Baby Weaning Tips

BABY WEANING TIPS Having a healthy diet during pregnancy, by breastfeeding and feeding your baby a healthy varied weaning diet, will help to ensure that your baby gets the best start in life. This can be a time with lots of questions so here are a few tips. At around 6 months Introducing solids - runny and smooth purees Why ? Baby's needs are changing and milk is no longer sufficient on its own. Caution: • Weaning should begin around 6 months of age, not before 17 weeks and no later then 26 weeks • New foods should be introduced slowly, 1-2 days apart. Introducing a variety of fruit and vegetables now will set your baby up to be WOW ! a good eater into the future! Suggested first foods Pureed carrot, parsnip, pear, banana, baby rice. 6-9 months Thicker purees, mashed/minced food and soft finger foods Why ? • Increasing textures is important for baby's development. • Introducing soft finger foods allows baby to learn self-feeding. • Iron rich foods are important for brain development. WOW ! Most of your baby's energy goes directly towards brain development which grows the most in their first 2 years! Suggested foods Fish pie, Shepherd's Pie, mashed chicken and vegetables. Soft finger foods Banana, soft cooked carrot sticks, soft cooked pieces of pasta. 9-12 months Lumpy foods, chopped foods and harder finger foods Why ? • Introducing lumpy foods from around 9 months is important to develop baby's ability to speak. • Encouraging self-feeding is good for hand-eye coordination. Babies' tastes are constantly changing and with some new foods it can take WOW! 10-15 times before they will accept it! Suggested foods Chicken casserole, beef stew, fish cakes, omelettes. Firmer finger foods Cubes of cheese, cooked broccoli florets, apple pieces, unsalted rice cakes. Weaning portion sizes Stage Number of meals Approx. portion size Textures Stage 1 (Around 6 months) First tastes 1 1-2 tsps. Very runny First 1-2 weeks 6 tsps. Smooth puree (New foods should be introduced slowly, 1-2 days apart) Moving on 2-3 5-10 tsps. Slightly thicker puree with no lumps Stage 2 (6-9 months) 3 2-4 tablespoons Minced/mashed with soft lumps and soft finger foods & introduce a beaker Stage 3 (9-12 months) 3 meals and 2-3 4-6 tablespoons Lumpy foods, chopped foods & snacks harder pieces of finger food Remember! • Cows' milk is not recommended as a main milk drink before 12 months of age but small amounts can be used in foods from 6 months. • Never leave your baby alone while feeding. • Brush their teeth especially before bed time. • Introduce a cup or beaker gradually from about 6 months. By 12 months, all drinks other than breastfeeds should be from a non-lidded beaker. • The Department of Health & children and the Health Services Executive recommends that babies take a daily 5µg Vitamin D supplement from birth to 12 months to aid calcium absorption to help form healthy bones. Baby facts • Baby's birth weight doubles by around 6 months and trebles by around year 1. • By the time they are 7 months, your baby needs almost as much daily iron as a 30 year old man! • Most babies start crawling between 7 and 10 months, but remember that they develop at their own pace. • Most babies take their first steps between 9-12 months but don't worry if it takes a little longer. IMPORTANT NOTICE: *Breastfeeding is best for your baby as it is perfectly suited to nourish babies and protect them from illnesses such as ear infections, stomach upsets, diabetes, eczema and obesity. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, you eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast and bottle feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of your own breastmilk, and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. The social and financial implications of using an infant milk should be considered. Improper use of an infant milk or inappropriate foods or feeding methods may present a health hazard. If you use an infant milk, you should follow manufacturer's instructions for use carefully - failure to follow the instructions may make your baby ill. Always consult your doctor, midwife or public health nurse for advice about feeding your baby. REFERENCES [1] www.safefood.eu [2] www.aptaclub.ie 3] www.aptaclub.ie/finger-foods-your-baby-will-love Aptaclub www.aptaclub.ie