Honey carries infant botulism risk. Salt damages developing kidneys. Whole nuts are a choking hazard. These restrictions apply to under 12 months unless otherwise advised by a doctor.
4–6 Months — First Foods
At this stage, breast milk or formula remains the main source of nutrition. Solids are purely exploratory — about learning tastes and textures, not replacing milk feeds. Start with single-ingredient purées only.
✓ Safe First Foods
Iron-fortified baby rice cereal (mixed with breast milk)
Puréed sweet potato
Puréed pumpkin or butternut squash
Puréed pear or apple (no peel)
Puréed avocado
Puréed carrot (well cooked)
✗ Not Yet
All added salt or sugar
Honey in any form
Cow's milk (as drink)
Chunky or lumpy textures
Citrus (can cause rash)
Strawberries (introduce one at a time)
Texture Guide
Completely smooth — no lumps
Thin runny consistency, like thick cream
Single ingredient only at first
Wait 3–5 days between new foods
1–2 teaspoons per feeding to start
Signs Baby is Ready
Good head and neck control
Sits with support, doesn't slump
Shows interest in food — reaches or watches
Tongue-thrust reflex fading
6–8 Months — Expanding Tastes
Milk feeds still dominate, but solids increase. Begin introducing lumpy textures to build chewing skills. Start introducing common allergens one at a time (with 3–5 day gaps) — early introduction reduces allergy risk.
✓ New Foods to Introduce
Puréed or mashed lentils and legumes
Soft-cooked and mashed chicken or beef
Yoghurt (full-fat, plain)
Soft-cooked egg yolk (well cooked)
Puréed mango, peach, banana
Soft-cooked broccoli, peas, zucchini
Thin nut pastes (thinned with water)
Allergen Introduction
Introduce at home (not daycare/restaurant)
Morning or lunchtime — observe for 2 hours
One new allergen at a time
Wait 3–5 days before next allergen
Start with a small amount (tip of spoon)
Top 9 allergens: Dairy, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts, Wheat/Gluten, Soy, Fish, Shellfish, Sesame
8–12 Months — Finger Foods
Baby is learning to self-feed. Offer soft finger foods that dissolve easily or can be gummed. Move to mashed rather than puréed textures. Family meals can be adapted — just hold the salt, sugar, honey, and whole nuts.
Raw hard vegetables (apple, carrot — grate or cook)
Round sausages (slice lengthways)
Popcorn, chips
Hard lollies and gummies
Large pieces of meat
12 Months+ — Family Table
Toddlers can now eat most family foods. Cow's milk can replace formula as a drink. The focus shifts to variety, iron-rich foods, and establishing healthy eating patterns. Salt can be introduced in small amounts from family cooking.
✓ Now Permitted
Full-fat cow's milk as main drink (up to 500ml/day)
Honey (pasteurised, in small amounts)
Small amounts of salt from family cooking
Most family meals adapted to toddler portions
Nut butters and ground nuts
All fish (except swordfish and shark — mercury)
Still Limit or Avoid
Added sugar — limit discretionary sweet treats
High-salt processed foods — chips, deli meats
Whole nuts (choking risk until age 5)
Shark, swordfish, marlin (high mercury)
Raw or undercooked eggs, meat, fish
Unpasteurised foods
Iron-Rich Foods for Toddlers
Red meat — best absorbed form of iron (haem iron)
Fortified breakfast cereals
Legumes, lentils, tofu (pair with vitamin C for absorption)