Moving on from milk to adding solid food to a baby's diet can be daunting for both the baby and the parents. But some simple tips can make the process run as smoothly as possible

Do’s and don’ts

Most ingredients are safe for babies, but advise parents:  

• Not to add salt to food as it is bad for babies’ kidneys. Avoid stock cubes and gravy too as these are often high in salt
• Not to add sugar to babies’ food. However, natural sugars from mashed fruit or breast/ formula milk are fine
• To avoid honey until the age of 12 months. Occasionally, honey contains bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby’s intestines, leading to infant botulism, which is a very serious illness. As honey is also a sugar, avoiding it helps prevent tooth decay 
• To avoid wheat, gluten, nuts (including peanuts), soya, meat, fish, dairy and other potential allergens until six months of age as they may cause allergies or make the baby ill
• Not to give whole peanuts or nuts to children under five years old because they could choke on them
• Not to choose low fat foods. 
• Fat is an important source of calories and certain vitamins for babies and young children. It’s better for infants between the ages of six months and two years to have full-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese  
• Not to give shark, swordfish or marlin. The amount of mercury in these fish can affect a baby’s growing nervous system
• Always check the labels of cooking sauces, soups, breakfast cereals, etc., as they may contain high levels of salt, sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Not to add salt to food as it is bad for babies’ kidneys. Avoid stock cubes and gravy too as these are often high in salt