Weaning

Teaching your baby to enjoy good food

 Teaching Weaning is a time for babies to learn
to enjoy food. It is also a time to think
about the balance of foods for your

your baby baby’s health now and in the future.

The foods your baby learns to eat now
can have a big impact on how healthy a

to enjoy child and adult they become.

The supporting leaflet “Weaning - What

good foods foods? When? How much?” will also help

you.

Recent evidence has led to the

worldwide agreement that breast or
formula milk is all that most babies need
until they are six months old.

The information in this booklet is suitable for

most babies. If however your baby has special
dietary needs, speak to your health visitor
before starting weaning.
Weaning
When should I start to wean?
• All babies are different but food other than milk is rarely needed before six months of age.

• Around six months old your baby may: - seem hungry after a good milk feed
- start to demand feeds more often
- wake more frequently during the night.

It might be time to start on solids - check with your health visitor as hunger is not the only reason for these.

• If your baby does not seem interested when you offer food from a spoon, leave it and try again in a few days time.

Why wait until six months?

• Introducing solids too early, particularly before seventeen weeks, may lead to your baby taking less milk. Breast or
formula milk should be their main source of nutrition until after six months old.

• Babies weaned too early may gain excess weight, and may develop allergies and intolerances to some foods.

• Babies who are weaned at around six months should progress more quickly from smooth to lumpier textures.
Different textures help with your baby’s chewing and speech development.

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 What Mums say: “Some mothers treat weaning like a race - rushing their babies on to solids then
boasting about how much they eat at only three months old”.
Weaning isn’t a competition! What’s important is that your baby learns about lots of different tastes and textures, not
to be able to eat more bananas than anyone else!

What should I give?

Until now your baby has only ever tasted milk. Solid food is a new experience and will take time to learn. Let your
baby try lots of different tastes over the next few months, even foods that you may not eat yourself. Don’t let your
own likes and dislikes affect what you offer your baby.

Weaning foods should not contain added salt, sugar, artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners or preservatives. They can be
easily made at home from soft or cooked fruits and vegetables, and baby rice. You can also use tins, packets or jars of
baby food.

Ready-made baby foods are handy when you are rushed, or if your own meal is not suitable for your baby. Take enough
from the jar or tin for your baby, then store the remainder in a sealed container in the fridge. Use within 24 hours.

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Things you should know
before starting weaning
When can I give cows milk and other dairy foods?
Cows milk is not the same as human milk. The type of protein is different and the amounts of nutrients vary. In
particular cows milk has little or no iron, therefore babies changed early to cows milk could develop iron-deficiency
anaemia.

Breast milk or formula milk is recommended as the main drink from birth, and throughout the first year. There is no
real need to use a follow-on formula, but they can be used with babies over six months.

Products made from cows milk; yoghurt, cheese or fromage frais can be included in your baby’s diet just like any new
food from six months of age. A small amount of whole cows milk can be used to mix foods and in cooking, but should
not be given as the main milk drink.

Use full-fat milk for the first two years. If your child eats well, then semi-skimmed milk can safely be given from two
years of age. Skimmed milk should not be given until around five years old.

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Salt (sodium)
Salt should not be added to food for babies.

Babies do not need salt and large amounts could be harmful. Some foods are particularly salty and should not be used
in the first few months of weaning e.g. packet sauces or stock cubes.

As babies get older their kidneys are more able to get rid of too much salt. Lightly salted family foods are suitable for
babies over one year.

Restricting salty foods, particularly savoury snack foods like crisps, and not adding salt at the table can have long-term
health benefits. Excess salt has been linked to raised blood pressure in later life.

Sugar
Sugar should not be added to weaning foods as this may encourage babies to prefer sweet foods - a major cause of
tooth decay. Babies should be weaned on to a diet as free from added sugar as possible. Small amounts of sugar are
fine to make sour foods more acceptable, e.g. in rhubarb. Foods which contain added sugar are best kept to meal times.
A preference for sweet foods can contribute to excessive weight gain.

