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Expanding an infant's diet is an important stage in their development, but many myths still circulate around it that can mislead parents. Is it really necessary to start with rice porridge, and is sweet fruit the best way to encourage a child to eat? We debunk popular myths about introducing new foods to an infant's diet – see if you still believe them!

1. Expanding a baby's diet should begin exactly after 6 months of age.

MYTH. In fact, expanding a baby's diet should begin no earlier than 17 weeks of age (the beginning of the 5th month) and no later than 26 weeks (the beginning of the 7th month). Introducing new foods should begin when the baby demonstrates the developmental skills necessary to consume them. Therefore, timing varies depending on the characteristics and individual development of infants. Therefore, there is no specific timeline – observation and familiarity with the child are required. At the same time, a baby still needs breast milk (or formula if breastfeeding is not possible) as their main source of nutrition. It's important to remember that introducing complementary foods too early or too much can cause the baby to take in less breast milk, which can lead to reduced milk production. As a result, the baby may not receive the appropriate amount of essential nutrients needed for proper development.

2. Starting a new diet with rice porridges should begin with rice porridges, as they are the safest.

MYTH. Rice porridges are often considered the ideal first solid food, but it is recommended that vegetables (preferably green ones), such as puree or puree, be introduced first in the baby's diet. This will allow the baby to become familiar with them from the very beginning, increasing the chance of them liking them. Introducing vegetables from the very beginning can help develop healthy eating habits. It's important to introduce new foods gradually, observing the baby's reactions.

3. Sweet fruits are the best way to encourage a baby to eat.

MYTH. Although fruit is valuable, it's a good idea to first introduce vegetables that have a less sweet taste. After about two weeks, you can offer your little one fruit while continuing to offer vegetables. Babies have a natural preference for sweet tastes, so introducing vegetables early can help them accept a wider variety of foods later.

4. If a baby rejects a new food, they are not ready for transitioning.

MYTH. Just because a baby initially rejects a new taste doesn't mean they aren't ready for transitioning. Babies may need several tries before accepting a new taste. It's important to be patient and not get discouraged as you continue introducing different foods.

5. A baby should only eat mashed foods throughout the first year of life.

MYTH. Although pureed or pureed foods are an important step in transitioning, don't limit yourself to just them for too long. The type of food should be appropriate for the baby's developmental abilities and, over time, support the development of biting and chewing skills. As a baby grows, they should gradually eat foods with more varied textures, such as soups and dinners with lumps, and later with increasingly larger, softer pieces.

6. Any product with a colorful label and a cute picture is suitable for babies.

MYTH. It's not the packaging, but the fact that a product is classified as food for infants and young children and has a precise age indication on the label (and is therefore subject to rigorous quality standards) that indicates that the product was created with this consumer group in mind. Food intended for infants and young children must meet strict quality standards set by national and European Union law, and the recipes for such products are developed by nutrition experts. Their labels include an age indication, for example, after 6 or 8 months of age, guaranteeing that both the composition and consistency are tailored to the child's needs at a given stage of development.

An example of products created specifically for the youngest is BoboVita lunches. Their quality is 100% confirmed – their ingredients undergo hundreds of quality and safety tests. The vegetables they contain meet quality standards 5,000 times more stringent than general-purpose vegetables*. Furthermore, the lunches contain 100% natural ingredients and, in accordance with legal regulations for food for infants and young children, do not contain preservatives, colorings, or flavor enhancers. It also features 100% antibiotic-free meat, sourced exclusively from trusted suppliers**, and 100% wild-caught fish from sustainable fisheries***. Furthermore, selected meals (as stated on the label) contain ALA, which is essential for the proper development of the brain and nervous tissue.

*Applies to pesticide standards in vegetables
**In accordance with legal limits and prohibitions.

***We do not use farmed fish in BoboVita products. Fish are caught in accordance with sustainable fishing practices and come from certified fisheries.

Important information: Continuing breastfeeding is recommended while introducing complementary foods. Breastfeeding should continue for as long as desired by both mother and baby. Breastfeeding is best for the baby.