Guide to Weaning Foods for New Parents

Weaning is the process of introducing your baby to solid foods, alongside their usual breast milk or formula milk. It is an important milestone for your baby's growth and development, as well as a fun and exciting time for you and your baby to explore new tastes and textures.

However, weaning can also be challenging and confusing for new parents, especially if you are not sure when, how and what to feed your baby. That's why we have created this guide to help you with some of the most common questions and concerns about weaning.

In this guide, you will learn about:

• Ideal weaning time
• Signs that your baby is ready for weaning
• Baby's first solid food
• Correct spoon-feeding technique
• Timing for two meals a day
• Fixing a regular time for solid food feeding
• Baby-led weaning
• Weaning foods to avoid
• Weaning meal ideas

You can use the table of contents below to jump to any section you are interested in. We hope this guide will make your weaning journey easier and more enjoyable!

Table of Contents

1. Ideal Weaning Time
2. Signs that Your Baby is Ready for Weaning
3. Baby's First Solid Food
4. Correct Spoon-Feeding Technique
5. Timing for Two Meals a Day
6. Fixing a Regular Time for Solid Food Feeding

Ideal Weaning Time

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life, and then introduced to complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding until at least two years of age.

This means that the ideal time to start weaning your baby is around six months old. However, this is not a fixed rule, as every baby is different and may be ready for weaning earlier or later than others.

The most important thing is to look for signs that your baby is developmentally ready for solid foods, rather than relying on their age or weight alone.

Signs that Your Baby is Ready for Weaning

How do you know if your baby is ready for weaning? There are three main signs that indicate that your baby is developmentally ready for solid foods:

• Stable neck support. Your baby can hold their head up and control their neck movements, which is essential for swallowing solid foods.
• Can sit with support. Your baby can sit upright in a high chair or on your lap, with minimal or no support from cushions or pillows. This helps them to keep their airway open and prevent choking.
• Shows interest in adults eating and drools at the sight. Your baby watches you eat with curiosity and tries to grab your food or utensils. They may also drool more than usual or make chewing motions with their mouth.

Once your baby shows these signs, you can choose a relaxed day to introduce their first solid food. However, if your baby does not show these signs by six months, you should still start offering them some solid foods, as they may need extra nutrients that are not provided by milk alone.

Baby's First Solid Food

When you start introducing solid foods to your baby, you may wonder what kind of foods are suitable and how to prepare them. According to the NHS, the best weaning foods for your baby are soft, mashed, or pureed fruits and vegetables, such as carrot, apple, pear, banana, avocado, or sweet potato. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and have a natural sweetness that babies enjoy.

You can also offer your baby some baby rice or baby cereal mixed with your baby’s usual milk. These foods are fortified with iron, which is important for your baby’s growth and development1. However, you should not give your baby any other cereals, such as oats, wheat, or barley, until they are six months old, as they may contain gluten, which can cause allergic reactions or digestive problems in some babies.

To prepare your baby’s first solid food, you will need a blender, a steamer, a saucepan, a spoon, and some small containers or ice cube trays. Here are some steps to follow:

1. Wash, peel, and chop the fruit or vegetable of your choice into small pieces.
2. Steam or boil the pieces until they are soft and tender. Steaming is preferable, as it preserves more nutrients and flavor than boiling.
3. Blend the cooked pieces with a little water or your baby’s usual milk until you get a smooth puree. You can also mash the pieces with a fork if you prefer a chunkier texture.
4. Let the puree cool down before feeding it to your baby with a soft-tipped spoon. You can also freeze the puree in small portions for later use. Just make sure to thaw and reheat it thoroughly before feeding it to your baby.

You can start with one or two teaspoons of puree once a day, and gradually increase the amount and frequency as your baby gets used to solid foods. You can also mix different fruits and vegetables together to create new flavors and textures for your baby. For example, you can try apple and pear, carrot and sweet potato, or banana and avocado.

Some recent studies have suggested that introducing allergenic foods, such as eggs, peanuts, fish, or dairy, to your baby early (around four to six months) may help prevent food allergies later in life. However, you should always consult your doctor before giving your baby any of these foods, and watch for any signs of allergic reactions, such as rash, swelling, vomiting, or difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, stop feeding your baby the food and seek medical attention immediately.

