First Foods - Coles Baby Club

It’s an exciting time when your baby is ready to start on solid foods! Your health professional can guide you as to when your baby shows signs of being ready for solid foods. Generally this is from 6 months of age and not before 4 months of age.

The key to starting solids is to remember to introduce small quantities of food at a time when both you and your baby are happy and relaxed. Start with just half a teaspoon of a baby rice cereal mixed with cooled, boiled water or breastmilk or infant formula to a slight runny consistency like a thin custard. Cow's milk should not be used at this stage.

First foods to introduce to your baby should have a soft, smooth purée texture and be single ingredients - cereal, fruit or vegetables, i.e. purée cooked apple. Introduce new foods one at a time. Allow several days before introducing the next food to allow time to detect any potential food sensitivities.

Gradually increase the quantity and texture of first foods offered. There’s no nutritional need to add sugar or salt to first foods, nor for baby’s taste – babies have sensitive taste buds.

Click on the below recipes for first foods to introduce to your baby.

• Fruit purée
• Perfect vegetable purée
• Meat purée
• Fish purée
• Apple rice
• Custard without egg