Weaning is the process of introducing other food and drinks to the baby other than breast milk or formula. The Department of Health (2008) recommendations are:

• Breast milk is the best form of nutrients for infants.
• Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months (26 weeks) of an infant’s life.
• Six months (26 weeks) is the recommended age for the introduction of solid foods.

By about 6 months the baby needs more than breastmilk or formula alone. Therefore you need to start introducing other foods. Parents can find weaning difficult, but here are a few tips to help you understand a little more about it.



READY TO WEAN?



Signs of readiness to move onto a mixed diet include:-

• An ability to sit up,
• Showing an interest in solid foods,
• Picking up food and putting it into his /her mouth,
• Wanting to chew,
• The appearance of teeth,
• An increase in appetite.

A time should be chosen to suit both you and baby and when you are both relaxed and the child is not too tired. Your baby should be in a highchair to feed, and should never be left alone.



WHAT TO OFFER AS FIRST FOODS



Mashed food



Try offering fruit and vegetables that have been mashed. By using home cooked foods your baby will get used to the taste better. Food that has been cooked can be stored in a sealed container and put in a fridge for 24 hours and it can also be made up and frozen. Mashed foods can be given on a spoon but NEVER by bottle.



Finger foods



Some babies enjoy picking up and playing with their food. This can be messy but it helps babies learn to grasp things with their hands. A few finger foods can be placed on the tray of the highchair for them to try. These can include:-

• Slices of soft fruit – banana, pear, peaches and melon
• Rice cakes
• Pitta bread
• Toast
• Cooked pasta shapes
• Cubes of cheese
• Cooked vegetable pieces – green beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, carrot, and courgette.

These foods are usually sucked rather than chewed at first. Although there is little chance of them choking, they should always be supervised. Therefore it is a good idea to try and feed them whilst you are sat at the table having your meal.



FOOD FROM 6 MONTHS



From 6 months your baby needs extra iron, so it is important to add these to his/her diet gradually. These foods include:-

• Red meat (beef, lamb and pork)
• Dark poultry meat (chicken legs and thighs, white meat such as chicken breast has less)
• Fortified breakfast cereal
• Lentils and other pulses
• Dried fruit (apricots, raisins and sultanas)
• Green leafy vegetables

FOOD FROM 9 MONTHS



At this time, babies will move from minced or mashed to chopped foods and the variety of food increases. The amount of breast feeds will continue to reduce. Infants should be eating a mixed diet including three meals a day.

The Department of Health (2006) advise offering 3 to 4 servings of starchy foods each day (potato, bread, rice) and 3 to 4 servings of fruit and/or vegetables.



FOODS TO AVOID



Foods that commonly cause allergies (milk, eggs, peanuts, nuts, seeds, fish and shellfish) should be introduced slowly if there is a family history of eczema, asthma or hayfever.

Foods containing added salt or sugar, honey, tea and coffee, low fat foods, and raw egg should not be given before the age of one to any child.It is recommended that whole nuts are not given to a child under 5 years of age due to the risk of choking.



For further information on weaning, speak to your health visitor