Weaning
Weaning is the stage in your baby's life when he transitions from breast milk to other sources of nourishment.
When to wean is a personal decision. For you, it may be influenced by when you decide to return to work, the
health of you or your baby, or simply a feeling that it's the right time. Whenever you decide to wean your baby,
it's important to understand that weaning is a gradual process that calls for patience and understanding from both
you and your child.
Deciding When to Wean
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends feeding your child only breast milk for the first 6
months of life. After that, a combination of solid foods and breast milk should be given until your baby is at least
1 year old
Is my baby ready to start solids?
How do you know if your baby is ready to start on a more varied diet? Look for the following cues. Your baby:
can hold her head up
It's important that your baby is able to maintain a steady, upright position in order to take first foods from a
spoon.
sits well when supported
You may have to support her initially -- a highchair can be pulled into action a bit later when she's able to sit up
all by herself.
makes chewing motions Your baby should be able to move food to the back of her mouth and swallow. As your
baby learns to swallow efficiently you may notice her drooling decrease. At six months your baby may even have
a tooth or two.
has gained a healthy weight Most babies are ready to eat semi-solids when they've doubled their birth weight,
which may take place before or around their sixth month.
Displays curiosity about what you're eating. Your baby begins eyeing your meals and reaches out to try foods
traveling from plate to mouth.
How should I begin to introduce a mixed diet?
Offer your baby her usual breast milk or formula. When she is nearly satisfied, give her about one or two
teaspoons of dry cereal mixed with enough formula or breast milk to make a soupy solution. (The Department of
Health recommends iron-enriched infant rice cereal as a starter food.) Give this to your baby on a soft rubber-
tipped spoon once a day and then finish with her milk feed. This way, she won't be so hungry that she is too
frustrated to try the new food, and not too full to be interested. It doesn't have to be the morning feed; pick a time
that's convenient for both you and your baby.
At first, your baby will seem to eat very little, and it may take a while to get even that small amount into her. Do
be patient with your little one and remember it may take a little time for her to learn these new skills.
When your baby is eating two to three tablespoons of cereal a day, try adding another food. As she begins to eat
and develops more of a side-to-side grinding motion, add a little less liquid so the texture becomes thicker. This
allows your baby to work on chewing (gumming) and swallowing.
Your baby's appetite will vary from one feed to the next, so watch for cues that she's full. A baby who refuses to
open up for the next bite, turns away, or starts playing with her food is probably full.
How should I introduce more solid foods?
New foods should be introduced slowly, one at a time. Your baby needs time to get used to each new taste and
texture. Also, careful introduction of different foods will allow you to watch for signs of a possible allergic
reaction, such as diarrhea, tummy aches, or rashes. Try adding one new food every few days, starting with yellow
fruits and vegetables, which are easy for babies to digest. Some experts advise beginning with green veggies, as
babies can sometimes get fixed on the sweeter taste of fruits and yellow vegetables and may not give peas and
beans a fighting chance!
Start by offering your baby a few tablespoons of fruit or vegetables in the same meal as a cereal feed. Good foods
to start with: ripe pureed apple, bananas, carrots, peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, parsnips, cauliflower and
butternut squash. Try mixing to a sloppy consistency with boiled, cooled water or breast or formula milk. You can
also try baby rice, maize, cornmeal or millet cereal.
If you get a negative reaction from your baby, offer the food again a few days later. She may always turn up her
nose at some foods, but continue to offer them in hope that they become more appealing.
From 4-6 months: During the first couple of weeks of weaning, your baby needs to learn that foods have
different textures and taste, and that it doesn’t come in continuous flow.
You can start off with:
Baby should be still having 600ml of breast or infant formula milk daily.
Starchy foods: Initially cereal is used such as baby rice or sago (sabudana).
Mashed, pureed, starchy vegetables are also suitable e.g.- potato, carrot, sweet potato, yam (suran). Try
combining some of these foods together.
Vegetables and fruits: soft cooked pureed vegetables and fruits are suitable e.g.: apple, banana, pear,
mango and chickoo. (Do not add sugar)
Non fibrous vegetables e.g. cauliflower, pureed spinach, lauki (bottle gourd, dudhi)
Remember:
1. The aim is to get the baby used to taking food from a spoon-Start with teaspoonful (quantities will be small)
and milk will still be major sources of nutrients)
2. Foods should be not be salted or sweetened.
3. Don’t press food on your baby-If the food doesn’t seem to be wanted, wait and try again another day.
4. To try the food after a milk feed or in the middle of one
5. If food is hot, you make sure you stir it and test it again
What about finger foods?
As baby grows more experienced, you can increase the thickness of the foods offered to include chunkier soft
lumps and mashed foods. At about seven to nine months, your baby is ready for finger foods cut into bite-sized
bits. Some ideal first finger foods that can be easily gummed and digested are: bread, ripe bananas, cantaloupe
melon, tender cooked carrots and sweet potatoes, breakfast cereals (avoid those with peanuts if you have a family
history of allergies) and cooked pasta shapes. Never leave your baby alone when eating because of the risk of
choking.
Are there foods I should avoid?
There are foods that you are advised to avoid for the first six to eight months, as they have been known to upset a
baby or cause an allergic reaction.
These include:
1. Nuts and seed foods
2. Shellfish
3. Exotic or citrus fruits
4. Eggs and egg products such as custard
5. Cow's milk
6. Foods which contain gluten to bulk them out
What should I give my toddler to eat?
By the time she reaches her first birthday your toddler can eat most of the same foods you do (see
'Foods to Avoid' section). As a general rule foods can be put into four main groups and you should try to
give your child 2 to 3 foods from each of these groups every day.
FOODS GROUPS WHAT IS THIS GOOD FOR?
Milk and dairy products Strong, healthy bones and teeth
e.g. Cheese, yoghurt, ice-cream
Starchy foods Energy to meet extra growing needs
e.g. Bread, pasta, rice, cereals, potatoes
Vegetables and fruit Builds natural immunity
General healthy growth and development
Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans & pulses Strong muscles and bones. Healthy brain and eye
development
How can I encourage her to eat?
By this age your toddler is probably becoming quite independent and may prefer to feed herself. Let her
experiment using a spoon and fork - you never know some of it may end up in her mouth! Many toddlers
enjoy eating much more sophisticated food than we would imagine so introduce lots of foods with
different tastes and textures.
Make mealtimes fun
o Choose foods that are naturally brightly coloured to make meals more
appealing
o Vary the foods you offer
o Encourage your child to eat by herself - offer finger foods such as cooked
chicken strips or cheese cubes
o Let your child help prepare meals - simple things like stirring the jelly or
arranging things on her plate can help her learn about food
o Let your child try foods from your plate - what she sees as `grown-up' food
may be more appealing
o Encourage a fussy eater to eat by varying meal locations - try a picnic in the garden or eating in
her playroom
o Eat as a family as much as possible - it will encourage your child to
enjoy mealtimes
