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Weaning is the process of switching an infant's diet from breast milk or formula to other foods and fluids. In most cases, choosing when to wean is a personal decision. It might be influenced by a return to work, the mother's or infant's health, or just a feeling that the time is right.1.
- Overview
- When Are Babies Ready for Solid Food?
- Traditional vs Baby-Led Approach
- First Tastes
- Building up Solids
- Foods to Avoid
- Tips for Successful Weaning
- Potential Dangers
- The Bottom Line
Weaning is the process by which babies who were fully reliant on milk are introduced to solid foods.
It starts with the first mouthful of food and ends with the last feed of breastmilk or formula milk (1).
When and how solid foods are introduced is vital to establishing healthy eating habits and limiting fussy eating.
This article provides successful weaning tips, including foods to choose and avoid, proper timing and potential concerns.
Most health experts recommend that babies begin getting solid food at around 4-6 months of age (2, 3, 4, 5).
Six months is often recommended because babies, at this age, begin to need extra nutrients not found in milk, such as iron and zinc (6, 7).
Small amounts of solid food can provide these nutrients.
Experts also suggest looking for signs that a baby is developmentally ready for solids. These include (8, 9):
•Sitting up well
•Good head control
Weaning is typically divided into two main approaches: traditional and baby-led.
There is no one correct way to start your baby on solids. That said, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach can help you make the best decision for you and your baby.
First tastes are important for developing good eating habits and exposing your infant to a wide variety of flavors.
When introducing new foods, remember that the amount eaten is less important than the number of foods tried. In the beginning stages of weaning, your baby will still get most of its nutrition from breastmilk or formula.
Try to make this a positive experience for your baby by allowing them to play with, touch and taste new foods.
Around an hour after a milk feed and when your baby isn’t too tired is often a good time to try food. Mixing foods with a little breastmilk or formula milk can improve acceptance.
Appropriate first foods include:
•Soft, cooked vegetables: Broccoli, carrot, potato, sweet potato, butternut squash, pumpkin, peas — pureed, mashed or served as finger food
Once your baby is around 4-6 months old and regularly eating solid food, you can offer a wider variety in order to slowly build up to three meals daily.
Make sure to offer different textures and watch for signs that your baby is full.
You can begin including:
•Meat, poultry and fish: Ensure these are soft and easy to manage. Remove any bones.
•Eggs: Make sure they’re cooked well.
•Full-fat dairy products: Plain yogurt and cheese are good options.
Although it’s important that your baby eats a wide variety of foods, there are some foods that should be avoided, including (12, 13, 14):
•Honey: Never give honey to infants under the age of 12 months due to the risk of botulism, a serious form of food poisoning.
•Undercooked eggs: These may contain Salmonella bacteria, which can make your baby ill.
•Unpasteurized dairy products: Pasteurization kills bacteria in dairy products that may cause infection.
•Sugary, salty or highly processed foods or drinks: These usually supply very few nutrients. Sugar can damage teeth, and babies’ kidneys cannot cope with too much salt. Avoid adding salt to family meals.
•Whole nuts: Do not give to babies and children under 5 years due to choking risk. Consult your pediatrician before introducing nut products if there’s a family history of nut allergies or if your child has other allergies.
Certain practices can ease the weaning process. Here are a few tips:
1.Babies naturally prefer sweeter tastes. Therefore, try to offer vegetables prior to fruit to limit the chances that your baby will reject vegetables.
2.Offer plenty of variety. Try to avoid giving the same foods repeatedly. If your baby doesn’t like certain foods, keep introducing it and try mixing that food with a well-liked food until your child becomes familiar.
3.Do not force your baby to eat more than they want to, as they usually stop when they have had enough.
4.Make mealtimes relaxed and allow your baby to make a mess. This encourages babies to experiment more with food and create a positive association with eating.
5.Plan ahead by freezing batches of food in ice cube trays or small containers if you don’t want to cook every day.
Food Allergies
Although a varied diet is important, there a chance that your baby may be allergic to certain foods. The risk is much higher if there is a family history of food allergies or if your child has eczema (15). Despite popular belief, there is no evidence that delaying the introduction of certain foods after 6 months of age will prevent allergies (16). Meanwhile, there is some evidence to suggest that introducing almost all foods between 4 and 6 months of age may reduce the risk of allergies and celiac disease (17, 18). In fact, several observational studies found that introducing a variety of foods earlier than 6 months may prevent food allergies — especially in higher-risk children (18, 19). If you have any concerns about food allergies, be sure to talk to your pediatrician.
Choking
Choking can be a significant concern when starting a baby on solid food. However, it’s important to know that gagging is a completely normal part of learning to eat. It acts as a safety reflex to prevent babies from choking (20). Signs of gagging include opening the mouth and thrusting the tongue forward, spluttering and/or coughing. Your baby may appear red in the face. It is important not to panic or get very anxious when a baby gags. However, choking is much more serious. It occurs when food blocks the airways, meaning that your baby cannot breathe properly. Signs include turning blue, silence and inability to make noise. Your baby may also start coughing or — in severe cases — lose consciousness. Here are some helpful tips to reduce the risk of choking: •Sit your baby upright while eating. •Never leave your baby unattended while eating. •Avoid high-risk foods, such as whole nuts, grapes, popcorn, blueberries and meat and fish that could contain bones. •Don’t give too much food at once or force-feed your baby. If your child does choke, you should be aware of appropriate next steps. Taking a first aid course can be helpful. If you feel that your child is choking and isn’t able to cough up the food, call emergency services immediately. Summary Food allergies and choking are common concerns during weaning. That said, certain practices — such as introducing foods individually and avoiding certain high-risk foods — can substantially reduce the risk.
Weaning is a vital process in which your baby transitions from breastmilk or formula to food.
Whether you choose baby-led or traditional weaning, or a mix of both, you should begin giving your baby soft fruits, veggies and cereals at around 4-6 months.
You can then progress to other foods.
Keep in mind that you’ll want to avoid certain foods and keep an eye out for allergies and choking.
Jul 9, 2021 · At some point, either you or your child will be ready to stop breastfeeding. Weaning from breastfeeding is the process of switching a baby’s diet from breast milk to other foods and drinks. Read on to learn more about when and how to wean.
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