By Jan Murray

As a parent raising children, it is important to understand that solids are not only commenced to fill a hungry tummy and to aid growth but are also to:

• Develop and enhance their five senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell.
• Develop their immune system for optimum health and illness recovery.
• Develop their digestive system to allow for successful absorption of nourishing foods and the control of constipation, diarrhoea and bowel spasms.
• Strengthen bones and muscles allowing for fluid movement and the protection of internal organs.
• Develop and stabilise their nervous system.
• Develop a strong pumping heart.
• Stabilize hormones for metabolism and emotional and physical balance.
• Effective functioning of the urinary tract to eliminate toxins.
• Developing facial muscles to facilitate language production.
• Introduce the culture and pattern around eating.
• Provide certain nutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin C that are not ingested in adequate amounts through breast milk or infant formula from 6 months old.

Read more about developing babies in ‘Mum, Baby & Toddler - together we learn’

Yummy and easy recipes:

Fish cakes

1 large tin of pink salmon (squash bones for added calcium) also use tuna
2 large mashed potatoes (use white sweet potato if baby does not like potato texture yet
1 cup frozen peas and corn
Sprinkle of dill
1 egg

Method

1. Combine all together in a bowl.
2. Roll into patties and coat in breadcrumbs or oat bran.
3. Fry in a pan with a little oil  

“I serve the kids with mayo and ours with sweet chilli sauce. My kids love fish and they always enjoy this recipe.” – Provided by Belinda Dowling

Yummy porridge

½ cup Rolled oats
1 cup water
Fruit puree
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Method

1. Put oats and water in a bowl and cook for 2 minutes on high in microwave or in a saucepan on the stove until soft
2. Scoop out 1 – 2 tbsp and porridge (you eat the rest)
3. Mix in 2 tsp of pureed apple, pear or pawpaw – Provided by Jan Murray

Peanut butter building blocks

Spread smooth peanut butter on a white slice of bread
Spread pure fruit jam on a wholegrain slice of bread
Spread butter on a slice of rye bread (use any 3 favourite spreads)

Method

Stack bread slices on top of each other and cut into fingers and square shapes before serving – Provided by Jan Murray 

More easy to follow recipes in 'taste it - easy baby & toddler recipes along with professional child health advice'  plus holds loads of practical information to get you and your baby started on good eating habits as well as yummy recipes to try.

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This article was brought to you by Jan Murray, Private Child Health Consultant who is an internationally renowned expert in her field. Jan encourages parents in the area of infant sleep, nutrition, activities and family balance. She publishes regular ezine and blog articles to provide free parenting tips, tools and resources to educate and support those caring for young babies and children. For more online resources visit http://www.settlepetal.com