What age do babies have snacks

When to introduce snacks

Some foods need to be iron-rich (e.g. rice cereal that has been iron fortified). Solids may include rice cereal, pureed meat, poultry, fish and liver, or cooked tofu and legumes. Vegetables, fruits, and dairy products such as full-fat yoghurt and cheese can then be added. The following table is only an example of the sequence and amounts to give. You can introduce other food, increase the rate of new food introduction and vary the amount depending on your baby’s hunger level and ability to tolerate the new foods. Offer your baby their breastfeed or infant formula before solids so that they continue to receive adequate milk until their intake of solid foods is well established. Your baby feeding routine will change over time.

You will get to a stage when you stop measuring and provide your baby with a varied and changing diet that reflects the family diet. This will reduce the time you spend in the kitchen.

If your baby is in childcare talk to the centre staff to ensure your baby is offered appropriate and safe foods as they learn to tolerate solid foods.

From eight months

From about eight months of age your baby will start to chew on their gums. When this starts to occur it is a sign that they are ready to try more coarsely mashed or minced foods. By the time they are ready for 8 month old baby food they will want to help feed themselves; so giving your baby a spoon can encourage eating skills and independence at feedtimes. The amount of food you offer your baby will depend on their appetite.

Increase the variety of cooked or raw vegetables (e.g. carrot, potato, tomato), fruit (e.g. apple, banana, melon), whole egg, cereals (e.g. wheat, oats), bread, pasta, dairy foods such as full-fat cheese, custards and yoghurt.

This is a good time to introduce finger foods such as toast fingers, sugarless rusks, cooked vegetables (e.g. beans and carrot) sticks or tomato slices.

If your baby is in childcare make sure they are receiving an adequate diet that contains iron-rich foods.

At 12 months

Around 12 months of age, your baby will be ready to eat most things the family is eating. They will actively reach for food. Foods can now be chopped up. Full-fat cow’s milk and water can become the main drinks. Milk should be limited to no more than 600 mL per day. If your baby is still breastfeeding or taking lots of milk-based foods then offer less cow’s milk. Some babies will reduce their milk intake well below 600 mL per day. Remember, they will gain additional fluid from the food you offer (e.g. fruit and vegetables often have a high water content) and calcium from dairy products such as yoghurt and cheese.

If they are attending childcare they will now be eating the food the centre offers to toddlers (12 months to 3years).