Here at Mummy Cooks we have put together a go to guide of recipes and advice for your weaning 6-12 month old baby. From six months it is important to move on with texture and offer finger food to your baby. Your baby is more accepting of new foods at this time and offering variety at this stage will ensure your baby will go through the weaning stages with ease!
If you're looking for recipes for the earlier weaning stages, have a read of our "Weaning Recipes 4-6 months" blog!
Moving on: 6 months – 9 months
From 6 - 9 months, your baby will be getting used to the weaning process so you will gradually increase your baby's portion size.
6-9 months is an important time during your baby's weaning journey as they are now able to explore different varieties and textures of food.
6 - 7 months
Meals: 3 meals a day
Serving size: 6-7 Month Weaning Pots
Texture: Smooth and slightly thicker purée, no lumps.
Introduce: Dairy, gluten, meat, fish, grains, soft finger foods & a beaker or cup of water.
It is important to move on with texture as soon as your baby reaches six months of age. If you have just started to wean at six months then gradually increase the texture within the first week. Adding texture still means you blend the food, the texture is in the ingredients. Such as adding meat or grains will add the texture to your baby's food.
7 - 8 months
Meals: 3 meals a day
Serving size: 7-8 Month Weaning Pot
Texture: Thicker purée with increased texture.
Increase the variety of finger foods - add dips such as unsalted nut butters.
Your baby should now be in a good routine of milk and food. Spacing the meals and milk feeds out is important to have a successful weaning journey. Its important to have at least an hour gap between milk and food so you baby will be hungry for their meal.
8 - 9 months
Meals: 3 meals a day
Serving size: 8-9 Month Weaning Pots
Texture: Minced and mashed with soft lumps.
Introduce: stronger flavours such as oily fishes like salmon.
At this stage your baby will be accepting a variety of foods and you will hopefully be busy batch cooking baby's meals so you can have this variety. Increase the amount of finger foods at this stage and make at least one meal a finger food meal. Take a look at some of our Finger Food recipes below. Alternatively you can offer baby's meal unblended (shred meat).
Finger Food Recipes:
Cauliflower and Cheese Bites
This is one of my most popular recipes! Cauliflower is a favourite of mine, but it did take a while to get my children to share the love. Adding cheese definitely makes it easier! The shape of these bites makes them the perfect finger food for you weaning baby.
Healthy Broccoli Tots
These healthy broccoli tots are a great way to get your children to eat more green vegetables. Broccoli and cheese work really well together, so even the fussiest of eaters should enjoy!
Vegetable Muffins
If you're looking to get more vegetables into your children's diets, these muffins are the perfect choice. They make a great food for your baby and a tasty lunchbox filler for a school going child. They are also a nice pick-me-up for busy parents who are always on the go too!
Roasted Sweet Potato & Cinnamon Fingers
Introducing finger food as early as 6 months gives your baby plenty of time to practice the pincer grasp – picking up objects with the thumb and forefinger. This recipe is an ideal first finger food for your weaning tot, and your little one will love the natural sweetness of the sweet potato!
For more information about what foods to feed your 6-12 month old baby, check out our blogs:
- "When to introduce Finger Food to your weaning baby"
- "What Foods to Feed your Baby in the First Year."
Our Weaning Advice page provides information and advice on weaning your baby. It includes recipes, tips, and articles on a variety of topics related to weaning, such as introducing finger food, adding herbs and spices to baby food, and healthy snacks for your baby, and lots more.
