Weaning your baby onto solid food

Your baby on its first few months of existence is exclusively a liquid diet. The baby’s digestive system is not capable or suitable for anything other than milk or water and any temptation to feed him or her, what we consider to be more substantial food should be resisted. The Department of  Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding (or formula infant feeding) for the first six months.

When should I start the weaning of my baby onto solids?

Weaning your baby usually takes place between the ages of four months and six months of age.

This generalization is ok, but all babies are different and how you decide, depends very much on how you see your baby’s needs. Certainly feeding baby with solid foods before the age of four months is not recommended. Quite simply because, the babies digestive system is just not ready for solid food until after that time. There is simply no benefit for trying to feed solids before this age is attained.

Weaning baby is pointless before four months of age.

You do not have to start the weaning process at 4 months. If you do not think the baby is yet ready, but you should certainly use your judgment to see when, because if the baby’s hunger and demands, you feel solids should be gradually introduced.

If the weaning is not always started at 4 months then it most certainly will have to be commenced before 6 moths have elapsed. Quite simply put, if you do not do so the babies nutritional needs will not be satisfied.

Another indication will be that the baby will certainly vocalize his need for extra nourishment. As a mum you will already be more ‘in tune’ with his or her needs than anybody else and you will surely know, when the time is right.

Some indicators to help you make the decision when to start of weaning are;

1. Baby is still hungry after a good milk feed.
2. Baby demands more frequent feeds.
3. Baby wakes more often during the night needing feeding.
4. Baby looks very interested in the food you are eating.

 Ok so now you are pretty sure that the transition from milk to solids can begin!

So ‘how’ and ‘what’, can you now start feeding your baby?

Baby’s first feed is  “Just a taster”!

Your first feeding is mainly to allow the different tastes to be introduced, after the total single ‘bland’, milk taste. Any departure from this is an adventure for the baby, it may sometimes resist this battle of the taste-buds, he or she may strongly reject a particular flavor and really adore another, there is no need to rush the process let the baby and you yourself, really enjoy this new aspect of his life.

The taste and texture, coming from a spoon is a big change from the milk the baby has relied upon in the past but it’s a development that will ‘satisfy’both you and the baby.

These first ‘tastes’ should be mixed in, with either the milk, or thinned in consistency with boiled water, to give an acceptable consistency that the baby will enjoy.

The first food introduced to the baby is recommended be ‘gluten’ free, because some babies are sensitive to this and have adverse effects. Gluten is a protein contained in Cereals, wheat, rye, oats, and barley. Gluten free foods, such as, puree of corn-meal, or rice, pureed vegetables, potatoes, carrots and parsnips. Or pureed Fruit, in the form of, banana, apple, or pear, are best of the fruits as weaning food, for your baby.

Look at Weaning Baby 2, for progression to further weaning developments!

You are now through the fist stage of Baby weaning.