Iron
Iron is needed to keep the blood healthy. Breast milk and infant formula are good sources of iron. After the first six
months of life, babies need to get iron from the foods they eat. Try to include some of the good sources of iron below;
• Red meat, chicken or turkey (dark meats), eggs, canned fish.
• Fortified breakfast cereals, lentils, peas, beans and some green vegetables.

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Foods that may cause problems
Where there is a family history of allergy, the foods below should be introduced one at a time (and not before six
months), and nuts (including peanuts) should be avoided for the first three years. Speak to your health visitor if
you are concerned.

• Nuts and seeds - Please note: whole nuts should not be given to babies and young
children under the age of five due to the risk of choking.
• Wheat products (eg. cereal, rusk, bread, pasta).
• Fish and shellfish.
• Citrus fruits and juices.

The following foods should not be introduced before one year old:

• Liver pate - rich source of Vitamin A which can be harmful to babies.

• Soft cheeses such as Brie - risk of food poisoning.
• Honey - risk of food poisoning.

Eggs should always be thoroughly cooked until the yolk and white are solid - again to avoid the risk
of food poisoning. (Eggs can be introduced from six months old).

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What drinks will my baby need?
Drinks (fluids) ensure that babies bodies function properly and help prevent constipation. Thirsty breast-fed babies
can be put to the breast more often. Additional drinks from a bottle are not recommended until breastfeeding is
established.

Cooled, boiled water should be the first choice of drink other than breast or infant formula. Drinks other than milk
or water can damage teeth either because they are acidic or contain sugar.

To reduce the risk of tooth decay,

• a cup can be used from six months of age - use a free flow cup (one that fluid runs out of if tipped upside
down)
• bottles should be discontinued by twelve twelve months of age
• drinks other than milk or cooled boiled water should be well-diluted (one part juice to ten parts cooled
boiled water) and given at mealtimes from a cup only.

Well-diluted unsweetened pure fruit juice can be given from 6 months.

Fruit squashes and fizzy drinks should not be given to babies or young children as these contribute to dental problems.
Diet or sugar free drinks are not intended for infants due to the high levels of sweeteners. Check labels on low sugar
drinks - they may contain sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Baby juices and herbal drinks are not necessary. Tea should be avoided as it contains tannins, which can reduce
the absorption of iron from food.

Remember once your baby gets used to other drinks it might be difficult to get them to accept
milk or water in future.

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Should I be giving my baby vitamin supplements?
Breast-fed babies from the age of six months may require vitamin drops. Ask your health visitor.

Infant formulas are fortified with vitamins, so formula-fed babies will not require additional supplementation if they are
drinking at least 500mls of formula per day.

The provision of Healthy Start vitamins is currently under review. These vitamin supplements are free to families on
income support, those on income based Jobseekers Allowance or Child Tax Credit. Please discuss with your health
visitor.

If your baby was premature you may already be giving supplements as prescribed by the hospital. You should continue
with these until told otherwise.

Discuss any queries you have with your health visitor.

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Getting started
The information in the following section should be read along with the supporting leaflet
‘Weaning - What foods? When? How much?’, which gives you additional information and
photographs on suitable foods and textures throughout weaning.

For recipe ideas please refer to the recipe section at the back of this booklet.

Making homemade first foods

• A fork is all you need • Push cooked or tinned
to mash some vegetables or fruits through
soft foods. a sieve with a spoon.

• A hand blender or liquidiser • Use the finest side of a grater

is useful for larger amounts to grate peeled fruit or
of food. vegetables to a pulp.

• All equipment must be clean - wash well in hot soapy water. Your baby will only eat tiny amounts at first. Any extra
can be frozen in ice-cube trays. It is handy to take out a few ice cubes of food when you are in a hurry. Later you can
use larger containers with lids, or small freezer bags.

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First tastes
Taking food from a spoon is completely new to your baby and takes getting used to! The first few attempts may result
in more food being pushed out of your baby’s mouth than being swallowed - it can be a messy business! This is an
opportunity for your baby to touch and explore food, so be prepared by having a clean cloth for wiping spills and cover
any non-washable flooring. Try:
• Choosing a time of day when you are relaxed - lunchtime is usually a good time.
• Making sure your baby is not too tired or hungry - offer a small milk feed first.
• Offering puréed fruit or baby rice on the tip of a shallow plastic spoon.

