{"id":3023,"date":"2026-10-04T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ritsas-paidiatros.gr\/?p=3023"},"modified":"2026-10-05T14:17:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T14:17:50","slug":"introducing-solid-foods-to-your-baby-a-new-journey-of-flavours-after-6-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ritsas-paidiatros.gr\/en\/introducing-solid-foods-to-your-baby-a-new-journey-of-flavours-after-6-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing solid foods to your baby: a new journey of flavours after 6 months"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first spoonfuls are an important milestone in a baby’s life \u2014 and they often come with lots of questions.<\/p>\n

“Which food should I start with?”<\/p>\n

“Does everything need to be pur\u00e9ed?”<\/p>\n

“When can I give egg, fish or nuts?”<\/p>\n

“How much should she eat?”<\/p>\n

“And what if he doesn’t want to eat?”<\/p>\n

Introducing solid foods, or more correctly starting complementary feeding<\/strong>, does not mean that milk stops and is suddenly replaced by food. It is a gradual transition during which the baby discovers new flavours and textures, learns to chew and swallow different foods and slowly begins to join the family table.<\/p>\n

And as with many things in development, not all babies follow exactly the same schedule<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When do we start solid foods?<\/h2>\n

For most healthy infants, solid foods are introduced
\nat around 6 months of age<\/strong>. At this age breast milk or infant formula alone is no longer enough to meet all of the baby’s nutritional needs, and other foods need to be added.<\/p>\n

But we don’t only look at the calendar.<\/p>\n

The baby must have reached the necessary developmental readiness<\/strong>: good head control, the ability to sit steadily with support or on their own, interest in food and the ability to move food back and swallow it rather than constantly pushing it out with the tongue.<\/p>\n

Introducing complementary foods before 4 months is not recommended<\/strong>. CDC<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Which food should we start with?<\/h2>\n

There is no compulsory first food and no specific order that all babies must follow.<\/p>\n

We can start with suitably prepared vegetables, fruit, cereals, meat or other nutritious foods, depending on the family’s habits and diet. Current guidelines do not require fruit or vegetables to come first, nor a particular food “protocol” to be followed.<\/p>\n

From early on it is important to offer a variety of flavours and foods<\/strong> rather than sticking for weeks to fruit pur\u00e9es or cereal porridges.<\/p>\n

At first, the baby is learning \u2014 not being tested<\/h2>\n

The first days are not about replacing a whole milk feed.<\/p>\n

We start with small amounts and increase them gradually, watching the baby. One or two spoonfuls may be enough at first. CDC<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

Some babies are enthusiastic from day one. Others pull faces, spit the food out or need many repeated tastes of a new flavour before they accept it.<\/p>\n

This does not necessarily mean “they don’t like it”.<\/p>\n

Getting used to food is a learning process.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Milk is still important<\/h2>\n

Starting solid foods does not mean stopping breastfeeding.<\/p>\n

Breastfeeding can continue alongside complementary foods for as long as mother and child wish. The WHO recommends continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years or beyond.<\/p>\n

For babies who are not breastfed, the appropriate infant formula remains an important part of their diet during the first year of life. Between 6 and 12 months, breast milk or formula still provides a significant part of nutritional needs, while solid foods gradually take on a bigger role.<\/p>\n

Fresh cow’s or goat’s milk should not be used as the main drink before 12 months.<\/strong> This doesn’t mean all dairy products are forbidden \u2014 pasteurised yoghurt without added sugar and suitable cheeses can be included in complementary feeding earlier.<\/p>\n

Pay special attention to iron<\/h2>\n

After the first months of life, the baby’s needs for certain nutrients increase, and iron<\/strong> is particularly important.<\/p>\n

That is why complementary feeding should not consist only of fruit and vegetables.<\/p>\n

It needs to include age-appropriate iron-rich foods, such as meat, pulses and iron-fortified infant cereals, as well as other protein sources. ESPGHAN also stresses that all infants should receive iron-rich complementary foods.<\/p>\n

Pur\u00e9ed or lumps?<\/h2>\n

There is no reason for a baby to stay on completely smooth pur\u00e9es for many months.<\/p>\n

At first they may need soft, pur\u00e9ed or mashed food. But as their skills develop, we gradually move on to
\nthicker, lumpier and eventually soft solid textures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Exposure to different textures is part of learning to eat.<\/p>\n

What about baby-led weaning?<\/h2>\n

Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a way of introducing foods in which the baby feeds themselves suitably soft pieces of food instead of being fed only pur\u00e9ed food from a spoon.<\/p>\n

We don’t need to pick a “side”.<\/p>\n

A family can use a spoon, finger foods or
\na combination of the two<\/strong>, depending on the child’s developmental readiness and the preferences of the child and the family. The NHS points out that there is no single right method; variety and adequate nutrient intake matter more.<\/p>\n

Whichever method is chosen, safety from choking<\/strong> is non-negotiable.<\/p>\n

What about allergenic foods?<\/h2>\n

Older ideas have changed quite a lot here.<\/p>\n

We no longer recommend delaying, without reason, the introduction of foods such as well-cooked egg, nuts, fish, wheat and other potentially allergenic foods<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

They can be introduced along with other complementary foods, in an age-appropriate form.<\/p>\n

Peanuts in particular are never given whole. They can be offered in a safe form, for example as a smooth paste suitably thinned or mixed with another food.<\/p>\n

In babies with severe eczema, an already known food allergy or other significant risk factors<\/strong>, how and when to introduce certain allergenic foods should first be discussed with the pediatrician.<\/p>\n

Does every new food need to wait three days?<\/h2>\n

The old practice of introducing one new food and waiting several days before the next was mainly intended to make it easier to identify which food caused a possible reaction.<\/p>\n

The CDC still suggests, in the initial phase, introducing single-ingredient foods and waiting 3\u20135 days<\/strong> between new foods to watch for possible allergic reactions.<\/p>\n

In practice, however, the schedule should be individualised.<\/p>\n

How will I know she’s full?<\/h2>\n

One of the most important things we can teach from the start is a healthy relationship with food<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The parent decides what, when and where<\/strong> food is offered. The baby shows us whether and how much<\/strong> they want to eat.<\/p>\n

When they open their mouth, turn towards the food or show interest, they may want more. When they close their mouth, turn their head away, push the spoon away or lose interest, they may be telling us they are full.<\/p>\n

The WHO recommends recognising and responding to the child’s hunger and fullness cues \u2014 responsive feeding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There’s no need for “one more spoonful for mummy”.<\/p>\n

An empty plate is not the goal.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Water, juices and other drinks<\/h2>\n

From the start of complementary feeding we can offer small amounts of water<\/strong>. The CDC mentions about 120\u2013240 ml of water a day for ages 6\u201312 months, without this being an amount the baby should be pushed to drink.<\/p>\n

Juices are not needed before the first birthday<\/strong>, even if they are 100% natural. Whole fruit is preferable.<\/p>\n

Soft drinks, sugary drinks and other drinks with added sugar have no place in an infant’s diet.<\/p>\n

Which foods do we avoid in the first year?<\/h2>\n

There are some important safety rules:<\/p>\n