Correct Spoon-Feeding Technique

Spoon-feeding is a common method of introducing solid foods to infants. However, it is important to use the correct technique to avoid choking, gagging, or overfeeding. Here are some steps to follow when spoon-feeding your baby:

1. Prepare the food: Choose a smooth, pureed food that is easy to swallow, such as mashed banana, cooked apple, or rice cereal. Make sure the food is at room temperature or slightly warm, not hot. Use a small, soft-tipped spoon that fits your baby’s mouth.
2. Offer the spoon: Scoop a small amount of food onto the spoon, about half a teaspoon. Hold the spoon near your baby’s mouth and gently touch the spoon to their lower lip. This will help them notice the food and open their mouth. Do not force the spoon into their mouth or scrape it against their teeth or gums.
3. Let your baby take the food: Wait for your baby to open their mouth and show interest in the food. Then, place the spoon on their lower lip and let them close their mouth around it. Keep the spoon horizontal and let your baby use their tongue to move the food to the back of their mouth. Do not tilt the spoon or push the food into their mouth.
4. Withdraw the spoon: Once your baby has taken the food, slowly pull the spoon out of their mouth. Make sure to keep the spoon level and avoid scraping any food off their tongue. Praise your baby and smile to encourage them to eat more.

Repeat these steps until your baby shows signs of being full, such as turning their head away, closing their mouth, or pushing the spoon away. Follow your baby’s cues and do not force them to eat more than they want. Always offer breast milk or formula before or after the solid food, as this is still their main source of nutrition

Timing for Two Meals a Day

At the beginning of weaning, your baby will only need a small amount of solid food, so you can continue to offer the same amount of milk as before. However, as your baby’s appetite and intake of solid food increase, you may need to adjust the timing and amount of milk feeds accordingly. A general guideline is to offer solid food 15-30 minutes before the milk feed, so that your baby is not too hungry or too full to try new foods. However, you should also follow your baby’s cues and preferences, as some babies may prefer to have milk first or to have solid food and milk together. The important thing is to make sure your baby gets enough nutrition and hydration from both sources.

According to the NHS, most babies are ready to have two meals a day by the time they are around six to seven months old. However, this may vary depending on your baby’s development and interest in food. Some signs that your baby may benefit from having two meals a day are:

• They finish their first meal quickly and seem to want more
• They show signs of hunger soon after their first meal
• They are less interested in their milk feeds or drink less than before

Remember to always supervise your baby when they are eating, and to offer them water in a cup or beaker with their meals. You can also encourage your baby to feed themselves with their fingers or a spoon, as this will help them develop their motor skills and independence. However, do not force your baby to eat more than they want, or to try foods that they do not like. Respect your baby’s appetite and preferences, and let them enjoy the weaning journey at their own pace.

Fixing a Regular Time for Solid Food Feeding

Establishing a regular time for solid food feeding can help your baby develop healthy eating habits and adjust to different textures and flavors. According to a recent study, infants who were introduced to solid foods at a consistent time of day had higher acceptance of new foods and lower fussiness than those who were fed at irregular times.

To avoid potential allergic reactions to new foods, it is advisable to introduce them in the morning, when you can monitor your baby’s response more easily. You should feed only one new food at a time, and wait for at least three days before introducing another one. This way, you can identify the culprit if your baby develops any symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting, rash, or wheezing.

If you prefer to feed solid food in the evening, make sure you do so at least two hours before bedtime, as feeding too late can interfere with your baby’s sleep quality and digestion. You can also offer your baby some water after the meal to prevent dehydration and constipation.

Remember, solid food is complementary to breast milk or formula, not a replacement. You should continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby on demand, as breast milk or formula provides most of the nutrients and calories your baby needs until one year of age.

References

1: NHS - Your baby’s first solid foods

2: Mayo Clinic - Solid foods: How to get your baby started 3: BBC Good Food - How to steam fruit and vegetables for baby-led weaning 4: Greer et al. (2019) - The Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children: The Role of Maternal Dietary Restriction, Breastfeeding, Hydrolyzed Formulas, and Timing of Introduction of Allergenic Complementary Foods 5: Perkin et al. (2016) - Randomized Trial of Introduction of Allergenic Foods in Breast-Fed Infants

3: How to start solid foods, NHS, 2020.

4: Feeding your baby: 6–12 months, UNICEF, 2018. 4: How to spoon-feed your baby, Raising Children Network, 2020. 5: Complementary feeding, WHO, 2020.

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