By the UK’s No. 1 baby & children’s cookery author Annabel Karmel and expert speaker at The Baby Show which returns to Olympia London from 24th – 26th October. To find out more visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk/olympia
Introducing your little one to solids is a big milestone – both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. But don’t stress, you’re not alone, and this journey by no means needs to be perfect! Think of weaning as a gentle introduction to the wonderful world of food, full of colours, textures, tastes and a whole lot of funny faces along the way!
Mighty milk
While nutrition is important from the start, think of the early days of weaning as exploration. It’s less about how much they eat, and more about getting used to new flavours and textures.
Your baby’s usual milk will still remain the most essential dish on the menu with around 500 -700ml of breast milk or formula needed each day up until their first birthday. But now it’s time to expand their menu, slowly and gently (remember their tummies are still so tiny!)
Is my baby ready for solids?
Most babies are ready to start out on some simple solids around 6 months according to the World Health Organization. But every baby develops at their own pace. Here are a few signs to watch for:
· Can they sit up and hold their head steady?
· Are they showing interest in your food?
· Have they lost that automatic tongue-thrust reflex (so food doesn’t get pushed right back out)?
· Can they grab things and bring them to their mouth?
If you’re ticking these boxes, you’re likely good to go!
Baby-led or spoon-led?
The good news? There’s no one “right” way to wean. Some babies will thrive on purees, others dive straight into finger foods, and many do a mix of both.
Start with smooth purees if that feels right and begin offering soft finger foods from 6 months. It’s about following your baby’s lead and making sure mealtimes are fun and stress-free.
First tastes
When it comes to those very first bites, keep it simple. A single vegetable puree (like carrot, parsnip, or broccoli) is a great start. Babies naturally lean toward sweeter tastes because they are used to sweet tasting milk, but it’s important to introduce bitter veggies early too – think spinach, courgette and cauliflower. Once they’re accepting single veg, you can mix flavours and start offering fruit too.
Not a Fan? Try, try again!
Babies might pull funny faces or reject a food the first (or fifth) time. That’s normal! In fact, it can take up to 15 tries for your baby to accept a new food. So don’t give up just yet, persistence pays off.
Fantastic finger foods
Ready to let your baby take the wheel? Finger foods are great for encouraging independence and helping babies develop that all-important hand-to-eye coordination.
Start with soft, easy-to-grip foods cut into long strips (around 5 – 6cm) such as:
· Avocado wedges
· Banana ‘lollipops’
· Steamed carrot batons
· Broccoli florets
· Mango slices
Make sure the texture is soft enough to squish between your fingers, but firm enough for your baby to grab.
Important nutrients to watch
Once your baby is getting to grips with weaning and exploring new foods it’s time to bring in the big nutrition players:
· Iron-rich foods (like red meat, lentils, fortified cereals) should be offered twice a day, or at every meal if your baby is vegetarian.
· Omega-3 fatty acids (from oily fish like salmon) are important for brain development – aim for twice a week.
Top tip: Pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C (like red peppers, tomatoes, or strawberries) to help with absorption.
Introducing allergenic foods
You should introduce common allergenic foods like eggs, peanuts, or dairy from 6 months, unless your baby has severe eczema or a known family history of allergies.
There’s no need to delay, in fact, doing so might increase the risk of allergies. Just introduce one new allergenic food at a time and keep an eye on any reactions. If you’re unsure, have a chat with your GP or health visitor first.
Weaning is a messy adventure and no two babies are the same. Some dive in, others take their time. Be patient, keep it light-hearted, and enjoy those funny food faces and squishy hand grabs!
For more expert weaning advice and baby-friendly recipes, download Annabel’s award-winning Recipes App and start your FREE trial!
