How will I know if my baby is ready for solids?
If baby is showing signs that he is ready and that he needs more food, it may be time to start him on solids. Signs that your baby is ready include good head control, the ability to sit up and bend forwards, the ability to grasp food and move it towards his mouth, and the ability to signal that he is full, e.g. by turning his head away.
Signs that your baby now needs solid food are low weight gain and/or that baby seems hungry even after long feeds. Most infants are ready for solids at around six months. Solids should not be given until four months of age. Until this age, your baby’s digestive system and kidneys will not be developed enough to digest anything other than breast milk/infant formula.
How do I start my baby on solids?
Introducing your baby to solid food is the slow and gradual process sometimes called ‘weaning’ or ‘complementary feeding’. The amount of solids you give baby should be baby-led and increased in response to baby’s needs and signals. Start with tiny amounts of solids. The first few tastes might be just a teaspoonful. The amount can then be increased gradually. Let your child taste a wide variety of solid foods. When baby is about six months, two or three meals of solid food a day will be appropriate. Once baby is nine months, she can have three to four meals of solids a day. If necessary, one or two snacks between meals can be given as well. Breast milk or infant formula is still the most important food for the whole of baby’s first year. Breastfeeding as part of a meal will keep up your milk production.
What kind of food should I start with?
You can give your child a wide range of foods right from the beginning. Offer small portions, about a teaspoon at first. The food should be mashed, almost liquid, to begin with. Some people start with thin porridge, others with mashed potato or vegetables. Breastmilk or infant formula can be mixed into readymade porridge, or in a potato/vegetable mash.
Add the potato/vegetable mash gradually: Beans, lentils, peas, tofu, chicken, meat, fish. This will increase the protein content of the meal. Your child may be able to eat the same food as the rest of your family, but mash the child's food well. Do not use salt or broth when preparing your child’s food. Let your child explore different kinds of food. You could give them soft berries and pieces of fruit, lightly boiled broccoli and cauliflower, finely sliced carrot and swede, and small pieces of bread. In this way, your child will get used to a wide variety of flavours.
Baby-led weaning – should baby eat unaided?
Your baby should start eating solids at about six months. Encourage your little one to actively participate in meals and use her senses. Your child should get to see, smell, feel and taste her food. Take your time over meals and create a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. Your child will get many different impressions and learn a lot. Let baby eat finger foods unaided while being spoon-fed. This will ensure that baby gets what she needs.
How to make pureed food for my child
Pureed food can be a suitable option when first weaning the child onto solid food. This could be puree made from boiled potatoes and vegetables, such as carrots, swede, broccoli, sweet potatoes and peas. When you start weaning, it might be a good idea to puree the vegetables separately. This allows the child to get used to a variety of flavours. Leave the puree thin to start with. Boil potatoes/vegetables without salt and in water only until tender. Drain the water and set it aside. Use a fork/stick blender to puree the food until it has a smooth consistency. Mix in some breastmilk/infant formula or some of the water you set aside and some plant-based margarine or oil. You can prepare puree with a coarser consistency when the child is a bit older. Mix in cooked beans, lentils, fish and meat. This increases the iron and protein content of the meal.