Watch for Signs of Weaning Readiness!

A baby is probably ready for weaning if she or he can hold their head steadily in an upright position and sit with support. Also, observe if she or he seems interested in what others are eating. If they open their mouth when they see food coming their way, then they are prepared for new foods.

The best time to wean your baby onto solid food is at about age 4-6 months. This is because your baby's mouth will start to change around that time to help your baby cope with the transition. Another guide is to start when baby doubles in weight.
Before then your baby's digestive system and kidneys are able to cope only with breast milk and formula. But don't leave it too late as baby may find it difficult to adapt to swallowing food, and will need a balanced varied diet.

Always check with your Pediatrician before starting to feed your baby solids!

What You Will Need:

• Bibs - and plenty of them! At first baby will spit out more than is swallowed and feeding will be very messy.
• Lidded containers for storing food.
• The Wean Machine™ You could manage with a fork and a sieve, but the one thing you won't have plenty of is time, so The Wean Machine™ will make life easier.
• A high chair - may not be necessary at this stage unless baby can sit up unaided, so feed while baby is in your lap, or in a seat that supports his/her head.

Foods to try! and Some to avoid:

• Baby rice is usually the first solid for babies, it has a low protein content and is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Mix with milk (expressed breast milk or formula) to make the rice easier to swallow. Rice also has the advantage that it can be mixed with both vegetables and fruit, so after a few days, mix in a little puréed potato, vegetable or fruit.
• You may wish to start with vegetables to ensure the baby establishes a taste for savory foods as well as the sweeter fruits.
• Foods to try include: potato, carrot, swede, parsnip, sweet potato; and apple, banana and pear. Cook where appropriate and purée. If the result is too dry or lumpy, add milk (breast milk or formula).
• Avoid cow's milk until baby is about 12 months old. Other dairy products like cheese and yoghurt can be introduced after a month or so.
• Avoid soft-boiled eggs; nuts; blue-veined cheese; salt; sugar; honey; (until the age of 12 months it can cause botulism) or sweeteners, including those found in fruit drinks and squashes; bread and pasta; and rusks.

The Transition:

The move from milk to solid food can take place only gradually. At first, solids should take the place of one of the milk feeds. Then, over the next 3 or 4 months, introduce more solid food and cut down on the milk; and chop and cut food rather than purée after a few weeks.

Vegetarian:
If you are vegetarian and want your baby to avoid meat and fish, this should not be a problem. The same nutrients present in meat are also available in other foods and you will be familiar with what is required for a balanced diet.

However, if you are a vegan, your baby could miss out on certain vitamins as well as sufficient protein. Prolong breastfeeding as long as possible, and take expert advice on any necessary supplements.

Baby's In Charge:
Of course no two babies are the same and there are no rules laid down regarding exact timing. Appetites vary too and your baby will tell you by her or his actions whether she or he needs to be 'topped-up' with a bottle.