helpful tips, good advice and a few essential items to help you introduce your baby to solid foodsWeaning is when you gradually introduce solid, non-milk foods into your baby's diet. It's a big step for your little one, and needs to be handled slowly and carefully. Experts currently recommend that you start at 6 months- at this age babies can be easily moved onto a mixed diet. If in doubt, your health visitor can also advise you.
What you may need
- Steriliser - to sterilise beaker tops and spoons etc
- Beakers x 2
- Bowls 2
- Weaning spoons x 6
- Bibs x 6
Splash mat- Highchair
- Harness
- Food storage containers
- Food hand blender
- Cool travel bag for food
- Plenty of wipes and tissues
- Mashed (cooked) vegetables e.g. carrot, sweet potato, broccoli
- Mashed fruit e.g. banana or cooked / pureed apricots, apple or pear
- Do not add any salt or sugar
- Milk is still an important part of your baby's diet, so carry on breastfeeding or giving formula. As your baby eats more solid food, his / her milk intake will continue to decrease
Introduce finger foods - these encourage your baby to chew, even if they don't have teeth yet. Try cooked vegatables e.g. carrot sticks, green beans - or cubes of cheese, toast, strips of pitta bread
- Your little one will be eating about three meals a day
- They'll be enjoying a similar diet to the rest of the family
- Remember, there's still no need to add salt or sugar
- Never leave your baby alone when eating or drinking
- Allow plenty of time for feeding
- Try to choose a time of day when your baby is relaxed and talk to your baby quietly - to help encourage eating
- Try to relax yourself and don't worry if your baby is not interested at first - simply try again later or on the next day
If you have been breastfeeding, introduct a beaker or cup rather than a bottle- Water is the best alternative to milk
- Let your baby touch his or her food (this natural curiosity will help your child to enjoy food)
- Sit and eat with baby at meal times as they copy you and it makes the event more sociable and relaxed
- If your baby won't take food from a spoon try a little on your clean finger
- Avoid sweet biscuits and rusks
- Salt
- Sugar
- Honey (until over 1 year)
- Nuts - not until your child is over 6 years old due to the high risk of choking. If allergies run in the family avoid all nut products
Low fat foods - not suitable for those under 2 years old- Cow's milk (until over 1 years old unless cooking with it)
- Soft unpasturised cheeses
- Citrus and fruit juices
- Raw / soft boiled eggs
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