Weaning your little one off milk and onto solid food can be a daunting experience. The thought of introducing all sorts of different tastes, textures and consistencies can be overwhelming. It is important to understand what the weaning process looks like and how to introduce solid food in a healthy and safe way.
When To Begin Weaning?
Each baby is unique and develops differently, but typically babies begin introducing solid foods around 6 months old once they are able to sit up with support, hold their head up, and make chewing motions. Before introducing any solid foods it is important that your baby is ready; if your baby isn’t ready you may notice them refusing food or pushing it out of their mouth. If this happens, wait until they are better able to handle solids before trying again.
How To Start?
Once you have decided that it is time to start weaning then the next step is deciding how. The most common methods of weaning are either baby-led or traditional spoon-feeding. Baby-led weaning encourages your little one to feed themselves from finger foods whilst spoon-feeding offers an opportunity for more direct contact between parent and baby as they enjoy their meal together. Whichever method you decide on there are certain guidelines that should always be followed regardless:
- Make sure food has been cooked thoroughly and cooled down before giving it to your little one;
- Always ensure that food has been chopped up into manageable pieces;
- Try not include any added sugar, salt or honey in the meals; and
- Introduce new ingredients one at a time so any potential allergies can be identified quickly.
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What To Feed?
Once you have chosen how you would like to introduce solids then come meal times. A balanced diet with lots of fruit, vegetables, grains and proteins is essential in providing your baby with all the nutrients they need during this period of rapid growth.
Once a taste for solids has developed then why not try combining flavours into delicious meals such as pasta bakes or vegetable curries. As long as you make sure everything is blended down into small enough pieces then mealtimes can be just as enjoyable for your little one as they are for the rest of the family.
To Sum Up
Weaning offers a wonderful opportunity for parents and babies alike and it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It is important to understand the basics of when to start feeding them solid food and what types of food should be offered in order to ensure healthy development during this period.
Helping your little one make the transition from milk to solids can be done with confidence, just make sure food is prepared safely yet deliciously so everyone enjoys mealtimes together.