Consistency
First foods should be soft, smooth and runny. If a fruit or vegetable purée is:

• Too thin - add a little baby rice to thicken.

• Too thick - thin down with milk.

Temperature
Food can be given cold, or warmed by placing the dish in a bowl of hot water.

Heating food in the microwave is not recommended as:- a) the amount of food is very small and will dry out quickly and
b) it can heat unevenly causing hot spots which could scald your baby’s mouth.

If you do decide to heat larger quantities in the microwave, mix well and leave the food to cool down before feeding
your baby. In a hurry an ice-cube or cold yoghurt can quickly cool food down, or try placing the dish in a bowl of cold
water.

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Useful Tips
• Do not force your baby to eat, let them feed at their own pace.
• Make sure there are no distractions such as the television being on, or lots of toys being on the table.
• Solids should not be added to your baby’s bottle. Doing this will reduce the amount of milk your baby
drinks, and will fill them up too soon. Babies can exhaust themselves sucking semi-solid food through a teat.
Have you ever tried drinking a thick milk shake through a straw?
• If your baby constantly spits food out - stop feeding and try again in a couple of days. It does not mean your
baby dislikes the food, simply, that your baby is not ready for it at this stage.
• Try not to constantly wipe your baby’s face - clean up at the end of the meal.

What next?
Over three or four days, gradually increase the amount of food your baby takes at their mealtime e.g. lunchtime. After
a week introduce solid food at a second meal, maybe baby rice at breakfast. Try introducing puréed fruit with it.

Your baby may reduce the amount of milk taken as the amount of solid food increases, or may even cut out a milk feed
completely - this is perfectly normal. Some babies take all the milk and all the solids they are offered - this is normal
too.

Remember to introduce a new food every couple of days throughout these early weeks. This reduces the chance of
faddy eating later on.

See “Weaning - What foods? When? How much?” for further suggestions.

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Moving on - when can I give food with lumps?
Once your baby has learned to take a variety of smooth foods from a spoon, begin to offer lumpier, less well mashed
foods. Soft lumps help encourage chewing.

Now is also the time to encourage your baby to hold food and to try feeding him/herself.

Finger foods
Babies like to try feeding themselves. Encourage this by giving your baby foods they can hold on their own.

Finger food ideas:

• Pieces of cooked chicken. • Pancakes. • Rice cakes.

• Bread fingers. • Fingers of toast . • Cooked vegetables.

• Rolls of boiled ham. • Sticks of cheese. • Cooked pasta shapes.

• Chunks of banana. • Oatcakes. • Bread crusts baked in a slow oven to make rusks.

• Breadsticks. • Individual cereal shapes. • Soft fruit eg. pear, peaches.

These foods are also suitable for snacks between meals or to keep a hungry baby going while your prepare a meal.

Stay with your baby in case of choking. You may need to help remove a piece of food if it gets
stuck.

Family

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Family eating
When your baby is around one year old many of the meals you cook for yourself will also be suitable for them. Salt is a
health issue for the whole family, not just your baby, so try not to add salt while cooking.

Processed, ready-made foods are usually high in salt, sugar and additives. Keep these to a minimum.

Family meals ideas:

• Meat and Vegetable Stew with potato. • Mince, Potatoes and Peas.
• Fish Pie with Potato and Sweetcorn. • Macaroni Cheese and Tomato.
• Pasta Bolognaise and Salad. • Vegetable Soup and Sandwiches.

Healthy eating for your child

Once a child is over one year old, regular family meals can be offered with small snacks in-between. It is important
to remember that children under the age of five years old need lots of energy (calories) for growth and development.
Young children (particularly those under two years of age) have small stomachs and therefore need to get enough
energy from smaller amounts of food. For this reason, at this stage, fat is important e.g. that is why full-fat milk is
recommended up to the age of two years.

Under the age of five, children should be eating a variety of foods from the four main food groups;
• Bread, cereals, rice, pasta and potatoes . • Fruit and vegetables.
• Milk and dairy. • Meat, fish and alternatives.

Children over the age of five, and adults, are encouraged to follow healthy eating guidelines - again eating a variety of
foods from the four main food groups, but keeping fat and sugar to a minimum.

