What foods should you introduce to your baby first? 

 As discussed in our blog post, First foods from different cultures, there are variations in the first tastes for babies across different countries and cultures. But if you’re feeling a bit lost or need a starting point for your weaning, we have broken down the food groups to guide you on suitable first foods for your baby. 

Top tip: Before you kick off your weaning journey, it's useful to get some items in place.  For you, it could be a hand blender or maybe a steamer to help prep.  For the baby- a bowl, plate, bib, sippy cup and spoons are the essentials to start off with! However, you decide to feed you want something that is dishwasher safe, easy to use and looks great. For all of these pieces, head to Najell feeding collection.  

 Vegetables 

Veg is a great place to start because you can’t go wrong! You can start the weaning process with a vegetable-based diet and gradually introduce other food groups. Ideal first veggies are broccoli, courgette, swede, cauliflower, spinach, sweet potato, avocado, aubergine, potato, kale, carrot, green beans, butternut squash, and parsnips. 

It is beneficial to expose your baby to flavours that go beyond just sweetness. Instead of solely relying on sweet potato and carrots (which can be a firm favourite!), consider introducing vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and courgette which have a slightly more bitter taste but are just as yummy! 

Najell baby feeding set

Fruit 

Who doesn’t love fruit? There are plenty of great fruits to introduce to your child, including strawberries, raspberries, apples, bananas, pears, oranges, melon, blueberries, and plums. For harder fruits, make sure to cook them down to soften them and to remove any tough skin, stones, or pips to prevent choking. 

Carbohydrates 

Carbohydrates = ENERGY. Carbs play a crucial role in a baby's diet. You can cook and then mash or blend carbohydrates to a suitable texture for your baby or offer them as finger foods. Examples include: 

• Bread or toast 

• Chapatti or wraps 

• Cornmeal 

• Maize 

• Porridge 

• Oats 

• Pasta 

• Potato or sweet potato 

• Quinoa 

• Rice 

Protein 

Protein is a key favourite for adults, but for children this is a key part for their growth, repair, and maintenance of the body. Incorporating protein into your child's diet is easily done, regardless of whether they follow a plant-based diet. There are various sources of protein to choose from, including: 

• Cow's milk 

• Meat and fish (e.g., chicken breast, salmon, pork loin) 

• Eggs 

• Nut butters 

• Kidney beans 

• Tofu 

• Beans (e.g., canned kidney beans, chickpeas) 

Dairy 

Whole milk and full-fat dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, which is essential for building bones and keeping healthy teeth. They also contain vitamin A, which boosts the body's resistance to infections and is necessary for healthy skin and eyes.  

Dairy intake can come from various food products like pasteurized cheese, pasteurized full-fat plain yogurts, and full-fat pasteurized cow's milk or goats' or sheep's milk (used in cooking or mixed with food from around 6 months old, but not given as a full drink until your baby is 12 months). There is an emphasise for under 2’s to have full-fat dairy as they need the energy provided by fat. 

Feeding Collection 

This guide is to help inspire the range of smell, taste, and colours you expose to your child. Whichever method you choose to feed your child, you will need a little bit of equipment to get you started. The basics should include bowl, plate, spoons and cups. These are all tools required to help you and your child on their weaning journey.