How much should a 6-month-old eat? Milk, solids and appetite

How much to offer
Start with about 1 to 2 teaspoons. Once a day is enough to begin with.

A helpful order to try

1. Offer a little breast milk or formula first to take the edge off hunger.
2. Offer the solid food.
3. Finish with more milk.

This takes the urgency out of the meal and makes the whole experience less frustrating.

Your baby will tell you what they need — you just need to watch for the signals.

Signs they want more: leaning forward, reaching toward the food, opening their mouth.

Signs they're done: turning their head away, keeping their mouth closed, pushing the food away, leaning back.

When your baby shows they're full, stop — even if you feel like they've barely eaten anything. Don't encourage them to take one more bite, play games to distract them into eating, or add sweetener to make the food more appealing. If they're crying or turning away, the meal is over.

Some days your baby will eat well. Other days they'll barely touch their food, or refuse it altogether. Both are completely normal.

A baby's appetite varies day to day, and there's no need to encourage them to finish a portion. Let your baby guide how much they eat at each meal.

• Don't force or pressure them to eat.

  A baby should never be made to finish what's on their plate or accept food they're refusing.

• Don't use tricks or games to get more food in.

  Airplane spoons, bribes, and distraction tactics might seem harmless, but they work against your baby's ability to recognize and respond to their own hunger.

• Don't offer sweets as an incentive.

  Offering something sweet to get them to eat the main food isn't recommended.

• Don't use food as comfort or reward.

  Food works best when it stays connected to hunger, not emotions or behavior.

Talk to your pediatrician or healthcare provider if you are not sure whether your baby is ready. Individual advice is especially important if:

• Your baby was born prematurely
• Your baby had a low birth weight
• Your baby has delays affecting movement or coordination
• Your baby has another medical condition that may affect feeding