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Recipes
First tastes
These recipes will often make enough for more than one meal and are ideal for freezing.

Stewed fruit purée

Peel and wash the fruit. Remove any stones or pips. Chop into small pieces and place in a saucepan. Cover with a little
water. Simmer until soft then mash and sieve to make a smooth purée. Try using apples, pears, apricots, plums. Dates
or prunes can also be puréed.

Fresh or tinned fruit in natural juice

Peel fresh fruit and remove stones or pips. Grate or mash to a purée. Try using pear, peach, apricot, banana, melon.

Fruit puree with rice

Mix 1 teaspoon of baby rice with 1 tablespoon of breast milk or infant formula and a tablespoon of fruit purée.

Vegetable purée
Fresh, frozen or tinned vegetables can be puréed. Wash and peel fresh vegetables. Rinse tinned vegetables. Boil in
unsalted water. When cooked, mash with a little cooking liquid. Sieve to give a thin purée.

Try using potato, carrot, parsnip, cauliflower, turnip, swede, broccoli, sweet potato.

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 Mixed vegetable puree
Once your baby is used to single tastes, cook and mash two vegetables together. Try swede and carrot or broccoli and
potato.

Vegetables with fromage frais

Mash 2 tablespoons of cooked vegetables with a little cooking fluid.

Mix in 1 tablespoon of natural fromage frais, thicken with baby rice if necessary.

Moving on - introducing soft lumps

As your baby moves on, food should be mashed but less smooth and runny.

Soup
Small piece of finely chopped onion Small piece of finely chopped carrot
25g (1oz) red lentils 210ml (7fl oz) water

Place all ingredients in a saucepan with the lid on. Simmer until the vegetables and lentils are soft. Mash to a soft,
lumpy texture.

Fish
Wash a fish fillet. Poach or bake in a little water or whole milk. Remove any skin and check carefully for bones. Flake
the fish then mash with a little cooking fluid. Serve with mashed potato and a mashed vegetable.

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Porridge
Make with either oatmeal or oat flakes as described on the packet. Do not add salt. Serve with breast milk or infant
formula. Try with mashed banana or stewed fruit for a change.

Basic white sauce

Measure 125ml (1/4 pint) of milk. Blend 1 tablespoon of cornflour with a little of this milk. Warm the remaining milk in
a pan. Mix the milk into the cornflour paste then return the mixture to the pan. Simmer until thickened. Pour over
fish, vegetables or pasta. Add 15g (1/2 oz) of grated cheese to make cheese sauce.

N.B. Do not use adult sauce or gravy mixes - they are too salty for babies.

Meat
Lean mince, beef, lamb, pork, chicken or turkey can be used to make soft lumpy meals. Chop meat into small 1/2-1cm
square pieces. Simmer in water or the juice from tinned tomatoes until tender. Add chopped vegetables or frozen
vegetables. Continue cooking until soft. Mash to a suitable texture with some cooking fluid. Serve with mashed
potato.

N.B. Meat or poultry from many adult meals will be suitable, provided your baby’s portion is taken
out before salt, pepper or gravy browning is added.

Dahl/lentil soup
Weigh out 50g (2oz) of red lentils. Pick out any small stones. Place in a sieve and rinse under cold running water. Boil
3 cups of water in a small pot and add the lentils. Boil for 10 minutes then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes
until soft. Stir as the mixture thickens. Add milk to thin down if needed. Serve with rice or mashed potato. Diced
carrots can be added to make a soup.

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 Other dried pulses can also be used for soft, lumpy meals. Follow the cooking instructions on the packet.

Fruit custard
Mix 1/2 tablespoon custard powder with a little milk. Heat 125ml (1/4 pint) milk in a pan. Add the warm milk to the
custard paste. Return to the pan and heat. Stir until thick. Serve with mashed banana or other mashed or stewed fruit.
Try mixing mashed fruit with yoghurt or fromage frais.

