Saffi - wrt to iron stores, there is no magic age at which they are depleted. It is generally at some time between 6 and 12 months, and depends on a number of factors including bfing vs ffing (more iron is absorbed from bm than from any other source) and amount of cord blood received (ie if the cord is clamped immediately then baby gets less cord blood and less iron stores). If a baby is running low on iron and needing food, then they will start showing the signs of being ready. If they are not showing the signs then they don't need it.

LS - IKWYM about eating a variety of foods. But IMO exposing them to a good variety of different foods in the first year or so of eating is far more likely to achieve a good eater, than starting earlier. Jack didn't really eat well until nearly 12 months, I tried him but he wasn't interested. Tom started at 6 months and was quickly on 3 meals a day. Both eat a huge variety of foods and I think that's due to the fact that we introduced them to that, and had them eating the same foods as us soon in their eating journeys.

Also, it is about repetition, giving them the same food lots of times, even if they don't like it at first, because often they need to get used to a food before they like it. I have heard the saying that it can take 99 refusals before they eat something, well you'd better believe it. Jack would never eat tomatoes, I lost count of the number of times he flat out refused to try them. Then one day he asked for salad. After I picked myself off the floor I gave him some, he ate it and asked for more. Now tomatoes are one of his favourite foods. If I had have just given him his favourites all the time - yoghurt, cheese and vegemite sandwiches - that's probably all he'd eat now.