There’s no best way to wean your baby, but there sure are some tips for moms on feeding solid food to your baby and helping you along the way. It’s important to go slow and make sure both you and your little one are ready before moving on to the next step of your motherhood journey. The key to making this journey a smooth one is to be prepared, and we’ll show you how!
What is the ideal time to wean a baby?
There is no set time on when it’s best to start weaning your baby. You’re the best judge of it, and it really depends on when you and your baby are ready. However, if you’d like a rough gauge, you can start introducing your baby to solid food when she reaches six months old.
How do I know when my baby is ready for solid food?
There are a few signs that give you a good idea of when your baby is ready for solid food. For example, if your baby can sit up without support, starts putting things in their mouth, or demands milk more frequently than usual, then they are ready for weaning.
What textures of food should I feed my baby?
When you first start weaning, prepare purees for your baby. Once your baby is used to this, then you can slowly introduce more textures. It’s very important to let your baby try a variety of textures and food.
When your baby reaches seven to nine months old, you can let them eat mashed foods with a few small lumps. When your baby starts enjoying or getting used to small pieces of food, then you can introduce them to finger foods and even let them feed themselves with a spoon.
Which nutrients are important?
The key nutrients needed by your baby include iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids. When you start weaning your baby, focus on getting them used to solid food first, before making sure they get the right nutrients.
Should I begin cutting back on milk feeding while weaning?
Your baby will slowly start to feed less milk when they start weaning. In time, you’ll find that your baby will become less interested in milk and more keen on solid food. However, they still need at least 500 ml to 600 ml of milk until they reach 12 months old.
What solid food should I avoid?
If you have a family history of allergies or are unsure about it, try to avoid nuts in your baby’s diet. Don’t feed them whole nuts until they reach at least five years old. Try to avoid sugary or salty food, and be careful when feeding your child small pieces of fruit or vegetables that can cause your baby to choke.
What if I experience difficulty in weaning my baby?
If you have issues with weaning your baby, get help from a pediatrician so that you’ll be guided on how to properly make the transition from breast milk to other sources of nourishment successful.
These are just tips for moms on feeding solid food to babies. At Doctor Anywhere, you can book an appointment with licensed pediatricians online – they will be able to share advice and recommendations on feeding strategies to tackle your issues, whenever you need it.
Download the Doctor Anywhere app for free on App Store or Google Play Store to create an account for your child. In the absence of an ID, please use their birth certificate and the "Registry number" as their ID number.