What is weaning?

Weaning is the gradual process that begins when you start to introduce solid foods into your baby’s diet. Throughout the weaning process milk will continue to be an important food in your baby's diet but gradually the amount, variety and texture of foods eaten increases. By about their first birthday your baby will be able to eat much the same as the rest of the family, but will still be taking about 1 pint of milk a day.

Why do babies need to be weaned?

Until six months, your baby only needs breast milk or infant formula but as your baby starts to grow milk alone cannot satisfy all their nutritional needs. Their stores of nutrients, such as iron, start to run out which is why you need to start introducing other foods. Moving on to more solid foods also helps develop the muscles necessary for chewing and eventually speech.

Weaning usually begins around 6 months, but the exact age depends entirely on the individual baby. Every baby is different and what suits one baby isn't necessarily right for another.

How will you know when the time is right?

If your baby still seems hungry after a good milk feed, or wants to feed more frequently than usual, or starts waking at night when previously he/she has slept through, it is often a sign they are ready for solids. If you are in any doubt discuss the matter with your health visitor. There’s no advantage in weaning a baby earlier than necessary. In fact there are several, very good reasons why the early introduction of solids is not a good idea.  Before the age of 6 months a baby's digestive system may not have developed sufficiently to allow him/her to cope with foods other than breast or formula milk. Early weaning may also increase the risk of food allergy.

Babies under the age of four months (17 weeks) should not be given solid food, if you want to start weaning before 6 months.

If your baby was premature talk to your health visitor about the right age to start weaning.

Home-made or manufactured foods?

Whether you choose to use home-made or manufactured foods depends entirely on your personal preference. Most mothers use a combination, simply because it’s more practical. Home-made food can be more economical, but it can be frustrating to spend time and energy preparing home-made food only for it possibly to be rejected after one or two spoonfuls. Manufactured weaning foods are convenient, quick and easy to prepare.

What about milk feeds?

During the early stages of weaning solids are given in addition to the normal quantity of milk feeds. As your baby starts to eat larger amounts you can gradually cut down on the milk feeds. But remember be guided by your baby, if he/she seems to need a small milk feed after the main meal let him/her have it.

As weaning progresses, the requirement for breast milk or infant formula is reduced, although milk remains an important part of a young child's diet.

Cow’s milk can be introduced after the age of 6 months, but the Department of Health recommends that breast or formula milk is preferable for the first year of life. A good compromise is to use cow's milk for cooking and adding to cereals and formula or breast for drinking. When cow's milk is introduced into the diet it should be full fat  (red or silver top) rather than skimmed or semi-skimmed. Growing babies and toddlers need lots of calories and so low fat milks are not suitable. Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced after the age of 2 years if your child has a good appetite and a varied diet and skimmed milk after the age of 5 again if the child is eating well. Before you introduce either it’s best to discuss it with your health visitor. Milk should be pasteurised, unpasteurised milk should never be used for babies.

After six months you can introduce a follow-on milk. These have been specially designed to meet the increased nutritional needs of older babies, they contain more iron, vitamin D and less saturated fat than whole cow's milk. In this country they are not recommended to replace infant formula before the age of 6 months but else where in Europe the recommendation is from 4-6 months.

Healthy eating

Although it's never too early to begin thinking about a healthy diet babies and young children have small stomachs and high energy and nutrient requirements. High fibre, low fat diets can make it difficult for them to eat enough to meet their needs.

Stage 1: Introduction of solids, usually around 4-6 months depending on your individual baby's needs (check with your health visitor)

The first foods introduced need to be pureed or sieved to give a thin smooth consistency. Pureed fruit or vegetables are ideal or baby rice mixed with either expressed breast milk, formula milk or cooled boiled water.

