Little tastes of food for babies

Little taste tests allow your child to learn new flavours, but did you know that an early introduction to certain foods can also reduce the risk of certain allergies?

Little tastes of food from 4 months

From four months at the earliest, you can allow your baby to try little tastes of solid food, but if your baby clearly shows no interest, it’s also okay to wait a little.

How often can I give little tastes?

You can give little tastes of solid food several times a day if your baby is interested in trying them. But remember, little tastes are all about learning to try different flavours and textures – they are not meant to be a substitute for milk, as your baby’s main source of nutrition for the first six months (with the exception of vitamin D) should come from breast milk or formula milk. Little tastes for babies this small are really little, think of it as one tiny taste at a time that can be repeated a few times a day. The portion size can then be increased slightly as the baby gets older.

What food can be given as a little taste?

There is no particular order in which food should be introduced, and you don’t have to introduce one food at a time. And, unless you want to, there’s no need to prepare special food to test – the easiest way is to use some of your own food that you have on your plate. But we’re not talking about whole pieces of meat here, we’re talking about puréed or cooked mashed food that has a soft texture, such as a tiny taste of porridge, mashed potatoes or soup from your plate. Place some food on your finger or on a teaspoon and let your baby taste it. Spices can be introduced at a reasonable pace and quantity.

It is also advisable to ensure that babies are introduced and exposed to foods that are commonly associated with allergies at an early age, as this can reduce the risk of developing an allergy. We have collected some additional tips on baby food, and foods to try and avoid for those who want to read more.

Do you need more tips on what the ‘little tastes’ could be? Here are some of our ideas for little tastes:

• Puréed fruit without skin, seeds or pips – but hard fruit should be cooked until soft. Apples, pears, mangoes and bananas are examples of good fruits.
• Cooked and puréed vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips and broccoli.
• Liver pâté or bean dip.

What about if my baby isn’t interested in little tastes?

After many months of drinking nothing but milk, it is not surprising that it takes some time to get used to tasting and appreciating new flavours. Some children love the new flavours right away, others are more wary, and you have to be patient. It is not compulsory to start offering little tastes at 4 months – only offer them if the child seems interested. If your baby isn’t interested, wait a couple of weeks and then check for interest again – if there still isn’t much interest, wait another couple of weeks.

Pushing a child who doesn’t want to taste is a bad idea – it’s better to wait and try again later. Try it when your baby is in a happy mood and feels content with life – not too tired, not too hungry and not too full – it’s usually easier then. If it still doesn’t work at all, your healthcare provider is on hand to help with advice and tips.

When do babies start eating normal food?

Breast milk or formula can provide a great source of nutrition for a long time, but from six months onwards, you need to start thinking about adding nutrition and energy from other sources as well. The first step is to gradually increase the little tastes until they become real portions.

Allergic reaction to food

If your child seems to have an allergic reaction to food, you should contact your healthcare provider to find out what your child might be allergic to. If the situation is urgent – i.e. your child has severe itching/swelling, breathing problems or is not as responsive as usual, always call your country’s emergency number.

Please note that all information above is based on Swedish recommendations.