Your little one is growing fast! At 11 to 12 months, it’s time to continue offering different solid food, getting them used to different tastes and textures.

You can choose to spoon-feed or try baby-led weaning but either way, a mixture of baby food, weaning recipes, and homemade purees will help to ensure your baby gets the balanced diet they need. 

We’re here to support you on this weaning journey; keep on reading for meal planning ideas, how much to feed your little one, and what foods are best.

• Establish a consistent feeding schedule with three main meals and healthy snacks.
• Introduce a variety of nutrient-dense solid foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Encourage self-feeding and exploration through baby-led weaning or a combination of spoon-feeding and finger foods.
• Ensure your baby is consuming enough iron, calcium, and healthy fats for optimal growth and development.
• Gradually phase out breastmilk or formula as your baby’s solid food intake increases, but continue to offer breast milk or formula until at least 12 months of age.

Your little one is now ready to try new tastes and textures. This helps them to grow up loving healthy, nutritious meals. Finger foods are great for teaching your baby how to feed themselves and it helps to improve their hand skills.

Good first foods include soft fruits and veggies like avocado, banana, sweet potato, butternut squash, cooked carrots and soft-cooked peas. 

As your baby gets used to these foods, you can add other foods to their diet including soft, shredded meats (such as chicken, turkey, or beef), flaked fish (like salmon or cod), scrambled eggs, tofu, well-cooked legumes (lentils or chickpeas) and whole milk yoghurt and cheese.

Make sure their meals are balanced with foods from all groups. Finger foods are perfect for teaching them to feed themselves. They also help with hand-eye coordination. Some good finger foods for this age are:

• Soft, cooked vegetable sticks (carrots, green beans, or broccoli)
• Soft fruit pieces (peaches, pears, or melon)
• Small, soft pieces of whole-grain bread or toast
• Small, soft chunks of cheese
• Cooked pasta shapes

Start with one new food at a time. Wait a few days before trying another. This helps you spot any allergies and lets your baby get used to new tastes. As they get more confident, you can mix different flavours and textures for fun, nutritious meals.

When your baby hits the 11 to 12 month-old mark, it’s crucial to have a regular feeding schedule which includes a variety of healthy foods. All babies are unique and it’s important to encourage your baby to feed themselves and explore food at their own pace. Here are a few meal ideas you might want to try with your little one 

Breakfast…

• Scrambled eggs with mashed avocado and whole-grain toast soldiers
• Oatmeal with pureed fruit and a sprinkle of ground flaxseed
• Whole-grain pancakes with unsweetened applesauce and yoghurt
• Banana slices with almond butter and a side of cottage cheese

Lunch…

• Hummus and grated carrot sandwiches on whole-grain bread
• Quinoa and mixed vegetables with shredded chicken
• Baked sweet potato wedges with black beans and mild salsa
• Lentil and vegetable soup with whole-grain crackers

Dinner…

• Mini turkey meatballs with steamed broccoli and couscous
• Baked salmon with mashed butternut squash and green peas
• Spinach and ricotta stuffed pasta shells with tomato sauce
• Slow-cooked beef stew with carrots, potatoes, and parsnips

Snacks…

• Sliced fruit such as kiwi, mango, or pears
• Cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches
• Hard-boiled egg halves with cherry tomatoes
• Whole-grain pita bread with hummus dip
• Homemade trail mix with cereal, dried fruit, and yoghurt melts

As your baby gets closer to their first birthday, a balanced diet supports their growth and development. Now is a good time to introduce more homemade baby food, finger foods, and meals filled with nutrients. 

Even though your baby is eating more solid foods, homemade pureés are still important. Made from fruits, vegetables, and proteins with no added sugar or salt. Stuck on ideas? Why not try one of these…

• Sweet potato, spinach, and chicken puree
• Butternut squash, apple, and cinnamon puree
• Avocado, banana, and Greek yoghurt puree
• Pea, mint, and ricotta puree

Encouraging your baby to feed themselves is vital at this age. Finger foods help with hand-eye coordination, independence, and they introduce different textures and tastes to your little one’s diet; just make sure you watch your baby as they eat. Why not try the below?

• Soft, cooked vegetables like carrots, green beans, and broccoli florets
• Ripe fruits such as banana slices, peach wedges, and melon cubes
• Whole grain toast fingers with mashed avocado or hummus
• Cooked pasta shapes or small, soft meatballs

Your baby is growing fast, so to support their growth they need meals rich in nutrients including iron and healthy fats. It can be tricky knowing what to make as a parent, but we love these nutrient-dense meals…

At 11 to 12 months, most babies need 3 main meals a day and 2 to 3 healthy snacks in between but you should watch out for your baby’s hunger signs and adjust their food amounts. A typical day might include breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, and dinner.

Try to offer a variety of foods to your baby at each meal. These can be mashed fruits and veggies, soft meats, and whole-grain cereals or bread. Snacks can be small pieces of cheese, sliced fruit, or unsweetened yoghurt. Always cut food into small pieces to avoid choking.

It’s also important to keep your baby hydrated. Offer your little one water with meals and snacks, and continue breast milk or formula as needed.