories to fuel his rapid growth.

Is it OK to give my six-month-old baby yogurt?

It’s fine to introduce yogurt to your baby at six months. Be
careful when choosing yogurts, however, as many contain artificial
sweeteners and flavorings that aren’t appropriate for babies. Ideally,
you’ll want to find one without any added sugar, and blended with fresh
fruit purée. Many babies prefer fromage frais, because of its creamier
consistency; choose one that is free from artificial additives and
sweeteners. Otherwise, you are better off adding a little of your own
purée to some plain yogurt, and introducing dairy products this way.
Live yogurt is fine for little ones, and will encourage healthy
digestion, but all milk products offered to babies should be
pasteurized. Make sure you choose whole-milk yogurts, never low-fat, as
your baby will need these extra calories.

Can I give my baby pasta?

Once your baby is able to chew, stirring tiny cooked pasta shapes
into her purées is a great way of introducing texture. As your baby
gets used to the concept of chewing, the size of the pasta shapes can
increase. This is a good way to gradually move from smooth purées to
more challenging textures.

Larger pasta shapes,
such as penne, farfalle, or fusilli, make good “finger food.” Make sure
the shapes are big enough for your baby to hold.

What other grains are healthy and suitable for babies?

It is a very good idea to offer different grains, not only
because they provide your baby with a variety of nutrients, but they
also introduce him to different textures and tastes. Oats are a good
starter food—try your baby with oatmeal or the Creamy apple and oat purée .
Rice, couscous, and quinoa are good, too, as they are quite soft to
chew. A little later on, you can introduce grains like millet and
buckwheat, but at first, choose grains that are easily digestible and
won’t fill up your baby’s tummy before he’s tasted the other foods
available on his plate.

When should I introduce eggs?

Eggs can be safely introduced at about six months of age. Make
sure they are fully cooked, however, and not served runny or
soft-boiled. Egg allergy is less common than people think, but children
with a family history of allergy or those who suffer from eczema are
more likely to have an allergy to eggs. If your baby is in this
“high-risk” group, you may wish to introduce eggs over two or three
consecutive days, so that if there is a reaction, you’ll know what has
caused it.

At what age should I introduce fish?

Fish can be introduced at six months. It’s sometimes hard to find
jars of purée containing fish, which is why making fish dishes for your
baby is especially important. White fish, such as cod, haddock, sole,
or plaice, are good first bets due to their mild flavor and
digestibility. See the Sole, sweet potato, and broccoli purée ,
which is a great recipe for introducing little ones to their first
taste of fish. Oily fish, such as tuna and salmon, can be introduced at
six months too, and these are rich in essential fatty acids, which are
important for your baby’s brain development. Mixed with root vegetables,
such as carrots or sweet potatoes, these can make tasty purées for your
baby.

It’s important not
to discourage little ones from eating fish, because it’s such a great
food. If overcooked, it can be dry and tasteless—it needs just a few
minutes in a pan or microwave. Also, be vigilant in removing all of the
bones.

As with all new foods, if there is a history of allergies in your family, you may wish to introduce fish over a few consecutive days, so you can watch for a reaction.

Can I give my baby chicken?

Yes, do introduce chicken and other meats, once she is
comfortable with simple purées. Chicken, in particular, is a great first
meat, since it has a mild flavor and is tender. The dark meat actually
contains twice as much iron and zinc as the white meat, so try to give
her the dark meat as well as the breast. For a tasty way to introduce
chicken, see the Chicken and corn chowder .
You can also make this with the chicken thigh meat—just cook the
chicken a little longer. Some babies object to the texture of meat, and
chicken can be a little stringy if it is overcooked without liquids.
Slow poaching will usually produce light, tasty, and easily chewed
chicken.

Are there any foods we should be avoiding?

Unpasteurized juices and unpasteurized cheeses such as brie,
camembert, and goat cheese, and all types of blue cheese, should be
avoided in your baby’s first year. Honey should also be off the menu
until your baby reaches 12 months since it can cause infant botulism.
Although this is very rare, it’s best to be safe, as a baby’s immune
system is too immature to cope with the bug. Whole nuts should not be
given to children before the age of five due to the risk of choking.

You may want to avoid
fatty foods, processed meats, and anything containing artificial
ingredients or sweeteners, as well as salt and sugar, for as long as you
can.

Otherwise, feel free
to experiment, and enjoy introducing your baby to the wonderful world of
food. Persevere; if he doesn’t like something, try it again at a later
date.

Q:	Are there any finger foods appropriate for this age group?
A:	Finger foods are to be encouraged, because they help your baby to develop the skills necessary to feed herself, and to persuade her to chew and explore new tastes and textures at her own speed. First finger foods should be able to be “gummed” to a suitable consistency for swallowing (see the three stages of finger foods ). Always supervise your baby due to the risk of choking.

At what age can my baby tolerate “lumps”?

Different babies tolerate lumps at different stages, but most
babies will give foods with lumpier textures a go at around eight
months, once you’ve established a good repertoire of purées and finger
foods, although you may have to wait a little longer if your baby finds
them difficult to manage.

To begin with, try
mashing food, then add in lumpy foods with a soft texture, such as rice,
couscous, or tiny pasta shapes, to your baby’s favorite purée. Babies
prefer overall lumpiness to a smooth purée with an occasional lump. At
first your baby may refuse anything other than smooth purées, but over
time, he’ll learn to control food in his mouth, and then chew, “gum,”
and then swallow them.

If he gags or seems
distressed, don’t worry; simply go back to his regular purées for a week
or so, and then try him again with smaller pieces of mashed foods.

My baby has six teeth; is she able to bite and chew now?

The ability to chew is not just about having the teeth to do so!
Some babies manage to eat a wide variety of foods with no teeth at all,
mastering the art of “gumming” to make them smooth enough for
swallowing. Biting is obviously more difficult without teeth, but it’s
amazing what babies can achieve when they set their minds to it!

It’s absolutely
worth introducing some finger foods that will require your baby to bite
off pieces and chew or gnaw. Start to introduce lumpier textures as
soon as she seems ready, then mash, rather than purée her meals, until
she has enough teeth to chew whole, well-cut foods properly.

Q:	At what age can I chop foods finely instead of puréeing them?
A:	The same advice goes here, really. Keep an eye on your baby, and assess what he’s able to manage. If he is comfortable with a variety of finger foods and lumpy purées, then move on to chopping and mashing, and leave your food processor for more difficult foods, such as dried fruits, seeds and nuts, and tougher cuts of meat.