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Your baby may be ready to start solids if she:

• can hold her head up
It's important that your baby is able to maintain a steady, upright position in order to take first foods from a spoon.

• sits well when supported
You may have to support her initially -- a highchair can be pulled into action a bit later when she's able to sit up all by herself.

• makes chewing motions
Your baby should be able to move food to the back of her mouth and swallow. As your baby learns to swallow efficiently you may notice her drooling decrease. At six months your baby may even have a tooth or two.

• has gained a healthy weight
Most babies are ready to eat semi-solids when they've doubled their birth weight, which may take place before or around their sixth month.

• displays curiosity about what you're eating.
Your baby begins eyeing your meals and reaches out to try foods travelling from plate to mouth. 

How should I begin to introduce a mixed diet?

Offer your baby her usual breast milk or formula. When she is nearly satisfied, give her about one or two teaspoons of dry cereal mixed with enough formula or breast milk to make a soupy solution. (The Department of Health recommends iron-enriched infant rice cereal as a starter food.) Give this to your baby on a soft rubber-tipped spoon once a day and then finish with her milk feed. This way, she won't be so hungry that she is too frustrated to try the new food, and not too full to be interested. It doesn't have to be the morning feed; pick a time that's convenient for both you and your baby.

At first, your baby will seem to eat very little, and it may take a while to get even that small amount into her. Do be patient with your little one and remember it may take a little time for her to learn these new skills.

When your baby is eating two to three tablespoons of cereal a day, try adding another food. As she begins to eat and develops more of a side-to-side grinding motion, add a little less liquid so the texture becomes thicker. This allows your baby to work on chewing (gumming) and swallowing.

Your baby's appetite will vary from one feed to the next, so watch for cues that she's full. A baby who refuses to open up for the next bite, turns away, or starts playing with her food is probably full. 

Do I still need to breastfeed?

Yes. Breast milk is designed to be the perfect food for your baby's first six months. Both breast milk and formula provide important vitamins, iron, and protein in an easy-to-digest form. Even though solid foods will gradually replace some of your baby's milk feeds, breast milk or formula will remain her most important source of nutrition until she is one year old. 

How can I help my baby develop healthy eating habits? 

You can help your baby learn to eat well by following these simple rules:

• Offer a varied selection of foods.

• Don't try to feed your baby too much - she may be put off trying other foods.

• Give your baby a variety of protein and carbohydrate food, fruits, and vegetables.

• Avoid sugar, salt, and very fatty foods or hot, spicy foods.

• Don't bribe or reward your child with food. Instead, offer her plenty of hugs, kisses, and attention. 

How should I introduce more solid foods? 

New foods should be introduced slowly, one at a time. Your baby needs time to get used to each new taste and texture. Also, careful introduction of different foods will allow you to watch for signs of a possible allergic reaction, such as diarrhoea, tummy aches, or rashes. Try adding one new food every few days, starting with yellow fruits and vegetables, which are easy for babies to digest. Some experts advise beginning with green veggies, as babies can sometimes get fixed on the sweeter taste of fruits and yellow vegetables and may not give peas and beans a fighting chance!

Start by offering your baby a few tablespoons of fruit or vegetables in the same meal as a cereal feed. Good foods to start with: ripe pureed apple, bananas, carrots, peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, parsnips, cauliflower and butternut squash. Try mixing to a sloppy consistency with boiled, cooled water or breast or formula milk. You can also try baby rice, maize, cornmeal or millet cereal.

If you get a negative reaction from your baby, offer the food again a few days later. She may always turn up her nose at some foods, but continue to offer them in hope that they become more appealing. 

How many times a day should my baby be eating solid foods?

By the time your baby is about seven months old, she should be eating semi-solids three times a day. A typical day's intake may be:

• Breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Small amounts of unsweetened juice well diluted with boiled, cooled water (one part juice to ten parts water), can also be given with meals only in a feeding cup or beaker, not a bottle. However juice isn't necessary unless your baby is vegetarian (the vitamin C in juice helps your baby to absorb iron from plant foods).

• Iron-fortified cereal

• Plenty of vegetables, such as potatoes, parsnips, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato, spinach and butternut squash

• Small amounts of meats, poultry, fish, yogurt, hard-boiled egg, well-cooked lentils, cheese (except brie, stilton and other mouldy or soft cheeses)

• Fruit

Some general guidelines apply:

• Don't give honey until age one because it can carry a small risk of infant botulism. (Read more on honey and botulism)

• Depending upon your infant's diet, vitamin drops may be recommended. Ask your health visitor for more advice. 

What about finger foods? 

As baby grows more experienced, you can increase the thickness of the foods offered to include chunkier soft lumps and mashed foods. At about seven to nine months, your baby is ready for finger foods cut into bite-sized bits. Some ideal first finger foods that can be easily gummed and digested are: bread, ripe bananas, cantaloupe melon, tender cooked carrots and sweet potatoes, breakfast cereals (avoid those with peanuts if you have a family history of allergies) and cooked pasta shapes. Never leave your baby alone when eating because of the risk of choking. 

Do I need any special equipment?

There's a dazzling array of feeding-related items you can buy, but none are essential. Even so, there are a few that can make mealtime easier. A rubber-tipped spoon is important to protect your baby's sensitive gums, and a plastic dish with suction cups can help keep your baby's meal on the highchair instead of the floor! And, to protect your floor, try a splat mat or lay down some pieces of newspaper to catch spills to make cleaning up much simpler. 

Where should I feed my baby? 

Once your baby is old enough to sit up on her own, feed her in a highchair or feeding chair. Handing finger foods to a crawling baby can result in choking and lead to a trail of smeared foods across your carpet. And, if a child learns to associate eating with mealtime and the dinner table, she's more likely to develop the good eating habits that can make mealtimes a family joy.

Note: You will find when you add solid foods to your baby's diet that her stools may change colour and odour. This is normal. If you suspect your baby's stools are so firm that they seem to be giving her pain, talk to your doctor or health visitor for advice, and switch from those types of foods to other fruits and vegetables. You can also offer a little more fluid, such as a few sips of boiled, cooled water or well-diluted unsweetened fruit juice. Read our article on treating your baby's constipation for more information.