Starting solid foods is an exciting milestone for both babies and parents. From the first spoonful at around 6 months to exploring more textured foods closer to their first birthday, babies gradually develop new eating skills and become familiar with different flavours.

This Baby feeding guide gives parents a simple age-wise overview of foods, textures, and feeding ideas for babies between 6 and 12 months. Every baby develops at a different pace. This guide is for general information and should not replace advice from your paediatrician.

Food for 6 Month Baby

Around 6 months, many babies are ready to start complementary foods when they show signs of developmental readiness, such as being able to sit with support and having good head and neck control.

The Food for 6 month baby can begin with soft, smooth and easy-to-swallow foods such as:

• Vegetable purees

• Fruit purees

• Mashed banana or avocado

• Soft-cooked and mashed vegetables

• Smooth lentil or bean preparations

• Iron-rich foods such as appropriately prepared meat, eggs or fortified infant cereals

• Soft grain-based foods

NumNam offers smooth purees designed for babies starting solids from 6 months. For example, Appi Pooch combines pumpkin, apple, pear and mango, while Mangy Chewy combines mango, carrot, apple and pear. These are examples of convenient puree options that can be included alongside a varied diet.

Simple Baby Food Chart

This baby food chart is a general reference. Your baby's developmental readiness and individual nutritional needs should always guide feeding decisions.

Where Num Nam Fits Into the Feeding Journey

NumNam focuses on baby and children's foods made with real fruits, vegetables and grains. Its website currently features a range of purees and baked snacks, with its purees positioned for babies starting from 6 months.

These convenient puree options can be useful for parents looking for simple feeding choices at home or while travelling, while homemade and family foods can continue to provide variety throughout the complementary-feeding stage.

Moving From Purees to Textures

Starting with smooth foods does not mean babies need to stay on purees for a long time. As their eating skills develop, parents can gradually move towards mashed, lumpy, finely chopped and soft finger foods.

Introducing different textures and flavours can help babies become comfortable with a wider variety of foods. Always choose textures that are appropriate for your baby's developmental abilities.

Foods to Avoid or Be Careful With

Some foods are not appropriate for babies under 12 months. In particular:

• Do not give honey before 12 months.

• Avoid foods and drinks with added sugars.

• Avoid foods that are choking hazards unless they are modified into a safe texture and shape.

• Avoid high-salt foods.

• Do not use cow's milk as the main drink before 12 months.

Always supervise your baby while eating and prepare food according to their developmental stage.

How Often Should Babies Eat?

Feeding frequency generally increases as babies grow. During the 6–8 month period, complementary foods are commonly offered as part of 2–3 meals a day, while older babies may gradually move towards 3–4 meals a day.

Breast milk or infant formula continues to be an important part of nutrition during the first year.

Rather than focusing only on a fixed quantity, parents can pay attention to their baby's hunger and fullness cues and gradually increase food variety and portions as the baby grows.

The journey from first foods to family meals happens gradually. A simple baby feeding guide can help parents understand how food choices and textures may change from 6 to 12 months.

From smooth fruit and vegetable purees at 6 months to mashed foods, soft finger foods and a wider variety of family foods later in the first year, the focus should be on variety, appropriate textures and responsive feeding.Num Nam's range of fruit-and-vegetable purees offers one convenient option for families introducing complementary foods, alongside homemade meals and other nutritious foods.