Nestlé Infant Cereals Infograph

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. The time at which a baby accepts solid food varies from child to child. The introduction of solid foods should be determined by the baby’s stage of development, rather than by age alone.

The birth of an iconic brand conquering the world

Henri Nestlé knew that: ‘It is not enough to make the product; you also have to get it known and approved by Doctors and the general public.’ So, he decided to put his name on his product, along with the bird and nest logo – creating the iconic brand we know today. His dedication and passion did not go unnoticed – Henri gained recognition and endorsement for his product from the medical community.

When your baby has successfully learned to eat solid food, he is ready to explore new tastes.

Nurturing small tummies

With a strong history of science-based innovations, Nestlé Infant Cereals can play an important role in helping parents to ensure their babies’ needs are met.

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. It is important to introduce complementary foods according to the growth and developmental needs of individual babies.

As your baby develops his chewing and swallowing ability, he is now ready to take on more challenging, richer tastes and textures.

Around 8-10 months, increase the variety and texture of foods for your baby.

A new texture, taken for the first time, may make your baby gag out of surprise. If she does, straddle her over your forearm, with her head lower than her body and supported on your thigh. Pat her firmly on the back with the heel of your hand and encourage her to cough until the food is dislodged. Talk soothingly, gently rub her back and she’ll be more able to swallow.

Around 10-12 months, babies are ready for harder finger foods & self-feeding. 

Birth to six months

It is too early to introduce solids if your baby:

• Cannot hold her head up.
• Is still satisfied by her milk feed (a milk feed should satisfy her for 3–4 hours).
• Does not show any interest in food.
• Is less than six months old.

Look out, baby’s on the move!

Your baby starts moving around in his own fashion. He may crawl, usually backwards first, using one arm or leg, or drag himself along. Some babies roll over and over to where they want to be, others shuffle while sitting.
Baby’s personality really shines through at this stage, along with a desire to explore anything and everything. For parents, this is the time to put extra focus on baby’s safety and ensure childproofing measures are in place.

Choose a spoon that is small and smooth-edged. You may find plastic or rubberised spoons easier to use.

There is an increased risk of allergy when solids are introduced too early, i.e. before
6 months. A baby’s immune system may react to proteins found in foods other than her milk feed (breast milk or infant formula).

These reactions may trigger allergic responses in the baby, which may present as eczema, diarrhoea or vomiting. When one or both parents have a family history of allergies, there is a higher risk of their baby developing an allergy.

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. He bangs blocks together, claps hands, and points and pokes at objects. Small objects intrigue him, and he picks them up with a few fingers and his thumb.

This sample day was created by registered dieticians to help meet the nutrition goals for your 6 to 7 month old baby. Your child may eat more or less, so always follow his hunger and fullness cues.

Here are a few tips for getting your baby ready to take that first spoonful of baby food.

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.

THE WEANING GUIDE: INTRODUCING SOLIDS

And it all began with Henri Nestlé’s mission to give babies a good foundation in life