First meals are an opportunity to explore food together. This guide helps Singapore parents prepare, with links to HealthHub and practical planning tools.
Updated 7 September 2026. General information; speak to your child’s clinician for individual advice.
Look at age and readiness together
Solids are generally introduced around six months. Look for good head control while sitting with support, interest in food and the ability to take food from a spoon and swallow. Ask your clinician if you are unsure about readiness, especially if swallowing is difficult.
Keep the first tastes small
Continue breast milk or infant formula while introducing small amounts of soft food. Solids complement milk at this stage. Iron-fortified infant cereal or suitably prepared iron-rich foods are options. Let baby decide how much to eat; do not force a finished bowl. See HealthHub's guide to starting solids.
Prepare for a supervised meal
Seat baby upright and stay with them throughout eating. Adapt the food's shape, size and texture to their development. Avoid hard, small or sticky foods that are difficult to chew, including whole nuts and spoonfuls of nut butter. Read the CDC choking-prevention guidance and learn infant first aid from a qualified provider.
Set up your own first-meal checklist
- Choose the food and check how to prepare it safely.
- Have the chair, spoon and cleaning supplies ready.
- Agree which adult will supervise without other tasks.
- Keep a note of the food offered and questions to discuss.
Ask about reactions and individual needs
Discuss suspected food reactions with a clinician. Breathing difficulty or collapse after eating needs emergency medical help. Ask about introducing allergens if your baby has known allergies or other concerns.
For a fuller reference, visit our starting-solids guide to food preparation and allergens. Compare equipment with the feeding-equipment buying checklist, or organise questions in the clinic-visit planner.