Weaning

The idea of weaning your baby is to progress them from a milk-based diet to more substantial, yet equally nutritious foods.

Get them on the hard stuff

Weaning your baby from the bottle or the breast can start from six months onwards.

The milk your baby has been drinking is the only food he'll have needed - but from six months, he'll need more iron and nutrients than are found in milk. So you should try to wean him on to 'solids' - soft or puréed foods that you would possibly prepare for the rest of your family.

Ready or not?

Try giving solids when:

• your baby is still hungry after a milk feed
• he wakes in the night to be fed, after sleeping through for a period of time
• your baby demands more feeds more often

Six months onwards

Don't stride in with a roast dinner for your baby the first time he gets to try solids! Ideally you should start him off on soft, tasty foods:

• vegetable purées of parsnip, carrot, courgette, potato or yam
• fruit purées of pear, cooked apple, banana and mango
• purées of rice, cornmeal, maize, millet or baby rice mixed with baby's usual milk

If the food is hot, make sure you stir and test it before giving it to your baby. Don't add any foods to a bottle with milk, as it could cause your baby to choke. Don't force-feed him - if he doesn't seem to want the food, try another day.

Your baby should still be having breastmilk or 600 millilitres (one pint) of formula milk a day.

Tips for weaning

• Don't rush your baby - give him as much time as he needs to feed.
• Make sure you're both relaxed before you start to feed.
• Feed your baby on your lap or in a high chair.
• When introducing new foods, try to mix them in with familiar ones.
• Go at your baby's pace and don't be upset if he refuses the food - he'll get used to the idea.
• Weaning can be a messy business so make sure you're prepared to get your clothes and your baby very dirty indeed! Put newspaper down on the floor to protect your carpets.

The next two months...

• Try to increase the amount of food your give your baby. Give him solids for two of his meals each day.
• Don't add any salt to your baby's food. If he's eating food prepared for the whole family, make sure his portion has been set aside before seasoning.
• Small amounts of sugar may be required to take away the sharpness from fruit purées such as gooseberry and rhubarb - but avoid adding sugar to food and drinks.

Prepare your own food for your baby where possible. It's cheaper than buying ready-made jars, can be made in bulk and frozen and you know exactly what the ingredients are.

Other foods to try

Add other foods to the vegetable, fruit and cereal purées:

• purées of meat (including liver) and poultry
• purées of lentils (dahl) or split pulses
• milk products (full-fat yoghurt, fromage frais, custard) - unless your family has a history of eczema or other allergies)

Family allergies

If a family member suffers from food-related allergies, it's important that you talk to your doctor or health visitor before introducing any of the foods below into your baby's diet:

• Milk products.
• Wheat-based foods which contain gluten, for example, breakfast cereals, wheat flour or rusks. Look for foods with the gluten-free symbol.
• Nuts and seeds including ground nuts, peanut butter and other nut spreads.
• Cows' milk as a drink until your baby is one year old. It's only OK for mixing foods or in cooking from six months onwards.
• Citrus fruits, including citrus fruit juices.
• Eggs.
• Shellfish and fish.

Allergies to nuts, nut products and some seeds may only affect one per cent of the population, but for those who are at high risk (people with allergies such as hay fever, asthma and eczema in the family) it's best to steer clear of them altogether.

Other foods to avoid giving your baby

• Salt - babies can't cope with more salt than that which is naturally found in foods.
• Sugar - encouraging a sweet tooth can lead to tooth decay. Add formula or breastmilk to sweeten up your baby's food if necessary.
• Honey - contains similar properties to sugar and will also cause tooth decay. You shouldn't give honey to your child until he's at least one year old, as it occasionally contains spores which can cause very serious illness.
• Nuts - whole nuts should not be given to any children under five years of age in case they choke on them.

From seven to nine months

Once your baby has got used to the whole idea of eating his first solid foods, you could start introducing more tastes and textures to his diet.

You could try fish, all meats and eggs provided they're minced or mashed. Try to ensure they get at least one serving of protein (meat, fish, eggs or pulses) each day.

Around this time you should be encouraging your baby to chew. He may not have many teeth but it's advisable to leave a few little lumps in his food, just so he gets used to new textures. Try to stay near to your baby to give him encouragement and to make sure he doesn't choke. You could give your baby:

• wholemeal toast
• breadsticks
• cubes of mild cheese
• banana or peeled apple slices
• pitta bread
• chapatti
• cooked carrot or green beans

Your baby's milk intake should still be 500 to 600 millilitres (one pint) per day.

From nine to 12 months

If your baby's now on the move, you may well need to increase the amount of food you give. He should be eating three minced meals per day, plus milk, as well as fruit and healthy snacks in between meals.

Make sure your baby has full-fat dairy products as part of his diet now - he needs it for growth and strength.

If you're bringing up your baby as a vegetarian, feed him two servings of split pulses (red lentils, split peas) each day. Also make sure there's plenty of fruit and vegetables at mealtimes as vitamin C helps to absorb iron. Give milk, diluted fruit juice or water at mealtimes.

From 12 months onwards

Your baby's diet should now include plenty of starchy foods and a wide range of fruit and vegetables.

You can now start to give your baby full-fat cows' milk as the main drink (not semi-skimmed or skimmed milk). Aim to give around 350 millilitres (12 ounces) a day.

Don't be afraid to try your baby on the foods he didn't like before.

Bought baby foods

Pre-prepared jars or packet foods are convenient, especially if you're visiting friends or family and need to take something for your baby. If you do give him bought foods, try to mix them with fresh foods.

• Choose 'sugar-free' foods or those which do not contain added sugars or sweeteners (check the label).
• Check the seals on cans and jars haven't been broken and that the sell-by date is OK.
• Check that bought baby foods are suitable for your baby's age, for example, from four or seven months.
• Buy gluten-free and egg-free food for babies under six months.
• Check drinks labels carefully. Even baby drinks labelled 'low sugar' or 'no added sugar' often contain some sugar and may harm your baby's teeth.

And to quench baby's thirst...

• Breast milk is the ideal drink for babies in the first few months.
• Infant formula can be used for babies up to one year and beyond.
• Soya-based infant formula contains sugars, so give it at mealtimes only. Once your baby's teeth have come through, try to cut out a bedtime bottle to avoid tooth decay.
• Water is the best alternative drink to milk. For babies under six months old use tap water, but boil it make sure it's free of any bacteria. Avoid bottled water as it can have higher mineral and sodium contents.
• Citrus fruit juices can be used after six months. They're a good source of vitamin C, but are acidic and have a high sugar content. Try to dilute with water where possible.
• Squashes, fizzy drinks, flavoured milk and juice drinks are unsuitable for babies as they contain sugars.
• Tea and coffee are not suitable drinks for babies or young children. They reduce iron absorption and if they have sugar, can cause tooth decay.

www.bbc.co.uk

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