When to begin
Latvian SPKC guidance says complementary food should not begin before four months and should start no later than six months; around six months is appropriate for most babies. Decide the timing with the family doctor, especially for a premature baby, poor weight gain, swallowing difficulty or developmental differences. The calendar is not the only criterion. A baby should hold the head steadily, sit upright with support, coordinate taking and swallowing food and show interest. More waking at night on its own does not prove readiness. Milk remains central while food skills develop.
The first goal is not a full portion
Begin at a calm time when the baby is alert, not extremely hungry and not unwell. Offer roughly a teaspoon of smooth or mashed food once daily, allowing the baby to stop sooner. Early tastes teach texture, flavour and the movement of a spoon; most nutrition still comes from breast milk or age-appropriate formula. Increase amounts and frequency gradually in response to the child. Food pushed out with the tongue can be part of learning rather than rejection. Offer it again on another day without pressure. There is no need to replace a full milk feed immediately.
What to put on the plate
There is no compulsory first food. Options include vegetable purée, iron-fortified cereal, soft mashed meat, pulses or another culturally familiar food in a safe texture. Soon after starting, offer iron-rich foods regularly because requirements increase: meat, boneless fish, egg, pulses or fortified cereal. Combine colourful vegetables, fruit, grains, protein and energy-rich fats rather than remaining only with sweet purées. A vegan diet for an infant needs medical and dietetic planning because vitamin B12, iron, energy and other nutrient deficiencies can be serious. Ask how vitamin D and other supplements fit the child’s existing plan in Latvia.
Texture should grow with skills
Offering only completely smooth purée for a long period can limit opportunities to learn chewing movements. Gradually move to thicker mashed food, soft lumps and safe finger foods according to ability. Teeth are not required to squash a very soft piece with the gums. Always seat the child upright in a suitable chair. Do not feed lying down, in a moving pushchair or while a car is travelling. Spoon-feeding and self-feeding can be combined; neither method is a test of good parenting. Expect mess and place a washable mat underneath rather than controlling the child’s hands.
Introduce allergens without unnecessary delay
Offer egg, peanut, dairy, wheat, fish and other common allergens in an age-appropriate form, one at a time and in a small amount early in the day when the child is well. SPKC material advises spacing new foods by several days so a reaction is easier to identify. Common allergens do not need to be delayed for years in a healthy baby, but severe eczema, known allergy or a previous reaction calls for a plan with a clinician. Whole nuts and a spoonful of thick nut butter are choking hazards; thin smooth butter or mix a small amount into familiar food. Once tolerated, discuss regular inclusion rather than one isolated taste.
Foods to avoid before one year
Do not give honey before 12 months because of infant botulism risk. Do not add salt, sugar or sweeteners, and avoid sweet drinks and juice as routine drinks. Cow’s milk can be used in small amounts as an ingredient but is not the main drink before one year. Avoid unpasteurised dairy, raw egg, undercooked meat and fish containing bones. Cut grapes, cherry tomatoes and sausage lengthways and adapt them further, while whole nuts, popcorn and hard round pieces are unsuitable for infants. Observe Latvian food-safety recalls for products kept at home. Rice drinks are not an appropriate milk substitute for a young child.
Gagging is not the same as choking
During gagging, a baby usually coughs, makes noise, may turn red and works the food forward. In choking, the airway may be blocked: the baby cannot cough, cry or breathe effectively and may become blue. An infant first-aid course for every regular caregiver is useful before solids begin; do not rely on one short video. Stay within arm’s reach throughout eating. Do not blindly sweep a finger inside the mouth, which can push food deeper. If choking occurs, use the first-aid sequence you have learned and have someone call 113. Never offer food in a car where stopping and reaching the baby takes time.
Responsive feeding and medical help
The adult chooses safe varied food and the time it is offered; the child decides whether and how much to eat. Turning away, closing the mouth, pushing food away and losing interest are fullness cues. Do not use a screen to sneak in more and do not compare portions with another child. Contact the family doctor if the baby repeatedly coughs or chokes with feeds, cannot manage age-appropriate texture, rejects nearly all food, grows poorly, or develops hives or repeated vomiting after a product. Facial swelling, breathing difficulty, collapse or another severe allergic reaction is an emergency—call 113. Bring a photo of the label and note the amount and timing, but do not deliberately offer the suspected food again before advice.