In Korea, we traditionally begin weaning at exactly six months of age—and we don’t start with purées. Instead, we begin with “baekmi-mi-eum (흰쌀미음),” a super watery rice porridge made from white rice. The texture is so runny that it nearly drips off the spoon.
💧 Gradually Thickening the Texture
As the baby gets used to swallowing solids, the consistency is slowly thickened—from watery rice water to soft rice porridge. By around 8–9 months (known as the “mid-weaning” stage), Korean babies start eating soft gruels with tiny visible grains—what’s sometimes referred to as “jook” (죽).
While many Western countries begin with vegetable purées, Korean moms tend to believe in starting with rice-based foods, considering rice a gentle and traditional first step for sensitive stomachs.
🥣 Ingredients Commonly Used at 6 Months
Once babies tolerate plain white rice, Korean moms slowly introduce new ingredients one by one. This helps monitor any allergic reactions. Here are some of the common beginner-friendly ingredients:
- White rice (soaked overnight, blended, then boiled)
- Sweet pumpkin (boiled and strained)
- Zucchini (peeled and finely grated or mashed)
- Carrots (well-cooked and blended)
- Broccoli florets (steamed and mashed)
- Potatoes (boiled and strained)
- Apples or pears (steamed or grated for natural sweetness)
Most moms avoid salt, sugar, soy sauce, and processed stock at this stage. If any flavoring is used, it’s typically in the form of homemade seafood broth packs made with dried anchovies, kelp, and onions — but even that is usually reserved for mid-stage weaning (8 months and beyond).
🍼 Milk Still Comes First
A key belief in Korean weaning culture is that solid food is only for practice at first. Until 9–10 months, formula or breast milk remains the baby’s main source of nutrition. If a baby refuses solids or shows signs of stress, it’s considered perfectly normal to go slowly and not force it.
Even when we started solids, my baby was still drinking formula 5–6 times a day. We only treated solid food as a way to explore textures and flavors—not as a full meal.
💡 Mom Tip
The most important part of early weaning in Korea is observation and pacing. Korean moms often keep a weaning diary to log what the baby ate, how they reacted, and what texture worked best. Some even take photos of each meal to review their progress!
Shipping starts within 3–4 days from Korea.
