Baby

‘Weaning’ is to introduce a range of ‘non milk’ foods gradually until your baby is eating the same foods as the rest of your family. Until 6 months your baby has only needed breast milk or infant formula milk. From about 6 months* your baby has developed so that he or she is able to eat solid foods and your baby now needs more than milk alone can provide.

Try giving solids when your baby can:-

• Sit up
• Shows interest in solid food
• Picks up food and puts in mouth
• Wants to chew and may have teeth
• Appears still hungry even though you have tried increasing milk feeds for a few days
• Is at least 17 weeks old, has doubled his birth weight and weighs over 6.8kg (15lbs).

How to start

• After a milk feed try offering your baby a small amount of baby rice, pureed fruit or vegetable after a feed
• All baby feeding equipment should be sterilised up to 1 year
• If the food is hot make sure you stir and test it before giving it to your baby — test the food on the back of your wrist — never test it with the same spoon you are giving to your baby
• It takes time for a baby to learn how to take food from a spoon, so allow plenty of time and be patient
• Don’t force your baby to eat the food, if your baby does not seem to want the food then try again later
• Wait for your baby to open their mouth before putting the food in
• Introduce a new food type every couple of days and keep a diary so you can see how your baby reacts to each new food
• Give your baby a wide range of food and textures to taste
• Start with a little food and increase the amount as your baby’s appetite does
• Keep a face cloth nearby and be prepared for mess!

First Foods

• Try pureed organic cooked fruit and vegetables such as pear, apple, carrot, sweet potato, swede, green beans & courgette
• Mashed up banana and avocado can also be given
• Try organic baby rice mixed with your usual baby’s milk
• Don’t add salt or sugar to food for your baby

More Foods to try

• From 7 months you should aim towards establishing 3 good solid meals per day
• Aim to introduce a variety of different food groups (carbohydrate, protein, dairy, fruit and vegetables) so that all your baby’s nutritional foods are met
• Babies have small tummies and they need the energy for growth, so make sure dairy products are full fat — such as yoghurt, fromage frais or custard
• As soon as your baby shows interest, allow them to try and feed their selves
• Food should be mashed
• Once your baby is having finger foods (carrot sticks, peeled apple and banana, rice cakes etc) always wash hands before eating and never leave your baby unattended whilst eating
• As the amount of food your baby eats increases you will find that the amount of milk needed is reduced, however continue giving your baby breast milk or infant formula until they are 12 months of age, after this time you can introduce full fat cow’s milk

From 9 months

• Offer your baby 3 to 4 servings of starchy food per day, such as potato, bread and rice and 3 to 4 servings of fruit and vegetables
• Your baby should start to learn to fit in with the family by eating 3 minced or chopped) meals per day
• Your baby should have healthy snacks in between meals — fruit is better than biscuits.
• If you have decided not to give your baby meat or fish then give your baby 2 portions a day of pulses, tofu, soya pieces or eggs
• Foods to avoid — salt, sugar, honey, nuts and low fat foods

*The Department of Health guidelines were published in 2003. They advise exclusive breast feeding for the first 6 months of a baby’s life (i.e. no solids or infant formula). Introducing solids too early can put a strain on the immature gut and kidneys. Many experts believe that introducing solids before the baby’s digestive system is ready to cope is related to the massive increase in allergies over the past 20 years. If you are thinking about weaning prior to 6 months please consult your GP.