How to...

Between 9 and 12 months, your baby can start to eat the same food as the rest of the family, either mashed or sieved. Remember not to add any salt, sugar or honey. He will still need his milk (either breast milk or formula) – up to 600mls a day.

Once your baby has mastered the art of chewing food, you can start to introduce finger foods and continue to encourage them to feed themselves. It can be a very messy stage but this is how babies learn. Aim to have three good healthy meals a day at this stage and remember that although your child is becoming more independent you should never leave him alone while he is eating.

Some new foods to try at this stage are:

• Wheat based food eg bread, pasta and cereals
• Citrus fruit
• Eggs (ensure they are well cooked)
• Finger foods eg carrot sticks, peeled apple slices, breadsticks, fingers of buttered toast

When preparing your babies food it is essential to make sure you keep things germ free. The following is a checklist of things to do:

• Always wash your hands before preparing your baby's food and check his hands are clean before eating!
• Clean surfaces and tableware before you use them. If you are preparing raw meat, keep a separate chopping board for this.
• Remember you need to sterilise all your baby's feeding equipment, including spoon, bowls and cups until he is a year old.
• Don't re-use food that your baby has left at another meal. It may cause a tummy upset.
• Always wash and peel fruit and vegetables.