A SOLID START
When to start weaning your baby on to solid
It’s a big milestone for both you and your little one,
so when exactly should you start and with what type of
food? Experts advise that you introduce his or her first
solids from 6 months. However, if you have any questions
about your baby’s diet then please speak to your health
visitor.
First foods first
So where to start? There are so many different food
types to choose from out there, and you don’t want to
get off to the wrong start. So, we’ve put together a few
useful tips to help get their diet just right:
- At around 6 months you can start with a few
teaspoons of baby rice (mixed with breast or formula
milk), pureed vegetables or fruit once a day while
keeping up milk feeds – start with solids followed by
milk. If you feel your baby needs to start solids
before this age, do talk to your health visitor.
- Gradually increase the amount of solid food to
match your little one’s growing appetite.
- Introduce finger foods at around 7 months,
starting with simple delights like slices of wholemeal
toast, fresh fruit and cooked carrots.
- Weaning can be a messy and playful time so be
prepared and let your baby explore, but protects your
floor with a splash mat.
A healthy bit of advice…
To keep your baby in the best of health, here’s a few
pieces of trusted advice from health professionals:
- Don’t add sugar or salt to any food.
- Don’t give honey to babies under 12 months old –
in rare cases, it can lead to infant botulism.
- Avoid cow’s milk until your baby is 12 months old.
- Avoid all nut products if there’s a history of
family allergies (nuts can also be a choking hazard
for children under 6 years of age).
- If you are concerned about any aspects of child
feeding always ask a health visitor or GP for advice –
they can provide booklets with information and recipe
ideas.
Check
out our Baby Dining section for:
- Weaning cutlery and tableware
- A well-padded highchair with safety harness. Use
from 5-6 months, when your baby can sit without
support
- Splashmats (perfect for protecting that nice clean
floor!)
- Booster seats to raise and allow your toddler to
eat at table level
