🍼 Guide · 2026-04-27
Korean Baby Food (Iyusik) — Stage-by-Stage Start Guide (2026)
A one-page reference for Korean baby-food stages — early / mid / late / completion — with foods, allergens, and timing per the 2025 Korean Pediatric Society guidance.
Stages at a glance
| Stage | Months | Frequency | Texture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early | 4–6 | 1×/day | Thin slurry |
| Mid | 7–8 | 2×/day | Porridge (5:1) |
| Late | 9–11 | 3×/day | Thick porridge (3:1) |
| Completion | 12–15 | 3 meals + snacks | Soft rice |
Readiness signals: head control, sitting, loss of tongue-thrust reflex, interest in food. Under 4 months is too early — gut isn't ready.
Recommended foods by stage
Early (4–6 mo)
- Rice slurry (3-week adaptation)
- 1 new food per week: pumpkin, sweet potato, cucumber, carrot, pear, apple
- Allergens can start now (ESPGHAN 2025 guidance):
- Egg yolk (small amount)
- Ground nut paste
Mid (7–8 mo)
- Proteins: chicken breast, beef, white fish
- Tofu, full egg
- Leafy greens (spinach, bok choy)
Late (9–11 mo)
- Whole grains (brown rice, barley, oats)
- Legumes (soybeans, lentils)
- Dairy (yogurt, cheese; whole milk after 12 mo)
Completion (12–15 mo)
- Family meals (soft rice + sides)
- Whole cow's milk OK
- Self-feeding / partial BLW
Foods to avoid / watch
- Avoid: honey under 12 mo, raw cow's milk under 12 mo, undercooked egg
- Caution: introduce shellfish / nuts on a weekday morning (ER access)
- Sodium: under 1g/day (≤1 yr), under 2g/day (1–3 yr)
Self-check
- [ ] All 4 readiness signals at 4–6 mo
- [ ] 1 new food per week
- [ ] New foods on weekday mornings
- [ ] Monitor for allergic reaction (rash / vomit / diarrhea) 24h
- [ ] Step formula/breast down: 750 → 600 → 500 → 400 mL
Daily quantity
Use the Feeding & Iyusik Calculator to compute daily volume by age + weight.
FAQ
- Q. Store-bought vs homemade? → Nutritionally similar. Store-bought is consistent; homemade gives ingredient control. Mix both.
- Q. Family allergy history — delay introduction? → Opposite. Earlier introduction at 4–6 mo reduces allergy (LEAP study).
- Q. Baby refuses? → Pause one week, retry. Don't force. If 6+ months of refusal, see pediatrician.
Related tools
Bottom line
The pillars are 4 readiness signals + 1 food per week + weekday-morning intros. Start allergens at 4–6 months proactively — the new evidence supports it.