Carrot rice pilaf

Fully softened rice grains.

Serve with a spoon.

The rice is never left with a bite — it is cooked until completely soft.

Cooked rice has its own stricter rule: cool it within 1 hour, refrigerate it and eat it within 24 hours. Never reheat rice more than once; when you do reheat it, heat until steaming hot all the way through, then let it cool before serving. Throw away a half-eaten portion rather than storing or reheating it.

Your child should be sitting upright and someone should stay with them while they eat — never while walking, running or in a moving car. No salt or sugar is added to these recipes. Round foods such as grapes, cherry tomatoes and olives are still always quartered lengthways at this age. Whole nuts and popcorn are never given, though nuts can be used ground or as a smooth butter. Egg, meat and fish must be cooked all the way through, and unpasteurised dairy is not used. Check fish carefully for bones. Children of the same age do not eat the same amount and appetite varies from day to day — follow your child's lead rather than pushing. If your child has an allergy, eczema, or a family history of allergy, talk to your GP or health visitor before introducing new foods. Introduce foods that can trigger an allergic reaction one at a time and in small amounts, so you can spot any reaction.