From birth to 6 months of age, breastmilk is the only food your baby needs to grow and develop, or if not breastfeeding, infant formula. We encourage mothers to breastfeed for up to 2 years or beyond, as long as you and your baby want to continue.
Free breastfeeding support is available online, by telephone and at our breastfeeding clinics.
If you have made an informed decision to give your baby infant formula and need more information, please visit our feeding infant formula page.
Yes. If your baby is getting any amount of breastmilk, give your baby a vitamin D supplement of 10 µg (400 IU) every day. Keep giving vitamin D until your baby is 2 years of age.
No. Infant formula has vitamin D added, so you do not have to give a supplement.
At around 6 months of age, your baby's nutritional needs start to change. Solid foods help meet their changing needs. Most babies are ready for solid foods at 6 months of age. Some babies may be ready a few weeks before or after their 6-month birthday.
Breastfeeding is still an important source of nutrition for your baby. While you introduce solid foods, continue breastfeeding on demand.
This information is for healthy babies, born full term (after 37 weeks). If your baby was born preterm (before 37 weeks) or has a health condition, the guidelines may be different. Talk to your health care provider about the best way to feed your baby.
Every baby will eat different amounts of food from day to day.
Start by offering one to two tablespoons of food. Give your baby more if they show they are hungry. Stop feeding when they show they are full.
Signs of fullness and hunger |
You’ll know your baby is hungry when they:
You’ll know your baby is full when they:
|
Eat together
Mealtimes are a change to connect with your baby and to be a role model. Offer the same foods that the rest of the family is eating, just modify it so your baby can eat it safely.
Schedule regular meals and snacks
Offer meals and snacks every 2 to 3 hours. Your baby should come to the table hungry, but not too hungry.
Avoid games and tricks to get your baby to eat
It is normal for babies to accept food one day and refuse it the next. Try it again another day.
Limit distractions at meals and snacks
Distractions like toys, screens, and pets make it hard for your baby to focus on eating.
Be patient
Babies will make a mess as they learn to feed themselves. Use a wide bib and keep a warm, wet washcloth close by to make clean-up easier.
Start with foods high in iron |
Offer solid foods that are high in iron first. Your baby was born with a supply of iron, but at around 6 months of age that supply is almost used up. They need to get iron from food now. From 6 to 12 months, offer foods high in iron 2 or more times every day. Foods that are high in iron:
|
Introduce other foods once your baby is eating foods high in iron at least two times a day |
Vegetables and fruitFresh, frozen, and canned vegetables and fruit are all good choices. Choose frozen and canned vegetables and fruit without added sugar or salt.
GrainsChoose whole grain foods. Whole grain foods have more fibre, vitamins, and minerals than refined grain foods.
Milk productsMilk products such as yogurt and cheese can be offered at 6 months of age. Choose milk products with at least 3% milk fat. At 2 years of age, switch to lower fat milk products.
|
Offer different textures and finger foods |
At around 6 months of age, you can offer your baby a variety of soft textures and finger foods. Even if your baby doesn’t have teeth, they can chew soft foods by munching up and down. Offer a variety of textures by 9 months of age so that your baby learns to eat and enjoy lumpier textures. If your baby stays on puréed texture too long, they may have feeding difficulties as they get older. Textures that are safe for your baby to eat:
Finger foodsFinger foods help your baby learn to feed themselves. Let your baby practice even if it gets messy. The more changes your baby gets to try finger foods, they better they will be at eating them. Finger foods that are safe for your baby to eat:
|
Introduce cow's milk between 9 to 12 months of age |
Wait until 9 to12 months to introduce cow’s milk to drink. If you introduce cow’s milk too early, your baby may not get enough of other foods. Offer whole milk with 3.25% milk fat. Limit to 3 cups per day so that your baby is still hungry for other foods. Plant-based milks are not recommended as the main source of milk for children under 2 years of age. These milks do not contain enough protein and fat to meet your baby’s nutrition needs. |
Offer water and other drinks in an open cup |
Breastmilk provides enough for your baby to drink, but at 6 months of age you can offer water in an open cup. Drinking water from an open cup lets your baby lean important drinking skills. Offer drinks in an open cup instead of a bottle or “sippy cup”. Drinking from an open cup lowers the risk of cavities. It also keeps your baby from filling up on liquids, so they are still hungry for other foods. If your baby drinks from a bottle, switch to an open cup by about 12 months and no later than 18 months of age. Avoid sugary drinks. Babies do not need juice or other sugary drinks. |
Sugar, salt, and spices |
Babies do not need sugar and salt added to their food. Read the label on packages foods and choose foods with little to no added sugar or salt. It is safe for your baby to eat foods flavoured with other spices and seasonings. HoneyDo not feed your baby honey before they are 12 months of age. This includes honey that has been pasteurized, cooked, or in baked goods. Honey may contain botulism bacteria which can make your baby sick. Some yogurts and other foods are sweetened with honey. Rad the ingredient list before offering packaged foods to your baby. |
Make food safety a priority |
Babies and young children are at higher risk for food poisoning. Their immune systems are not fully developed to fight off infections.
Do not offer your baby these foods:
ArsenicArsenic is a natural element that can be toxic to humans, especially infants and children. Infants and children do not break down arsenic as well as adults, so it stays in their bodies longer. Exposure to high amounts of arsenic in childhood can affect growth and development. Arsenic can enter water through the natural breakdown of soil. Water and soil can also become contaminated through manufacturing and agricultural processes. Arsenic can enter foods through contaminated water and soil. Many foods contain a small amount of arsenic, including vegetables, fruit, protein foods, and grains. Some foods contain more arsenic than others. For example, rice and rice products tend to contain higher amounts of arsenic. Many store-bought baby foods are made with rice. If babies are not fed a variety of foods, they may be at risk of consuming too much arsenic. To reduce the amount of arsenic your baby may get from food, follow these tips:
Arsenic in drinking waterDrinking water from private water systems, such as wells, cisterns, and treated lake water, may contain arsenic. If you use a private drinking water system, you can test for arsenic and other contaminants. Private licensed labs offer this service for a fee. For more information, please contact a public health inspector through our Environmental Health Division by calling 613-549-1232. |
Prevent choking |
Choking happens when your baby’s airway is blocked. Hard foods, small and round foods, and smooth and sticky foods can block your baby’s airway. Your baby may cough or gag in food as they try different textures and finger foods. This is normal and part of learning how to eat solid foods.
Never offer these foods to babies and children younger than 4 years of age:
To make foods safer for your baby:
|
Help to prevent food allergy |
Introduce common food allergens at around 6 months of age to help prevent food allergy. Common food allergens are those foods that people are more likely to be allergic to. There are 10 common food allergens. Introduce these foods as part of your baby’s first foods:
How to introduce common food allergens
While introducing common food allergens, continue to offer other foods to your baby. You do not need to follow the common food allergen guidelines for other foods you offer. Possible signs of food allergy
If your baby shows signs of food allergy:Stop offering that food and talk to your health care provider. If your baby is having difficulty breathing, call 9-1-1 If your baby doesn’t show signs of food allergy:Keep offering that food regularly, 2 to 3 times a week. Some babies are at higher risk of food allergy.Ask yourself these questions:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, your baby may be at higher risk of food allergy. Talk with your health care provider about introducing common food allergens. Even if your baby is at higher risk of food allergy, you should introduce common food allergens at about 6 months of age. For more information on food allergies, visit Food Allergy Canada. |
Resources: