The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends babies are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life, and continue to receive breastmilk throughout the first year and for as long after that as mum and baby want to continue. At Organix, we support this.

Breastmilk will provide enough energy and nutrients for growing and developing babies until they reach six months of age. Babies are rarely developmentally ready for solid food before about six months of age.

At around six months of age, your baby will need nutrients not available in adequate amounts in their milk alone, so at this time it is important they are introduced to solid food that is nutritionally adequate and safe while breastfeeding continues.

The important thing to remember is that if your baby is ready for solid food all three of the signs below will be there. Your baby is ready if they can:

1. Co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth, can look at food, grab it and put it in their mouth all by themselves.

2. Stay in a sitting position and can hold their head steady.

3. Swallow their food. Small babies instinctively use their tongues to push foreign objects out of their mouths, and until this reflex fades, they are likely to do the same thing to a spoon or a piece of banana.

For more about when and how to start introducing solid food to your baby take a look at our advice here