What to Feed Your Baby at 6 Months — A Calm, Simple Guide for First-Time Mums

Starting solids is one of those milestones that feels enormous before it begins — and surprisingly quiet once you are actually in it. If you are reading this with a six-month-old on your hip, take a breath. You do not need to get this perfect. You just need to begin.

When is the right time to start?

Most babies are ready around six months, but readiness is not just about age. Look for three signs together: your baby can sit up with little support, has good head control, and shows real interest in your food — watching you eat, opening their mouth, reaching for what is on your plate.

The best first foods

Simple, single-ingredient foods are perfect. They are easy to digest, easy to prepare, and easy to spot if something does not agree with your baby.

• Avocado — soft, creamy, full of healthy fats
• Sweet potato — gently steamed and mashed or cut into soft strips
• Carrot — cooked until completely soft
• Banana — ripe and mashed, or offered in a whole peeled half

How much should you offer?

At the very beginning, a teaspoon or two is plenty. Milk is still your baby's main source of nutrition for the whole first year. Solids in these early weeks are about exploration — tastes, textures, the wonderful new sensation of food in their mouth.

What if my baby gags?

Gagging is completely normal. It is your baby's body doing exactly what it is designed to do — moving food forward and learning how to handle new textures. It can look dramatic, but it is a sign of a healthy reflex, not danger. Stay calm, stay close, and let them work it through.

Above all, slow down. There is no race. Your baby is learning a whole new skill, and so are you. Trust the small moments — the squashed banana in their fist, the first surprised face at avocado, the giggle when peas roll off the tray. That is the work. That is the magic.