Babies are naturally ready for food and drink as well as their breast feeds or bottle feeds from six months of age. This is when they are developmentally ready to manage foods other than their milk. From six months babies are ready for mashed, lumpy or finger foods so there is no need to blend or puree foods. Babies benefit from the experience of different textures. Touching their food is a really important part of your baby’s learning about different foods, so enjoy sharing food times together. Quite a lot will end up on the floor or all over the baby, or you! This is normal and actually important for their development. Food can be a lot of fun for you both.

Continue breastfeeding as you have been, there is no need to reduce breastfeeds, your baby will continue to get all the benefits including the benefits to their immune system. Bottle feeding should also continue, and will gradually reduce as your baby enjoys more food over the next few months.