What is weaning? weaning is the gradual introduction of a wide range of foods, until baby is eating the same foods as the family. The following FAQ's provide additional information. 

When to wean?

Up until six months of age, breast or formula milk is nutritionally complete and she does not need any other food. Much research has been undertaken to decide when is the best age to start weaning. This research showed that the best age is around six months. Under this age your baby's digestive system is not mature enough and early weaning may lead to infections and allergies. Offer solid foods when baby can reach out and grab things, when she wants to chew and puts things in her mouth and when she is able to sit up.

What if my baby appears hungry?

If your baby is under six months of age and appears more hungry than usual, this may be due to a growth spurt. Offering extra breast or formula at this time will satisfy her.

Starting weaning

At first baby will not realise that solid food will fill her up and therefore may cry if you offer it to her when she is very hungry. Try offering the food in the middle of a milk food. If she is tired, she will want the comfort of sucking and may refuse solids. It doesn't really matter which meal you start with, but it needs to be a time when you are not rushing and when baby is not tired. In the beginning weaning is more about baby experiencing different tastes and textures and how to feed from a spoon. The best place to offer solid food is in a high chair. It's also worth while letting baby touch the food; it's a bit messy but helps her to become familiar with the food.

Start with just one meal per day and you only need to offer a few teaspoons.
If she doesn't want it, don't worry, just try again later or the next day.

Try starting with mashed vegetables (root veg are the best to start with), or mashed fruit. As your baby will be six months, she will be able to chew soft foods and therefore mashing rather than liquidising is fine.

Once baby is enjoying the fruit and vegetables, try introducing a more varied diet. Now try full fat dairy products, meat and fish, rice, pasta and noodles. As soon as possible offer her family foods. As a rule once weaning is established, you don't have to cook special meals for baby. Offer her the same meal as the rest of the family. This does have to be home cooked and not have any added salt or sugar.

Are home cooked foods best?

Making your own meals means that you know exactly what went into it and you have total control over what your baby is eating. You can choose the best and freshest ingredients and you can change the textures as she develops. We'd all love enough time to prepare freshly prepared food each day, but since we're living in the real world we need to be realistic. Try to make life as easy as possible for yourself. Each time you prepare a meal, make extra and freeze it. You can soon build up a supply of frozen meals, which are ready in minutes. Food can be stored in the freezer for up to a month. Make use of frozen vegetables, they are just as nutritious as fresh and there's no preparation. Baby jars can be useful at times, but use them occasionally and offer home cooked foods routinely.

Foods to avoid?

Under the age of 1 year baby should not be given salt, sugar, or honey. Don't give children under 5 whole nuts or peanuts because of the risk of choking. Also avoid runny eggs, but fully cooked eggs are fine.

How much should I offer?

Be guided by your baby. If she is clamping her mouth shut or turning her head away, she is telling you she's had enough. If she appears to become distressed when you remove the bowl, you know to offer more. Once she is used to her one meal per day, introduce the second and then the third.

How much milk should my baby drink?

Initially offering solids wont have a big impact on her milk intake, but as you increase the quantity of solid food she should naturally reduce her milk intake. However, some babies need a bit of encouragement to do this. If your baby continues to drink large volumes of milk, just offer her less milk. When a baby is on three meals a day, she needs between 16 and 21oz of milk. If you are still breastfeeding it's usually about 4 feeds, but this can vary between babies. Continue to breast feed or formula feed up until your baby is 1-year-old and then offer full fat cows milk. The benefits of breastfeeding carry on and therefore continue to do so for as long as you want to. Full fat cows milk can be used in cooking and in food from six months, e.g. in porridge.

Finger Foods?

Finger foods can be offered from about seven months. Ideas for finger foods are toast, bread, part boiled carrot sticks, and banana. Babies can choke, so never leave your baby whilst she is feeding and be especially careful with hard foods.