
Make every bite count
Make every bite count
Starting your little one on solid foods is quite a milestone! Since his tummy is so small at around six months of age he will only be taking small tastes of foods.
Small tummy
Starting your little one on solid foods is quite a milestone! Since his tummy is so small at around six months of age he will only be taking small tastes of foods. Even these beginning bites are important to his development. He has high needs, but only a small stomach that may be filled quickly.
Breastmilk + solid foods
Your baby will drink as much breastmilk as he needs, and from 6 – 12 months you will see that as his appetite for solid foods increases, and he will consume less breastmilk. Offer him foods that are appropriate for his age/ as recommended by your HCP. Remember to respect his hunger and fullness cues by not pressuring him to eat when he shows you that he is no longer hungry. Another meal will come soon, and your baby may be hungrier at that time.
Solid foods are needed
The introduction of solid foods is not meant to replace breastmilk, but rather as a complement to breastmilk - which is why first foods are often referred to as complementary foods.
Around six months of age, introduction of appropriate solid foods is important for the following reasons:
- Teaches baby to eat from a spoon.
- Introduces baby to flavours and textures to help him learn acceptance of these new foods.
- Delayed introduction of solid foods may increase the risk of food allergy or eczema; ask your healthcare professional if concerned over introducing foods to your baby.
Related articles

Baby meal planner 10 to 12 months
Around 10-12 months, babies are ready for harder finger foods & self-feeding.
1 min to read

A day in your 6 to 7 month old’s diet
This sample day was created by registered dieticians to help meet the nutrition goals for your 6 to 7 month old baby.
5 mins to read

Baby meal planner 8 to 10 months
Around 8-10 months, increase the variety and texture of foods for your baby.
1 min to read

Acidified foods: Good just like your mother said!
Did you know…. More than 8000 years ago our ancestors made bread, beer and wine through fermentation.
5 mins to read

The learner eater from around six months
The choice of your baby’s first solid food is very important. It must be suitable for her developing digestive system and be finely textured and easy to swallow.
5 mins to read

How to handle choking
A new texture, taken for the first time, may make your baby gag out of surprise.
5 mins to read

Your guide to starting solids
Now the adventure really starts, introducing solid foods to your baby is a lot of fun as they adjust to new tastes and textures
2 mins to read


First spoonfeeding experience
Choose a spoon that is small and smooth-edged. You may find plastic or rubberised spoons easier to use.
5 mins to read

Your 6 to 12 month old’s hunger & fullness cues
Understanding your baby's hunger & fullness cues. Learn to identify when to feed and when they're full.
2 mins to read

Healthy Growth
How a baby is fed may be as important as what foods are offered. Your baby is growing in leaps and bounds. The first year, a baby multiplies his weight by 3 and his size increases by 50%!
1 min to read


At six months
At this stage, baby’s development is on ‘fast-forward’. It’s an ideal time for sitting up and looking around. So, what’s the most interesting thing for baby right now? Baby’s mouth!
5 mins to read

Sugar: Fact or Fiction Quiz
Not all sugars are created equal and therefore not all sugars are bad. The main role of food is to provide energy and nutrients for growth and development.
5 mins to read



Celebrating 150 years
And it all began with Henri Nestlé’s mission to give babies a good foundation in life
5 mins to read

Why do we introduce solids to a babys diet
About halfway through the first year of life, babies begin to outgrow their liquid diet, which no longer supply them with enough nutrients to support their rate of growth.
5 mins to read

At nine months
Your baby sits alone and pivots into a crawling position. He crawls on extended limbs and holds on to furniture to pull himself up to stand.
5 mins to read