Thinking about weaning and wondering how to start? We asked Children’s Dietician Lucy Upton to answer some common questions…
To find out about when weaning (introducing solid food into their diet) might be right for your baby, you can read more of Lucy’s great advice here. The questions we put to Lucy below focus on weaning foods.
What foods should you start weaning with?
There is no single ‘right’ food to start with, and you may choose to start with single tastes of vegetables, fruits and/or cereals like porridge. That said, there is now some good evidence to support what's known as a vegetable-led approach* when starting out with solids. Some research has found that babies offered bitter, plain or more savoury flavours when first getting started with solids, are more likely to continue to accept these foods later on in early life. If this is an approach you’d like to incorporate, then consider offering 7-10 days of single green or more bitter vegetables when you first start, for example, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, courgette, before continuing to expand your baby’s diet.
*But remember: there is no pressure to do it this way, and the key message throughout weaning is to ensure your baby has lots of variety with food, including plenty of different flavours. Make sure to regularly get in those bitter and savoury flavours that will take some time for your baby to learn about and which, compared to sweet foods, may be more of a challenge to get to grips with.
What foods should be avoided during weaning?
When starting a baby with solids, there are a number of foods to avoid to keep them safe and healthy. These include:
- Honey – avoid until 1+ years due to the risk of it containing a bacteria that can cause your baby to become very unwell
- Raw shellfish – any shellfish offered should be fresh and thoroughly cooked
- Shark, swordfish and Merlin, due to the mercury content
- Foods high in sugar, for example, biscuits, cake, chocolate, sweets, full sugar drinks, fruit juices
- Foods high in salt, such as processed meats, stock cubes, crisps, chips, crackers
- Foods which pose a choking risk, for example:
- whole nuts
- chunky or tacky nut butter (not loosened)
- jelly cubes or sweets
- popcorn
- whole cherry tomatoes, grapes or large berries (these should be halved or quartered)
- pieces of hard fruit and vegetables, such as carrot or apple
Which weaning approach is best for your baby?
Like many aspects of weaning, there is not just one right path to take. The two most common weaning ‘methods’ are:
- Spoon-led/purees – often referred to as ‘traditional weaning’
- Finger foods and adapting family meals – often referred to as baby-led weaning
- Or a combination of both – including puréed or mashed foods, alongside finger foods
There are potential benefits and challenges to all of these methods, but it's most important to choose an approach that feels right for you and your baby. The end goal for both approaches is the same – for your baby to learn and develop the skills and experience they need to manage a balanced and varied diet.
Regardless of the approach you choose, it is also important to be led by your baby and follow their hunger and fullness cues at mealtimes. You can find out more about responsive feeding here.
If you’d like to read Lucy’s answers to questions about finger foods, cups, allergens and how much your baby ‘should’ be eating – keep reading here.