Babies are very good at regulating their intake of food and drink and they know when they’ve had enough. If they don’t finish all the food you’ve prepared don’t force feed them as they are genuinely full at this stage
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Baby’s Age
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Number of meals per day
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Average meal size
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Consistency
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Suitable foods
|
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Around
6 months (Stage 1)
|
2-3
meals/
day
|
5-10
teaspoons
|
Smooth thin purée without any lumps
|
Cereals e.g. baby rice, porridge, baby cereal.
Puréed vegetables e.g. carrots, squash, potato. Peeled and puréed fruit e.g. banana and pear.
Well cooked chicken, fish, meat and eggs
|
|
6-9 months
(Stage 2)
|
3
meals/
day
|
2-4
tablespoons
|
Thick with soft lumps
|
Well-cooked eggs, chicken or mince.
White and oily fish (boned and skinless).
Yoghurt, pasteurised cheese, bread, pasta, noodles, rice.
|
|
9-12 months
(Stage 3)
|
3
meals/
day plus
2-3
snacks
|
4-6
tablespoons
|
Chunky, mashed texture, moving to chopped, bite size pieces
|
Most family foods are now suitable but do not add sugar or salt. Finger Foods: mango, melon, banana, toast fingers, cheese, pasta shapes
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