First foods at 6 months: where should I start?
Around 6 months, start with iron-rich foods, then offer a variety of tastes and textures. Breast milk or infant formula remains the foundation.
The short answer
Around 6 months, when your baby shows signs of being ready, you can start offering foods alongside breast milk or infant formula. A good place to begin is with iron-rich foods, such as well-cooked, finely minced meat, tofu, mashed legumes, eggs or iron-fortified baby cereal. The exact order can reflect your family’s routines and preferences. There is no required menu for your baby’s first bite. The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) recommends offering iron-rich foods at least twice a day between 6 months and 1 year.
How can I tell if my baby is ready?
Age is one guide, but your baby’s abilities matter too. According to the INSPQ’s Mieux vivre avec notre enfant guide, your baby is around 6 months old, can sit in a high chair without support and has good head control. Your baby may also turn their head to show they have had enough or try to bring food to their mouth.
A baby who asks to drink more often is not necessarily ready for food. That change may be temporary. Look for signs of readiness rather than starting solids only because your baby seems hungrier. If your baby was born prematurely, or you are unsure about the right time to start, ask your baby’s health-care team or call 811 for advice.
What can I start with?
Start with an iron-rich food in a texture your baby can manage safely. For example, you could offer:
- Well-cooked meat or poultry, puréed or finely minced.
- Soft tofu, mashed.
- Lentils or beans, well cooked and mashed.
- Egg, thoroughly cooked and mashed.
- Iron-fortified baby cereal, prepared according to the package directions.
These are options, not a list to follow in a particular order. Once you have started offering iron-rich foods, gradually add a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables and other nutritious choices. Vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C can be served alongside plant-based sources of iron. The INSPQ has more ideas on first foods to offer your baby.
At first, your baby may eat only a few small spoonfuls. Let them explore: appetite can vary from day to day. Your baby may taste, touch, spit out or refuse a food. Do not pressure them; try again another time. The INSPQ says you do not need to wait several days between introducing two different foods. Keep offering foods your baby already knows, too. Read the INSPQ’s advice on how to introduce foods.
Purées or finger foods: what texture should I choose?
You can start with spoon-fed purées, mashed foods or soft pieces your baby can pick up. Baby-led weaning, often called BLW, is another possible approach. It calls for particular attention to your baby’s readiness, as well as the texture and shape of foods. You do not need to choose one method that works for everyone. Pick an approach that suits your baby and your day-to-day life.
Prepare foods so they are soft and easy to mash in your baby’s mouth. Avoid added salt and sugar. Keep your baby seated in their high chair and supervise them at all times while they eat. Hard, small and round, smooth or sticky foods can pose a choking risk. For example, cut fresh grapes into quarters and grate hard raw fruits or vegetables. See the INSPQ’s advice about choking hazards and preparing food for baby-led weaning.
Allergens, milk and other questions
Common allergenic foods, such as egg, peanuts, fish and foods containing milk, can be introduced with other foods. Never give whole nuts or a spoonful of thick peanut butter. Choose a form and texture that are appropriate for your baby’s age. If your baby tolerates an allergen, the INSPQ recommends continuing to offer it regularly. Read its information about food allergies in children.
There is a difference between Quebec guidance and advice from the Canadian Paediatric Society for babies considered at higher risk of allergies. The INSPQ recommends introducing allergens with other foods, while the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Caring for Kids resource describes a different approach for some higher-risk babies. Do not try to settle this on your own. Talk with a health professional or call 811.
Breast milk or commercial infant formula remains the foundation of your baby’s diet during the first year; foods complement it. You can continue breastfeeding for as long as you wish. For guidance on when to introduce cow’s milk as a drink, follow Quebec recommendations: the INSPQ says it should not be offered before 9 months of age. Health Canada also provides guidance on feeding infants from 6 to 12 months.
Mealtimes are a gradual learning process, with plenty of trying and sometimes a mess. For another Quebec perspective, Naître et grandir has information about introducing complementary foods. If you have a health concern about your baby, call Info-Santé at 811. In an emergency, call 911. For questions about medication, ask your pharmacist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to start with baby cereal?
Not necessarily. You can choose from several iron-rich foods, such as meat, tofu, legumes, eggs or iron-fortified cereal.
Should I wait a few days between new foods?
The INSPQ says you do not need to wait a few days between introducing foods. When offering an allergen, observe your baby and ask for advice if you have concerns.
Purées or baby-led weaning: which should I choose?
Both approaches are possible. Choose what works for your family, and follow food-preparation and supervision precautions.
What if my baby refuses to eat?
Do not force it. You can offer the food again later. If your baby continues to refuse after several tries, call 811 or ask a health professional for advice.
This article is for information; it does not replace advice from a health professional. In Québec, call Info-Santé 811 when in doubt (elsewhere in Canada, your provincial health line). In an emergency, call 911.
Sources
- Infant nutrition, Santé Canada
- Feeding your baby in the first year, Société canadienne de pédiatrie — Soins de nos enfants
- Preventing health problems during pregnancy and early childhood, Gouvernement du Québec