Time for Finger Foods

Safety Tips
As your little one continues to grow, a whole new set of firsts is waiting to be discovered. Safety is always top-of-mind, but it becomes an even bigger priority as those little feet start to pitter-patter across the floor. Discover how to keep her safe around the house with our helpful checklists and tips.

Did you know…. More than 8000 years ago our ancestors made bread, beer and wine through fermentation. 

The adult’s role is to provide children with nutritious foods. Adults are responsible for what and when their children are fed.

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.

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.

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

Celebrating trusted spoonfuls for 150 years with infant cereals

Your baby is discovering their emotions from birth.

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.

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%!

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

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! It’s a great exploring tool - and little fingers fit in there so well.

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

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.