Preparing for weaning and beyond

Six months is also the time most babies are showing signs that they are ready for weaning, meaning they are usually showing these three key signs:  

• They can sit upright in a seated position and hold their head steady.  

• They have developed their hand-eye coordination and can bring food to their mouth.  

• They can swallow more food than is pushed out. This is the tongue thrust reflex, which starts to disappear around 4-6 months.   

Introducing solid foods is a fun learning curve for your little one as they will be learning new skills such as putting food in their mouth, biting and chewing.  

There are two main approaches to weaning: baby-led weaning, where the baby takes the lead in feeding themselves with pieces of finger food and spoon-led weaning with purees. I find a combination of both methods works well as your baby then benefits from getting used to feeding themselves and different textures as well as getting used to having a spoon in their mouth. There is no right or wrong, however, and it is about what works for you and your baby.  

In the lead-up to weaning, it can be worth spending a bit of time planning and thinking about your baby’s first meals. You can even prep ahead some foods to pop in the freezer.  

You don’t need much to start your weaning journey, but you will need a few basic items. See my equipment checklist below for the essentials.  

Equipment checklist 

• Highchair – Supportive highchair, ideally with a footrest, so your baby is in a good, seated position.  

• Bowls – suction bowls are great as chances are they will be picked up and thrown!  

• Weaning spoons – Soft spoons that are gentle on little gums  

• Ice cube tray – Great for freezing small portions and purees  

• Blender – A stick blender or any sort of blender can be helpful, but not essential, as most things can be adequately mashed with the back of a fork.  

• Cups – It is good to introduce sips of water so your baby can start to learn the skill of drinking from a cup.  

• Bibs – Long-sleeved and catch-all bibs are handy, as chances are it will get messy. 

It is recommended to start with single tastes of vegetables that aren’t so sweet, such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, before going on to combinations of vegetables and sweeter foods like fruits. There is some evidence to suggest that by doing this, you help encourage acceptance of a wider range of flavours and not just a preference for sweeter tastes.  

For first meals, that might look like some pureed broccoli maybe mixed with a little of baby’s usual milk served alongside some soft, cooked broccoli florets.  

Once underway with weaning and you have introduced a range of foods, including allergens, dairy, in particular yogurt, can be a nutritious addition to your little one’s diet. Dairy provides a range of nutrients such as protein, calcium and B vitamins, to name but a few.  

I often find that adding Yeo Valley Organic Natural Yogurt to foods like curries, pasta sauces, and dips is a great way to help nurture babies’ developing palettes. Little Yeos No-Added-Sugar yogurts are also an easy win for fuss free mealtimes. Made with 100% organic ingredients, they have certainly been a much-loved addition to my children’s weaning journeys.  

Weaning is full of ups and downs, often it feels like there is more food on the floor than in the mouth. Things don’t always go to plan, but when Little Yeos come out in my house there is always a smile.     

Extra resources 

British Nutrition Foundation 

https://www.nutrition.org.uk/nutrition-for/baby/introducing-solid-foods-to-your-baby/ 

NHS Start for life  

https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/ 

Charlotte Stirling-Reed 

https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/