Ok, my first 'weaning folder' post. Loads more to come when I get a spare few minutes..
Why Wait Until 6 Months?
• Up until 6 months, all the baby’s growth needs are met by breast milk or formula milk.
• By around 6 months, the kidneys are developed enough to cope with solids.
• If solid foods are introduced too early, there is a danger of developing food allergies.
• Young babies have a reflex, where they push their tongue forward. When solids are given too early, they push food out (tongue-thrusting reflex).
• Babies are unable to digest starch until 6 months.
How do I Know my Baby is Ready?
• Your baby doesn’t last as long between milk feeds.
• Your baby was sleeping through the night and is now waking up again.
• Your baby seems hungry after a milk feed but doesn’t want more milk.
• Your baby has started sucking on their fists and dribbling more.
• Your baby is now six months old and you haven’t started solid foods yet.
Which Foods Should I Choose?
Start with one vegetable or fruit, then start adding in more flavours. Remove all skin, pips, etc. If you start solids at or near 6 months, you should introduce food quicker than if you start solids earlier. By about 6 months you should be including foods from each of the food groups below everyday;
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Vegetables and fruit – These can be given fresh, frozen, or tinned in water or juice. Boil vegetables and hard fruit in a little water (no salt or sugar) until you can mash them easily with a fork.
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Starchy foods – Potato, sweet potato, porridge, oats, rice.
•
Meat and alternatives – These can be boiled in a little water or milk, grilled, or baked in the oven. Don’t add stock or gravy (except baby stock or baby gravy) as it is too salty. You can use mild spices e.g. coriander or cumin.
•
Dairy foods – custard, full fat yogurt, fromage frais, cheese.
What Equipment Will be Useful?
• Steriliser – All bowls, spoons, etc. used for feeding solids to babies need to be sterilised before use.
• Baby spoon – These are softer, smaller and flatter than adult spoons.
• Small bowl – This doesn’t have to be a special baby bowl, but you must be able to sterilise it.
• Fork and sieve – Use one fork to mash food, then press the food through a sieve to get rid of any lumps.
• Ice cube tray and freezer bags – You can put food into ice cube trays and freeze it. Then you can put the frozen cubes of food in the freezer bags.
• Liquidiser/Blender – You can make food using a fork and sieve, but it is quicker with a blender.
sounds like mine!!
) that are handy for if we are going out/away and need to take food with us.
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