Truly Scrumptious Baby: My complete feeding and weaning plan for 6 months and beyond. Holly Willoughby
fussy baby on your hands if you delay weaning for too long!
The most-up-to-date NHS advice recommends exclusive breast- or formula feeding up to six months, with no solids being introduced at all before that time. There are two important factors to bear in mind here. Firstly, breast milk and formula contain all the nutrients your baby needs for healthy development during the first six months of life (see here). And, secondly, before four months your baby’s intestines and kidneys simply aren’t mature enough to filter out potentially harmful substances and absorb the good bits. It’s generally best to wait until six months, otherwise weaning can be harmful, leaving him at risk from infection and developing allergies. If you have a strong family history of food allergy, it’s even more important you don’t begin the weaning process too early, as your child may be more at risk than most.
Having said that, babies do develop at different rates and so if you believe your baby is showing all the signs of being ready (see advice here) then do visit your GP and get their advice. In rare cases, weaning from as early as four months can be beneficial. My GP recommended I start introducing solids to Chester from about four months, because of his severe reflux. I started him on a little baby rice for breakfast and I think the fact that it was more solid, and therefore heavier than milk, definitely helped him to keep it down. He had been in so much pain after a feed as the milk came back up, bringing the acid burn with it, I think he almost started to dread feeding, even though he was so desperately hungry. I found that splitting (and eventually replacing) some milk feeds with a portion of baby rice definitely helped him through those painful few weeks. On the flip side, pre-term babies can be advised to wait between five and eight months after their birth date before starting weaning, as their internal development may be slower and therefore more immature at 4–6 months than for a baby born at full term.
In my experience – and excuse the pun – listen to your gut! You’ll know if your baby is ready. All babies are different and develop at varying rates, so you are the best person to assess whether your child is ready to move on to solids. And if you feel even the slightest bit uneasy about your decision, particularly if your baby is younger than six months, then ask your GP or the health visitor for their thoughts on your individual situation. Together you’ll get it right.
SIGNS THAT YOUR BABY MIGHT BE READY
Once your baby is six months old, there will be signs that he is ready to start weaning. I remember Harry and Belle just staring at me intently when we were all sitting down together at the table, watching my fork move from plate to mouth. They were completely transfixed by the action of eating – all but drooling. There are a few key signs that your baby might be ready to take to solids. They should be able to do all of these things to some capacity before you embark on weaning. Remember, though, that NHS guidelines state that milk alone is enough to sustain a baby up to six months old, so these might just indicate that he’s in need of a bit more sustenance to get him through a growth spurt!
Tongue-thrust reflex
All babies are born with the tongue-thrust reflex, which prevents them from choking when they are really young. If you put something they aren’t used to on their tongue, you’ll see them push their tongue straight out to expel the foreign object rather than pulling it back to swallow. From about four months, this reflex starts to diminish and he’ll start taking food into his mouth rather than just automatically pushing it out – this is a good sign. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that even when he does start taking food into his mouth, swallowing is the next step, which might come slightly later and which is why some babies might gag initially. They don’t have teeth, so they’re not chewing but sucking or grinding the food between their gums until it is small enough to swallow. This is why smooth purées are among the best first foods.
Sitting up
To sit up in a feeding chair, your baby needs strong neck and head control. If you think about it, up until now you’ve cuddled your baby during his breast- or bottle feeds, so introducing solids while he’s sitting up in a chair is a far less intimate experience for him. It’s crucial that he’s strong enough to hold himself upright and that he’s sitting comfortably before you begin.
Reaching for food
Babies love to imitate. If you find your little one is starting to reach for things you’re putting in your mouth, the chances are he’s ready to have a go himself. Offering soft sticks of food is a great way of allowing him to start exploring food for himself at his own pace. See if his motor skills are developed enough for him to grab and aim the food into his mouth. (Letting your baby take the lead is the approach taken throughout baby-led weaning – see here.) If you’re spoon-feeding, you might find your baby takes more if you give him his own spoon to hold so he feels as if he’s feeding himself.
HOW TO START
The secret to the whole weaning process is (where possible) to make sure the conditions are right, and this includes the feeding environment. First and foremost, brace yourself for mess! When they start weaning, babies are constantly throwing stuff on the floor and at you. You can always guarantee that the moment you do manage to get a fully loaded spoon into their mouths, they decide to sneeze it all over the table. It’s a messy business, but it doesn’t last for ever and, with a pack of wet wipes at the ready, rather than dealing with Armageddon in one hit at the end, you can sort it out in controlled stages.
FEEDING ENVIRONMENT
Feeding chair and adjustable harness
Whether you choose a Bumbo or high chair with its own table, or one that pulls up or fixes to the dining table (see here), the most important thing is for it to have an adjustable harness. It’s imperative your baby is comfortable and well supported. If he’s slouching, or there’s any pressure on his tummy, it can affect feeding and lead to discomfort.
Indestructible bowl!
Any bowl that’s not going to smash if it gets swiped to the floor – which, believe me, it will at some juncture! If you can bear to, allow messy play to let your baby explore for himself. Let him handle food, feel the texture and try to put it in his mouth. (For more on weaning bowls and spoons, see here.)
TIME OF DAY
Try to make sure your baby hasn’t had too many milk feeds throughout the day, so he’s hungry enough to eat. On the other hand, it’s important that he’s not starving when you sit him down for a meal, as he won’t get the same quick fix his desperate tummy needs from a teaspoon of carrot purée as he would a bottle of milk, and the whole situation may deteriorate into a hot mess.
You need to pick a time of the day when you aren’t in a rush, and most importantly when your baby is contented. With all of mine, their first ever taste of solid food was a breakfast of baby rice. I’d begin the process first thing in the morning after waking. I’d make up the usual morning bottle and a small amount of baby rice, using some of the milk from the feed. It’s important to use that milk rather than additional milk, so as to avoid overfeeding. Then I’d hide the bottle from hungry little eyes, make baby comfortable in the feeding chair and offer a sip of water from a sippy cup, followed by a spoonful or so of baby rice. I’d only keep going until their interest waned and then would finish up with the usual morning bottle.
How much they eat depends entirely on your baby, but you should start to see them taking more as the days go by. Remember, it’s a new and strange sensation for them, so keep the process as relaxed as possible. It’s important to be guided by your baby as to how much solid food he wants and how much milk. Babies know when their tummies are full and learning to stop when they’ve had enough is a