Family eating
Shepherds pie (2 adult portions)
200g (8oz) minced meat 25g (1oz) diced onion 400g (llb) potatoes
125ml (1/4 pt) water 1 tspn tomato purée 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables

Dry fry the meat with the onion in a saucepan. Add the water and tomato purée. Simmer for 40 minutes. Add the
mixed vegetables and cook for a further 10 minutes. Boil the potatoes until tender. Drain and mash with a little milk.
Put the mince in an ovenproof dish and cover with the mashed potato. Grill to brown the potatoes or bake for 30
minutes in the oven (Gas 4, 180°C, 350°F).

Cheesy mashed potatoes (Serves 4)

1kg (21/2 lbs) potatoes, cut and 180mls (6fl oz) milk 15g (1/2 oz) butter or margarine
peeled into even sized chunks 150g (6oz) grated cheese 2 tomatoes, sliced

Boil the potatoes until tender. Drain and mash. Stir in the butter and milk. Beat in the grated cheese and season with a little
salt and pepper. Spread the mixture in an ovenproof dish. Spread the tomatoes on top and sprinkle the cheese over the top.
Brown under a grill. Serve with peas or broccoli.

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Tuna fishcakes (2 adult portions or 6-8 child portions)
250g (10oz) tinned tuna in tomato sauce 150g (6oz) boiled potatoes Finely chopped spring onion
2 teaspoons tomato purée Pepper, flour

Mash the potatoes and stir in the tomato purée, a pinch of pepper and the spring onions. Add the tuna with some of its
sauce. Shape into small balls and coat in the flour. Flatten with a fork. Either fry in a frying pan with a little oil or bake
on a greased baking sheet in a hot oven (Gas 7, 210°C or 415°F) for 10 minutes. These fishcakes freeze well.

Baked bean mash

Mash 2 tablespoons baked beans with 1 tablespoon of mashed potato and either: 1
tablespoon cooked mince or 1 tablespoon grated cheese or 1 tablespoon cottage cheese.

Super sausages (Serves 3)

3 sausages 1 small onion, finely chopped 225g (9oz) baked beans
1 medium sized potato, peeled and chopped 200g (8oz) tin of tomatoes

Grill the sausages. Cool and slice them. Place the onion, potato and tomatoes in a saucepan. Simmer until the potato
is cooked. Add in the baked beans and the sliced sausage. Heat through. Serve with wholemeal bread and a vegetable.
Peas or frozen sweetcorn can be added towards the end of cooking.

Sandwiches
Sandwiches are always a handy, quick, filling meal. Serve with chopped cucumber, carrot sticks or tomato wedges.

As well as wholemeal, granary or white bread you could use tattie scones, finger rolls, french sticks, oatcakes, cheese
scones, pitta bread, poppy seed topped buns.

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 For fillings try:

Mashed bananas. Tinned fish tuna or sardines. Fruit spreads or jams.

Grated cheese or cheese spread. Peanut butter and banana. Mashed avocado.
Hard boiled egg and crispy bacon. Wafer thin meat. Corned beef.

Follow with a yoghurt, some fruit and a glass of milk.

Apple crumble
675g (11/2 lbs) cooking apples 45ml (3 tbsp) water 100g (4oz) sugar
5ml (1 tspn) mixed spice 150g (6oz) flour 75g (3oz) butter/margarine

Wash the apples. Remove the core and slice into a saucepan. Add the water, half the sugar and the mixed spice.
Simmer for 10 minutes. Put the apples in a 2-pint ovenproof dish. Leave to cool.

Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the rest of the sugar. Spread over the
top of the apples. Bake in the oven at 200°C, 400°F or Gas 6 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with ice-cream, custard or milk.

Please note:

1oz = 28g. For ease of conversion in the recipes however, 1oz. corresponds to 25g, and 1/2 oz. to 15g.

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The bare essentials
DO...

• Start with smooth purées. • Give your baby a variety of tastes.

• Give foods from the different food groups. • Progress at your baby’s pace.

• Let your baby begin to feed himself. • Let your baby see you eating.

DON’T...

• Put solids in a bottle • Add sugar or salt to food.

• Force your baby to eat. • Leave your baby alone when eating.

• Worry - weaning should be an enjoyable time.

and finally.....
If you are worried about what your child eats, ask your health visitor.

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Notes

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Produced by Community Dietitians and Health Visitors
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