8 things to know about baby's food diversification

- The Big Start

Weaning begins between 4 and 6 months. This is broad and flexible, but also quite strict: it is not recommended to start after 6 months because at this age, milk no longer meets the (exponential) developmental needs of the baby. Ultimately, it is between 6 and 18 months that your baby can truly experiment, taste, and awaken their taste buds to the fullest! This is truly THE time when you can try everything with them, when their curiosity is at its peak. After that, their personality may become more pronounced, their taste buds more refined, and you might simply get a firm "no" from them... But their culinary journey has, of course, only just begun...

- Milk, that essential food

Milk remains the main food for young children, whether it's breast milk or formula, even when diversification begins! Especially at first, your baby will simply taste things with just their lips... Several weeks will pass before your baby decides to swallow a real portion of purée or compote! Milk plays an essential role in their development and should remain present for at least until around 3 years old. Did you know? Until 6 months, babies don't drink water. Their hydration comes from breastfeeding or formula bottles!

- The importance of allergens

If there are known allergies in the family, it's essential to discuss them with the pediatrician before starting diversification; they will give you the green light anyway! Official recommendations on allergen introduction have changed, and today it is strongly advised to offer certain foods to babies very early on. These include peanuts, almond powder, hazelnut, gluten, eggs... By introducing them early, pediatricians have noted that children tolerate these foods better.

- No salt for baby

Salt is prohibited for toddlers for several reasons! Firstly, as adults, we know that too much salt isn't great, but for babies, it's absolutely forbidden. The reasons are simple: foods already naturally contain small amounts. Secondly, their kidneys are not yet fully developed and would have difficulty eliminating it. Finally, it's a way to enhance the taste of foods, but the goal is precisely for babies to acquire a taste for the "true" flavor of all these fruits and vegetables. For more precision, official recommendations suggest 1g of salt per day until 1 year, then 2g until 3 years – which is truly: nothing! By comparison, an adult should consume 5g per day and actually ingests between 8 to 19 grams! Want to enhance your baby's purées and compotes? Spices are your allies!

- A big yes to spices!

There's absolutely no reason not to have fun with spices, herbs, and condiments! On the contrary, take advantage of your baby's curiosity to introduce them to certain flavors. We'll obviously start with mild, non-spicy spices: cinnamon, vanilla, anise, for example. Mild curry, turmeric, zaatar for savory dishes. Of course, forget pepper and chili for now! As for aromatic herbs, they can enhance recipes: parsley, cilantro, basil... And don't forget thyme, rosemary, bay leaf! All of this will bring a touch of gourmet delight to these dishes! Have fun!

- Proteins

Introduced at the beginning of diversification in the form of smooth purée, animal proteins (meat, fish, and egg) are very important in the diet of young children. We generally start at lunchtime, in addition to vegetables, between 4 and 6 months, according to your pediatrician's advice. Chicken, ham, turkey, etc. are welcome. As for fish, some should be avoided, such as swordfish and shark (due to their heavy metal content), and others limited, such as tuna, monkfish, and skate... Egg is an excellent source of protein, rich in vitamins and trace elements; it should be offered well-cooked (omelette or hard-boiled egg) and in small quantities.

 - Texture evolution

Babies often start with smooth fruit or vegetable purees, then gradually move to dishes with a little more substance, leading to the introduction of real soft pieces and then harder ones, all between approximately 6 months and 1 year. For some years now, Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) has become increasingly common. The goal? To let the child discover foods on their own, unmixed. Whatever you choose, listen to your child. Ultimately, many parents practice a bit of both methods daily.

- Don't force... but offer again several times

We can sometimes have high expectations for these shared moments, and sometimes the disappointment is great! However, a baby should never, ever be forced to finish a plate or eat something they "don't like." Ultimately, a baby is a little person who needs time and has their moods, and that's completely normal. The main advice is to re-offer a food to your baby several times, without getting discouraged.

- The importance of DHA

Have you heard of DHA? We often talk about “good fats” without really knowing what that means… And yes, fat tends to have a bad reputation—but unfairly so! What should actually be limited are sugary, salty, and processed foods.

Babies, on the other hand, truly need these good fats—they are essential. DHA is an omega-3 essential fatty acid that the body cannot produce on its own. In other words, it must be provided through the diet.

A simple solution is using Quintesens baby oil, which is specially designed for babies aged 4 to 36 months and helps take the mental load out of daily nutrition. Just add a teaspoon of oil to your baby’s meals (after cooking, as oil should not be heated in order to preserve all its benefits).

This is extremely important, as DHA plays a key role in memory, as well as in the healthy development of the brain, vision, and nervous system. DHA products also exist for the whole family (pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, adults…), because getting enough DHA is a lifelong need!