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As a child gets older, milk alone cannot provide all the nutrients they need for both growth and development and hence it is recommended to gradually introduce other foods into their diet. This should help clarify some of the common issues that cause concern for parents, with regards to the weaning process.
When should I start to wean? It is recommended to start weaning between the ages of 4 – 6 months.
Your child might be ready to start weaning if: - They still seem hungry after a milk feed
- They start waking during the night again, if they have normally been sleeping through
- They want to be fed more often
- They show an interest in food bt reaching out or watching others
If you start giving your child weaning foods too early, their stomach and kidneys may not be developed enough to cope. There is also a risk of developing an allergy to certain foods. If you do not start to give your child weaning foods before they are 6 months, they may find it more difficult to progress their feeding behaviour e.g. learning to bite and chew. How should I start to wean? - Start with 1 teaspoon of suitable food e.g. baby rice, fruit and vegetable purees. Move onto meat, fish and pulse purees after 2 – 3 weeks.
- Feed your child either in the middle or at the end of a milk feed.
- Choose a time when you are relaxed, have plenty of time and when your child is hungry.
- Give a little food on the tip of a clean plastic spoon and let your child suck it off.
- Go at the child’s pace.
- Introduce one new food every 3 – 4 days and gradually increase the amount you give.
- As the amount of food your child takes, gradually reduce the number of milk feeds they have. Remember up to the age of 5 years, children should have 1 pint of milk a day.
Remember
It is normal for your child to spit and dribble the food out at first. Your child will take time to learn to take food from a spoon. Your baby may cry between spoonfuls as they have been used to a continued flow of milk. What equipment do I need? Simple utensils such as a fork, sieve and spoon are all that is needed to prepare most foods. Some people may like a mouli grater or liquidiser/ food processor if they have them. You will also need a plastic spoon and shallow plastic bowl which can be sterilised. Safety tips - NEVER leave your child alone with food
- Do not add solids to a bottle
- Sterilise all feeding utensils and bowls until your child is at least 6 months
- Always wash your hands before preparing food or feeding your baby
- Ensure all work surface are clean before you prepare food
- Store food at the correct temperatures
- Throw away any half eaten food
- Do not reheat food more than once
Can I freeze food? When preparing your own foods for weaning it is easier to prepare large quantities. Most foods will freeze well except banana, melon and baby rice. After food is cooked, divide it into suitable portion sizes, cover and leave to cool thoroughly before freezing. NEVER put warm food in the freezer. For young children, freeze in small quantities, in a sterilised ice cube tray. Once frozen transfer into bags labelled with the date by which the food should be used. As your child gets older freeze food in plastic dishes e.g. yoghurt pots covered with foil. Again label pots with use by date. Foods should keep for the following length of time in the freezer: - Fruit and vegetable 6 months
- Fish, chicken and meat 4 months
- Purees with milk 4 – 6 weeks
To thaw frozen foods, either - Remove from the freezer several hours before it is required.
or
- Heat gently in a heatproof container in a saucepan of hot water.
Do not defrost in a microwave How do I reheat food? ALWAYS reheat food thoroughly
And ALWAYS test the temperature before giving it to your child WARNING!
Using a microwave oven for reheating food for your baby is not recommended as it can cause uneven heating. If you must use a microwave always stir food during cooking to ensure an even distribution of heat and ALWAYS check the temperature before giving it to your child. Can I use commercial baby foods? There is a wide range of jars, tins and packets of baby foods available. These can be useful if you are out for a day or on holiday but try to use home prepared food most of the time as they often contain high levels of salt and sugar. If you do use tins, packets or jars, follow the storage advice on labels carefully. How quickly should I be making progress? - After a few weeks of having solids at one meal, try offering a second meal, then a third after another 2 – 3 weeks. This will encourage your baby to fit in with your family meal times.
- Gradually make the purees thicker and lumpier.
By the age of 7 - 9 months - Start to introduce finger foods. Try foods which are soft or easy to chew e.g. banana, pear, melon, cooked carrots, bread, bread sticks.
- Always stay with your child in case of choking.
- Start to introduce a wider variety of foods e.g. breakfast cereals, pasta.
- Try giving finely minced, rather than pureed food.
- You can still use recipes for younger children by changing texture, in other words mince, rather than puree.
By the age of 9 – 12 months - Start to give chopped food and harder finger foods e.g. raw vegetables, apple and sandwiches.
It is important that by this age your child is having a wide variety of foods, similar to the rest of the family. To ensure your baby is having a balanced diet try to include foods from each of these groups daily. | Meat and alternatives | Bread and cereals | | Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, pulses, tofu, nuts (finely ground), TVP, seeds, Soya products | Bread, rice, cereals, pasta, chapatti | | Fruit and vegetables | Milk and milk products | | Apples, bananas, fruit juice, carrots, cauliflower, tomato | Milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais |
By the age of 1 year - Your child should be joining in with family meals, 3 times a day with drinks and snacks between.
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