Baby’s Meals

By the time your baby has become used to first solids on a spoon and perhaps had tastes of two or three different foods, you can start to build up these tastes into proper meals. It is best to proceed quite slowly, but to start giving the baby more at one particular meal - usually either lunch or tea, whichever is most convenient for you. The best foods are still cereals and puréed fruits and vegetables, but you can try adding a little unsalted gravy or sieved meat. It is best to steer clear of eggs and cheese for a while yet because some babies are allergic to them or find them indigestible.

It's best to continue to introduce new foods one at a time so that you can be sure what it is if anything upsets your baby. Remember that his digestive system is still geared to a milk diet and that new foods may cause a slight upset at first. A baby won't be able to digest everything he's given; you will often notice that some food seems to pass through him almost undigested.

At this age you should certainly avoid giving your baby any convenience foods meant for adults, or any salt. A baby's kidneys are not mature enough for him to handle salt in any quantity, and this can damage them. Foods containing a lot of salt - or sugar - will also make your baby thirsty; if he then fills up with lots of juice or other drinks he may not have room for the milk that he needs. However, packets and jars of ready-prepared baby foods have their place and can be convenient.

Save yourself time by cooking a little extra when preparing your own meals and putting it to one side for the baby; you would need to add salt or sugar to your meal later. You can also freeze small portions of baby food in yoghurt pots or plastic ice trays in the freezer, or keep them for up to two days in the fridge.

At this stage packets or jars of ready-prepared baby foods may seem easier than the fuss of preparing your own meals. However, since many of these have the same bland taste and texture it is worth also getting your baby used to the taste of home-prepared foods. Always look carefully at the ingredients on packets and jars. For example, you might want to avoid cow's milk products and find that packet cauliflower dinner contains large quantities of milk. Look for labels that indicate no added sugar on packets of rusks and cereals as well as on jars of baby food. Several desserts contain sugar, and many convenience foods have added starch and protein. Home-prepared foods with no added starch or sugar are of most benefit for a plump baby.

Convenience foods have their place, however, and you shouldn't feel guilty about using them. On occasions it might be more valuable to spend half an hour playing with your baby and giving him your attention rather than leaving him to cry while you boil up and purée a few carrots or grate some meat.