Try:

• baby rice mixed with expressed breast or formula milk
• sieved or pureed fruit (eg stewed apple, pear)
• sieved or pureed vegetables (carrot, cauliflower, potato, swede, parsnip)
• well mashed banana or avocado pear
• stage1 manufactured weaning foods

Stage 2: Anytime between 5-7 months depending on your individual baby's needs (check with your health visitor)

You can now start to introduce foods with a thicker consistency and a lumpier texture. By now your child should be taking solids at three meals each day. Increase the variety of foods offered and start to combine more food tastes, for example, baby rice with stewed apple. From about 6 months you can introduce wheat based cereals, well cooked egg, cheese and yoghurt into the diet. About now your child should be ready to take fluids from a feeder cup or beaker. Start by introducing a beaker or cup at one meal, choose a time when your baby is relaxed and happy. During feeding always make sure your baby is strapped securely into a high chair or other seat, using both waist and shoulder straps.

Try

• pureed meat, white fish (watch out for bones), poultry, pulses (peas, beans and lentils)
• sieved or pureed fruit or vegetables
• mashed potato
• well cooked eggs (eggs should be cooked until the yolk and white are solid)
• yoghurt, fromage frais
• grated cheese, sieved cottage cheese
• wheat-based cereals  eg ready brek, weetabix

Stage 3: Anytime between 7-8 months depending on your individual baby's needs (check with your health visitor)

If your baby seems ready you can now move onto mashed, minced or finely chopped foods. Your baby may spit out the lumps at first but gradually he will learn to chew them. Offer finger foods such as chunks of peeled apple, carrot stick, rusks or pieces of toast. It's important to let your baby join in with feeding, it can be a very messy business so do be prepared. Don't be afraid to let your baby get messy; it's inevitable. Wait until he has finished the meal before cleaning him up. Constantly wiping a baby's face can be frustrating for him and make mealtimes less enjoyable. Give your baby a spoon to encourage him to feed himself. Use a collecting bib to help cut down on the mess.

Try not to rush meal times, it might be a good idea to make yourself a sandwich at the same time as your baby is having his meal so that mealtimes become a family occasion.

At about this age, babies start to learn that refusing food is a good way of getting mother's attention, so don't let them see that their not eating worries you. Don't allow meal times to turn into a battle of wills.

Try

• Finger foods, eg chunks of fruit (peeled apple, banana, pear)
• low sugar rusks
• baked bread fingers
• toast, pitta bread
• chunks of cheese
• carrot or celery sticks
• fingers of cucumber
• pasta

Stage 4: Anytime between 9-12 months depending on your individual baby's needs (check with your health visitor)

By the end of this stage your baby will be able to eat a mixed diet, providing that everything is chopped. Try to give plenty of variety - eating a varied diet is the best way to ensure that your baby gets all the nutrients he needs. To ensure a balanced diet include foods from each of the following groups:

• Group 1: bread, rice, cereals, pasta, potatoes,
• Group 2: fruit, vegetables, fruit juice.
• Group 3: meat, fish, eggs, pulses (peas, beans and lentils), tofu
• Group 4: milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais

(Until the age of 5 years babies and children need approximately 1 pint of milk a day. Continue with breast milk or infant formula or after 6 months use a follow on milk).

From the age of about 9 months your babies meal times can be adjusted to fit in which the normal family meals.  Sharing family meals will allow your baby to enjoy social contact with the rest of the family and provides a good opportunity to learn social skills and table manners.

Weaning Tips

• Never leave your baby alone while he is eating because of the risk of choking.
• First foods introduced should have a bland taste and a thin smooth consistency (just slightly thicker than milk).
• Start by offering small amounts, about 1-2 teaspoons of pureed or sieved foods, part way through a milk feed.
• Introduce one new food at a time and continue with this for two or three days so that you can monitor any reaction.
• Choose a time of the day when you are more relaxed and have time to spare.
• Do not try to introduce new foods if your baby is tired, over hungry or teething.
• Never put rusk or cereal or any other food into the bottle
• Gluten should not be introduced until after the age of 6 months.
• Never add salt or sugar to foods for babies, even if the food tastes bland to you it will be fine for your baby.
• Offer cooled boiled water to drink in between feeds if necessary.
• Encourage fluids to be taken from a feeder beaker from the age of 5-6 months