Getting Started

Solid food doesn’t have to start at exactly 6 months on the dot — but around this age, your baby’s iron stores start to dip, and milk alone isn’t enough. Look for signs of readiness: they can sit up with support, show interest in your food, and don’t immediately push everything out with their tongue. Don’t worry if they make weird faces at first — it’s new, not poison.

​

What to Feed

Start with soft, single-ingredient foods: mashed banana, steamed pumpkin, pureed bubur nasi, or even soft tofu. You don’t need fancy gear — just mush it with a fork. Introduce one new food at a time and wait 2–3 days before trying another, to watch for allergies. Avoid salt, sugar, honey (until age 1), and anything hard or chunky. A little lemak sayur rebus goes further than a pouch from overseas.

 

How Much & How Often

Start slow — just 1–2 teaspoons once a day, after a milk feed. At this stage, milk (breast or formula) is still their main source of nutrition. Over the months, work up to 2–3 small meals a day, depending on their appetite. If they spit it out, don’t panic. If they eat half the bowl, don’t assume you’ve birthed the next MasterChef.

 

Parent Survival Tips

Feeding is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally feels like a betrayal of your kitchen. Use a bib, embrace the floor carnage, and let them explore — it’s part of the process. Gagging is normal. Choking is not. Know the difference (and maybe do a baby first aid course just in case). Don’t stress over daily intake — focus on the big picture. A healthy relationship with food starts here, even if half of it ends up in their hair.

Toddler Food Drama Is Real

You survived purées — now welcome to the stage where your child demands rice, then cries when you give them rice. Toddlers are all about control, and mealtimes are prime drama territory. Their appetites change daily (or hourly), and they may skip meals completely. Totally normal. What matters is what they eat over time, not one weird snack-less Tuesday.

​

Meal Ideas That Might Work

Think soft, easy-to-grab finger foods: nasi lembik, steamed carrots, roti dipped in dhal, scrambled eggs, mini kuih, or fruit slices. Toddlers love dips — peanut butter, hummus, mashed banana. Serve variety, but don’t go full MasterChef every meal. Repetition is fine. Leftovers are a blessing. And no, you don’t have to cut everything into star shapes (unless it buys you 10 minutes of peace).

 

How Much Is Enough?

Portion sizes can look tiny: 1 tablespoon of rice, a few cubes of veg, half a fruit. Trust their appetite — toddlers are great at self-regulating. Aim for 3 meals + 1–2 snacks a day, but don’t panic if they eat nothing and then inhale 4 slices of papaya at bedtime. Offer water throughout the day, and keep sugary drinks for special occasions (if at all).

​

Keeping It Together

Don’t beg. Don’t bribe. Don’t cry into the fried rice. Offer, wait, and move on. Let them eat with their hands, sit with you at the table, and reject food without shame. Exposure matters more than intake. Keep serving what the family eats — they’ll catch on eventually. You’re feeding a future adult. And some days, that means accepting that dinner was four crackers and a tantrum.

The Independent Eater Era

They now know what they like — and they're not shy about telling you. Expect strong opinions on texture, colour, and the moral crimes of “green bits” in noodles. At this stage, kids are developing routines, independence, and a touch of flair ("I only eat triangle sandwiches, Mummy") — so let them take small wins where it counts.

 

What to Offer

Think full family-style meals in mini form: rice and steamed fish, veggie soup with noodles, sandwich triangles with fruit, or rice balls with stir-fried chicken. This is a great age to expand their palate with more herbs and spices. Bento-style lunches work wonders — even at home — and so do "build-your-own" meals (e.g. wrap stations, mini nasi lemak, fruit kebab sticks).

​

Let Them Help

This is the golden age for kitchen assistants. Let them wash veggies, stir pancake batter, or scoop rice into bowls. Giving kids a say (within reason) builds confidence and food curiosity. Even having them help set the table makes them more invested in mealtimes — and sometimes, they even eat the food they helped make. Magic!

 

Stay Chill

They might eat everything on Monday and declare a hunger strike by Wednesday. Don’t take it personally. Keep offering variety without pressure, and resist the urge to negotiate (“just two more bites!”). Limit distractions at the table and keep mealtimes short and sweet. If they’re growing well and have energy to climb things you begged them not to, you’re doing fine.

Big Kids, Bigger Appetites

Your child now eats like a vacuum with legs — but also suddenly questions ingredients. ("Mummy, what’s in this... exactly?") Their energy needs are sky-high, but so is their independence. This is the age of lunch trades, peer influence, and weird new food opinions (“I only eat spaghetti, not noodles”). Don’t panic — it’s all part of growing up.

​

Balancing Meals

Offer three solid meals and 1–2 nutritious snacks a day. Think protein + carbs + fruit/veg: chicken rice, pasta with veggies, egg sandwiches, roti canai with dhal and a fruit cup. Healthy swaps help — plain yoghurt over flavoured, air-fried over deep-fried, water over Milo (sometimes). Let them help plan their own lunchboxes — within reason — to encourage smart choices.

​

Food & Identity

Kids this age are becoming body-aware. They notice how they look, how others eat, and start making food rules in their heads. Talk about balance, not “good” vs “bad” food. Encourage meals that make them feel strong, energised, and happy — not guilty. Avoid using food as reward or punishment, and make space for questions about health, weight, and appearance (even if it feels awkward).

 

Feeding Without Nagging

Give them some control, but hold your ground on boundaries. Keep offering fruit, limit ultra-processed snacks, and encourage drinking water first before asking for a third snack. Teach them to make their own toast, prep basic snacks, or pack part of their school bag lunch. You're not raising a menu item critic — you’re raising a capable human. One that hopefully knows how to wash their own dishes someday.

Pink/Blue Book (Child's Health Book) & Supplements

Your child’s Pink Book is the holy grail—track checkups, vaccinations, and all those “should I give vitamin drops?” questions. For supplements, always check with your doctor (not your neighbour’s cousin’s WhatsApp group, definitely not TikTok Influencers/Sellers).

​​

Halal/Haram Notes

Always double check food labels—especially on imported snacks and supplements. Most Malaysian baby food is halal, but you’d be surprised where pork gelatine can sneak in.

​​

Allergens (How & When to Introduce)

Peanuts, seafood, eggs—introduce after 6 months, one at a time. Watch for reactions, but early exposure may reduce allergy risk. Shellfish? Maybe wait till toddlerhood and check with your paediatrician.

​​

Food Safety 101

Don’t leave bubur on the counter all day, no matter what grandma says! Reheat until piping hot, wash hands and utensils, and don’t reuse spoons. Keep it clean, keep it safe.

Stuck? Try This! (Ideas by Age)

0–12 months: Bubur nasi, pureed pumpkin, steamed tofu

1–3 years: Roti canai strips, soft-boiled egg, veggie fritters

4–6 years: Mini nasi lemak (no sambal), chicken porridge, pasta with veggies

7–12 years: DIY sushi rolls, mee hoon soup, sandwich bento

​

Local Food Swaps

Upgrade white bread to wholemeal, swap fried nuggets for homemade strips, nasi lemak minus the sambal with a soft egg, and more.

​

What NOT to Serve (by Age)

Babies <1: No honey, whole nuts, or added salt/sugar

Toddlers: Skip hard sweets and chunky raw veggies

Always: Watch for choking hazards!