First foods can lead to future favorites: Baby food at 6 months
Did you know? Now that your baby is six to eight months old, exposure to a variety of nutritious foods, flavours, and textures can help shape your baby’s likes and dislikes when they’re a child.
When your baby opens their mouth for their first taste of food, they embark on a journey of discovery that may influence their food preferences for the rest of their life. Up until now, your little one has relied purely on breast milk and/or formula to grow and develop. And look how far they have come! Now they need some additional nutrients, and the foods you choose to offer them are essential for their future health.
Incredibly, what you offer on their spoon during these early weeks of feeding can influence the variety of foods they will choose to eat in the future. Not just next month, or even the one after, but in years to come when they’re waving goodbye to you at the school gates.
Vary the menu
So how do you help your baby grow into a child with a healthy diet? One important way is with variety. Offer different vegetables during these early weeks of complementary feeding and they’ll be more likely to accept new vegetables now, and in the future. One recent study showed that an introduction of vegetables early in the complementary-feeding period may lead to a greater acceptance of vegetables by babies, and later in life by children.
Beyond the smooth
As well as offering a wide range of vegetables, it is important for your baby to learn about texture as their feeding skills develop. Once your baby is experienced with, and able to manage, smooth purees, think about adding some texture, perhaps by mashing developmentally appropriate food with a fork rather than blending to a thick liquid.
Research shows that babies who are introduced to ‘lumpy’ textures before nine or 10 months of age are more likely to eat family foods, healthy foods, and a greater variety of fruits and vegetables as toddlers and at school age. “Introducing your baby to texture early on may help them accept more complex textures when they’re older,” says Laurence Stoll, Complementary Food Nutritionist at Nestlé Nutrition, Switzerland. All of this goes to show that it’s never too early to start positively influencing your child’s health.
Sources
Coulthard H, Harris G, Emmett P. Delayed introduction of lumpy foods to children during the complementary feeding period affects child’s food acceptance and feeding at 7 years of age. Matern Child Nutr 2009; 5(1):75-85.
Hetherington MM, Schwartz C, Madrell J et al. A step-by-step introduction to vegetables at the beginning of complementary feeding. The effects of early and repeated exposure. Appetite 2015; 84:280-90.
Joint statement of Health Canada, Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada, and Breastfeeding Committee for Canada. Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations from Six to 24 Months. 2014. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/healthy-…
Maier A, Chabanet C, Schaal B et al. Effects of repeated exposure on acceptance of initially disliked vegetables in 7-month old infants. Food Quality and Preference 2007; 18:1023-32.
Maier-Noth A, Schaal B, Leathwood P et al. The lasting influences of early food-related variety experience: A longitudinal study of vegetable acceptance from 5 months to 6 years in two populations. PLoS One 2016; 11(3):e0151356. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151356.
Related articles
How to Switch Formulas
Your baby’s growing and their digestive system is developing, too. Learn how to switch formulas the right way to support your child’s nutritional needs.
3 mins to read
Safe first finger food for babies
By now you've noticed that everything seems to make its way into your little one’s mouth. Once he’s able grasp small objects, eating those little goodies is exactly what he'll try to do.
5 mins to read
When should I offer my baby wheat, eggs, or nuts?
Did you know? Guidelines have changed for when to introduce your baby to eggs, wheat, fish, and foods containing peanuts.
3 mins to read
Infant nutrition needs: 6-8 months
As your baby reaches 6-8 months old, some vitamins and minerals are especially important for their health.
4 mins to read
Hungry or full? Nine faces of feeding
It may seem like a whole new world now that your little one is starting to eat solid foods.
4 mins to read
Food Allergies in Babies
There is growing evidence that many factors in the environment play a role in allergies developing in babies.
3 mins to read
Starting solid foods doesn’t mean stopping breastfeeding or formula feeding
After six months, your little one’s need for energy and some important nutrients (such as iron, zinc, and protein) can’t be met with breast milk or formula alone.
4 mins to read
Food allergies: advice you need to know
Recent research on food allergies has led to new recommendations for the introduction of commonly allergenic foods once babies start eating solid food. Confused?
5 mins to read
Benefits of probiotics for babies
This article includes contributions from Dr. Dina Kulik, pediatrician, and Charlotte Geroudet, GD.
5 mins to read
The dos and don’ts of responsive feeding
The ways you feed your baby are as important as what you feed them. Find out what to watch for, and what to do, when your baby starts eating complementary foods.
5 mins to read
How to Switch From Breastfeeding to Bottle-feeding
Whether you want to express breast milk or you’re thinking of supplementing with baby formula, try these 13 tips on how to switch from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding.
7 mins to read
What foods to offer your baby now to encourage healthy eating later?
Variety is key when you start complementary feeding. Help set them up for a future of healthy eating with these need-to-know numbers and food ideas.
1 min to read
7 tips about baby allergies and food introduction
Can you separate the fact from the fiction? Discover the truths and myths about allergies in babies.
3 mins to read
3 tips for your baby’s happy, healthy tummy
By Dr. Ted Jablonski, family physician
3 mins to read
Getting started: traditional and baby-led weaning
Your baby may be developmentally ready to start complementary feeding at around six months of age, when they are able to hold their head up and sit in a high-chair.
3 mins to read
Did you know?
Around six months of age, baby’s evolving needs call for the introduction of foods
1 min to read
The difference between prebiotics and probiotics
If you have doubts about what the function of each one is, keep reading
3 mins to read
10 ways to introduce variety and texture
Help your six- to eight-month-old grow up to be a healthy eater by offering a wide variety of flavours and textures now.
6 mins to read
How to strengthen your baby's immune system
By Dr. Ted Jablonski, family physician
3 mins to read
