We can start her on plain mashed sweet potato, boiled or steamed until it is very soft, then mashed smooth so it stays on the spoon without running off. If it feels thick or dry, you can loosen it with a little of your breastmilk, formula, or water to a soft, scoopable mash.

You can also stir a little of it through a food she already takes. Keep it plain: no added salt until she turns one, no added sugar before she is two, and no honey before her first birthday, since it can cause botulism, a serious illness in babies. Just a spoonful or two to start, then let her appetite lead.

Now she can pick up soft-cooked sweet potato herself, as bite-size pieces or soft wedges about half an inch wide. Cook them soft enough to squash easily between your fingers, so they stay gentle on her gums.

Picking the pieces up is good practice for her pincer grasp, where her thumb and finger learn to meet. A firm or undercooked piece is what makes her gag, so keep them soft and give just a few at a time. She can still have her smooth mash alongside, whichever she takes to that day.

By a year, sweet potato is just part of what the whole family eats. Serve it as soft wedges or bite-size pieces from the same pot, mashed only if she needs it. This is also a good age to let her practise with a fork.

Keep the pieces soft enough to squash, since bigger firm pieces are harder for her to manage. She decides how much now, alongside everything else on her plate.