Rice and maize do not contain gluten. New foods including vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products and fruit can be introduced slowly. Many parents find it convenient to buy these already prepared as 'baby dinners' or 'baby foods', but some prefer to make them up in their own kitchen. As the baby gets older, the texture of the food needs to change so that the child learns to chew. Salt should not be added to foods prepared for infants and a small amount of sugar should be used only if needed for palatability, eg with sour fruits.
Most food needs to be softened by cooking and then pureed, mashed or chopped.
It is important to ensure that the diet given during weaning contains enough iron, in a form that can be easily absorbed. Meat and meat products are good sources of iron. The iron in plant foods is less well absorbed but absorption is improved by eating these foods with others that provide vitamin C, eg fruit juices, fruit or vegetables. Many commercial baby foods are fortified with iron to help overcome this problem. Infants receiving at least 500ml of infant formula daily do not require these vitamin drops since they are already added to the formula and will be sufficient for the baby's needs.