Meal Progression
Texture and increasing meal frequency
The second half of your baby's first year is a time of incredible change, and their eating habits are no exception. As they grow, they'll gradually move from their first tastes of solids to eating three meals a day. This guide breaks down what you can expect and how you can support your baby's progress from 6 to 12 months.
The Journey of Textures and Tastes
Watching your baby learn to manage different food textures is a key part of their development. The journey is a gradual one, and every baby moves at their own pace.
| Age Group | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| 6-7 Months | This is the starting line. The focus is on introducing smooth purees and soft finger foods. It's all about exploration and getting used to new tastes. Don't be surprised if more food ends up on their face than in their mouth! |
| 7-9 Months | Your baby is likely becoming a more confident eater. You can start to offer thicker, mashed foods with soft lumps. They'll also be getting better at handling finger foods and might even try to hold a spoon themselves. |
| 10-12 Months | By this stage, your baby can manage more texture. Meals can be chopped into small, soft pieces. Their pincer grasp (picking things up with their thumb and forefinger) is improving, making them quite skilled at self-feeding. |
Building Up to Three Meals a Day
As your baby gets older, solid food will start to play a bigger role in their nutrition, though breast milk or formula remains important. Here’s a general guide to how meal frequency might increase:
- Starting Out (around 6 months): Begin with one small meal a day. Let your baby's appetite guide you.
- Moving On (7-9 months): Your baby will likely be ready for three meals a day alongside their milk feeds.
- Getting Established (10-12 months): Three meals a day will be the norm. Towards their first birthday, you can start to introduce a couple of nutritious snacks between meals as well.
What Does a Day's Food Look Like?
It can be helpful to see how this progression looks in practice. Here are some simple examples, but remember to always offer a variety of foods.
| Age | Example Meal |
|---|---|
| 7-9 Months | Breakfast of infant cereal; Lunch of mashed lentils with soft-cooked carrot sticks; Dinner of flaked salmon with mashed potato and broccoli. |
| 10-12 Months | Breakfast of porridge with fruit; Lunch of chopped chicken with pasta and peas; Dinner of a mini portion of family shepherd's pie. |
By their first birthday, your baby will be well on their way to eating a wide range of family foods, chopped into manageable pieces.