Weaning – Changing the menu

A lot of mums love the special bond that breastfeeding can bring to their relationship with their baby. But whether you love it or hate it, sooner or later breastfeeding will need to be supplemented by a more varied menu.

The main thing to remember when you do decide to start weaning is to take it slow. Introduce the new diet over a number of weeks and don’t suddenly stop giving your baby what he’s used to.

I usually begin weaning with baby rice mixed with your baby’s usual milk, so use either expressed breast milk or formula milk. Mix the rice to a soft, dropping consistency and then offer to your baby mid-morning, just after he has taken most of his milk feed. Give him the rest of the milk feed afterwards.

Once your baby is happily taking rice mid-morning, start to introduce simple, single fruit and vegetable purées. I like to give vegetables mid-morning, then fruit purée with some baby rice at tea-time – before, or with, the early evening feed.

You may need to add a little cooled, boiled water or the usual milk you give your baby to these purées to achieve the desired dropping consistency.
If pureeing is not your thing-you may like to take a look at Baby Led Weaning.

First tastes
Most babies enjoy foods like pear, apple, carrot, sweet potato and squash to begin with. Babies do naturally have a sweet tooth. Gradually move onto other fruits and vegetables such as parsnip, potato, broccoli, apricot, peach and plum.

All foods should be peeled, cooked (ideally steamed) and blended to a fine purée at first. Wait a few weeks before offering uncooked mashed foods like banana, avocado and mango. At around seven months, introduce protein, dairy and wheat in the form of chicken, fish, cheese, yoghurt, pulses, pasta, cereals and rice.

Wait another month or two to give red meat as it’s harder to digest. When your baby is under a year old, always avoid honey, nuts, soft-boiled eggs and shellfish.
There are many baby cookbooks which will give you plenty of recipes, ideas & inspiration!

Gradually work towards giving your baby what the rest of the family is having and include your baby in family mealtimes. However, avoid meals that are high in fat and salt and never give your baby ‘diet’ or ‘slimming’ food. Healthy, wholesome family food is the best option.

Disposable cups
Making your baby’s first purée is a real milestone and a sign he is growing up.

What’s more, home prepared food is nutritious and economical, allowing you to make large batches of meals and then separate them into individual portions for storage in the fridge and freezer.

The ultimate in home cooked fast food which can be quickly ready for your hungry baby! I like to use semi-disposable cups which you can keep in your fridge or the freezer, ready to take out and use whenever you want.

And because they are semi-disposable they are great on the go – which means, when the time comes, you can introduce your baby to not only a new menu but also enjoy a change of venue from time to time!