BiberonFrom 6 to 12 months, offer varied foods alongside milk and gradually change textures. Suitable pieces depend on your baby’s abilities as well as age. Floor exploration and first teeth bring new prevention steps. This guide uses the French feeding and follow-up framework.
- The French meat, fish or egg reference is a small daily amount, not an adult portion.
- Around 6–8 months, gradually try mashed food; from 8 months, very soft pieces may suit a ready baby.
- Meals are upright and supervised; no honey before age 1.
At 6 months: iron and water from a cup
The French PNNS chart gives a reference of 10 g daily of thoroughly cooked meat or fish, or a quarter of a hard-boiled egg, between 6 and 12 months. Adapt the texture and continue milk feeds. This reference does not replace individual advice about your baby’s needs.
Offer water from a cup from 6 months with your help. Fruit juice, syrups and soft drinks are unnecessary. Respect fullness cues instead of insisting on the last spoonful.
At 7 months: gradually move beyond smooth purée
Santé publique France recommends new textures around 6–8 months, roughly two months after solids begin. Gradually try finely chopped or fork-mashed food. Your baby should swallow purées comfortably and hold their head and back upright.
Introduce one new texture at a time so you can observe their response. If it is difficult, use an accepted option and seek advice. Avoid honey before 12 months, including in yoghurt or bottles, because of infant botulism risk.
At 8 months: try very soft pieces
When ready, offer food that squashes easily between your fingers, such as banana or well-cooked vegetables. Your baby can explore it with their hands. Soft food can be managed without teeth, but that does not make every piece suitable.
Keep your baby sitting upright with you present throughout the meal. Avoid whole nuts and peanuts or small, hard, round foods. Adapt food shapes; progression does not mean randomly cutting up an adult plate.
Around 9 months: follow-up and interaction
Check the French health record for the visit around 9 months. Prepare questions about movement, hearing, interaction and meals. Raise a loss of skills or a concern without waiting for a birthday.
Wave while saying goodbye, name a picture and copy your baby’s sounds. At separation, say a brief goodbye rather than leaving secretly. These activities support interaction rather than testing a word count.
At 10–11 months: participation and safe exploration
According to their abilities, let your baby try a spoon, hold soft foods and drink with your help. Learning can be messy; it does not mean leaving them to eat alone. Meals remain upright and supervised.
Keep small objects, medicines and cleaning products inaccessible during floor play. Check battery compartments in toys and remotes: even used button batteries must be out of reach. Continue books, simple games and a short, calm bedtime routine.
From the first tooth, and at 12 months
Once a tooth appears, brush morning and evening with a small soft brush and a smear of suitable fluoride toothpaste. An adult does the brushing; your dentist can advise on the product and check the technique.
At age 1, adapt family meals to the child’s portions and textures. Milk still matters. The birthday badge celebrates a year without requiring walking or first words. Keep foods tried and useful observations in Biberon.