Curious about the best ways to give your baby his first solid foods? This article will give you a complete guide to know when and how to wean your baby!

Weaning, or complementary feeding, is a feeding practice wherein breastmilk is complemented with solid foods to make up for the increased nutritional needs of a growing baby.

According to experts, most babies are biologically and physiologically ready to receive their first solid foods by the time they reach 6 months of age. However, there isn’t really a right or wrong time when to start weaning. It’s important that moms observe their baby’s feeding habits to know when they can begin consuming solid foods.

The amount, variety, and texture of solid foods that your baby eats will change as they get older. Weaning can be done properly through timely, adequate, sufficient, and safe complementary feeding practices. Start healthy eating habits as early as possible by giving your child nutritious foods like vegetables, fruits, eggs, starches, pasteurized dairy, and meats. Breastfeeding is encouraged for as long as the mom and baby desire.

In A Nutshell…

• Weaning is the process of feeding solid foods and liquids to provide the needed nutrients that are no longer supplied adequately by breast milk alone.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend weaning to begin at 6 months, as this is the period wherein breast milk could no longer provide adequate amounts of iron, zinc, and other fat-soluble vitamins.
• Figuring out when to start weaning your baby is completely dependent on the baby’s readiness to feed itself. Mothers should pay attention to the baby’s developmental signs and basic eating skills
• Gradually introducing solid foods is important when initiating weaning. Give small quantities, start with pureed and well-mashed foods, and give solid foods only twice a day at the first try. Over time, increase the amount, change the texture from mashed to small cut up pieces, and give solid foods more frequently.
• Be wary of safety during food handling and preparation of weaning foods. Babies still have weak immunity and intestinal tracts that puts them at greater risk for foodborne illnesses. Always wash, clean, and store foods and equipment properly.

Story Time

I was so excited to introduce solids to my first born that on the exact day he turned 6 months. I gave him his first puree. It didn’t really seem like a big deal to him, but still, I was excited to experiment with different foods he might like.

However, with my second baby, I very slowly introduced solids at 7 months, and with no particular pattern just every few days. The experience was so different I felt that he enjoyed the foods but felt satisfied too knowing that his boobie was still there readily available.

What I am trying to say is that there is no rush to introduce solid. In reality, breastmilk still has a lot of nutrition after 6 months, and I think it’s important that your baby feel comfortable and ready to start solids.

What Is Weaning?

Weaning is the process of introducing solid foods and liquids as breast milk alone would no longer be sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of a growing child.

During the infant stages, babies grow and develop at a rapid pace. Although breast milk delivers a wide range of benefits for your child, it can only sufficiently do so for the first 4 to 6 months. After which, your baby has a greater demand for certain nutrients, like iron, zinc, vitamin D, and other essential fat-soluble vitamins. This can only be best supplied by introducing other foods like vegetables, fruits, protein, cereals and more.

Weaning is also called complementary feeding for a reason. Your baby’s first foods should be complementing and not replacing breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends solid foods to be offered by 6 months along with breast milk for at least the first year. Breastfeeding is still encouraged even after your baby turns a year old and for as long as they desire.

When Is The Right Time To Wean Your Baby?

Listening to another mom’s experience on weaning can leave you anxious when it’s your baby’s turn to wean. Despite the countless advice you’d hear from your other mom friends, here’s what the experts have got to say.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, and after, breastfeeding should continue alongside feeding solid foods for at least 12 months or longer. The World Health Organization (WHO) also share the same recommendation while giving greater emphasis on the advocacy for extended breastfeeding. For the WHO, it’s best to continue breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond.

Why Wait For Your Baby’s 6th Month Until You Can Wean?

• Breast milk has complete nutrition. Breast milk can provide the necessary nutrients and energy your baby’s needs up until this period. There’s no need to give any additional foods, liquids, vitamins, and supplements for your baby if they’re less than six months.
• Benefits of exclusive breastfeeding. Studies have shown that exclusive breastfeeding maximizes the benefits your baby can get from breast milk. A mother’s milk contains valuable components that can lower your baby’s risk for asthma, allergies, infections, diarrhea, and other respiratory illnesses.
• Developing the digestive system. An infant’s digestive tract is still premature by the time it is born. Babies need to wait until their bodies are ready to consume and break down these solid foods.
• Basic eating skills. Your baby needs time to develop basic eating skills like feeding themselves, moving food around the mouth, chewing, and swallowing.

Although the recommendations are in place, you can’t neglect the fact that every child is different. Some may require early weaning, while other infants might need to postpone their first foods.

Practicing Responsive Feeding

Babies signal many hints to show hunger even if they can’t talk yet. As with breastfeeding, weaning also requires the skill of responsive feeding — being able to pay attention and respond to a baby’s hunger cues.

Ultimately, the decision when to wean would be dependent on whether your child is developmentally ready to eat solid foods. This can be observed through simple signs and actions, such as the following:

• Sitting up with minimal support
• Showing good head control
• Trying to grab food off the plate
• Turning head to refuse food when not hungry
• Acting hungry even after breastfeeding
• Tongue thrusting reflex (tongue movement that allows food to pushed out of the mouth)
• Mouth action of chewing and swallowing

Practice responsive feeding by:

• Feeding infants directly and assist them once they become skilled to feed themselves
• Offer their favorite foods and encourage children to eat when they are losing interest
• Experiment with foods that they dislike by combining it with other foods, playing with taste, textures, and methods of encouragement
• Talk to your child during feeding
• Feed patiently and slowly and minimize distractions during eating times
• Do not force feed your child

When Should You Delay Weaning?

A gradual transitioning of your child’s feeding results in successful weaning, so it’s best to take it slow. You can see if you have rushed weaning too quickly through your child’s behavior. Watch out for the following signs:

• Increased tantrums
• Regressive behavior
• Waking up in the night
• Separation anxiety
• Clinginess

There are certain cases where a child may not be ready to wean yet, despite them showing all the developmental signs for self-feeding. Consider delaying weaning when:

• • Your baby is sick or teething. Getting sick or going through teething are painful and frustrating times for your child. They are more likely to seek the comfort of your breast to deal with the stresses of being sick. Nursing with breast milk is also extremely beneficial in fighting off infections because of the disease-fighting compounds found in breast milk.
  • Your baby just isn’t ready. Continuously refusing and resisting all attempts to wean may just be a sign that it isn’t the right time to wean. Be patient and wait for another month to try weaning again.
  • You or your family are going through changes. Moving to a new house, entering your child in daycare, and needing to go back to work require major adjustments for your baby. Weaning them during these periods becomes more of a challenge.

How To Wean Your Baby?

The amount and variety of foods that children need will increase as they get older. Babies older than 6 months still largely benefit from breastfeeding. From 6 to 12 months, breast milk can only provide half the nutritional needs of the child. After their first year, it can only provide about a third of your child’s nutritional requirements. However, extended breastfeeding is still encouraged as they provide immunological benefits that can protect your young one from different illnesses.

A successful weaning experience is guided by these 4 characteristics:

1. Timely. Infants should start receiving foods in addition to breast milk 6 months onwards. This is the time when the need for energy and nutrients exceed what can be provided through exclusive and frequent breastfeeding.
2. Adequate. Your baby’s first foods should be given in the right amounts, frequency, and consistency using a variety of foods to cover the nutritional needs of a growing child, alongside continued breastfeeding.
3. Properly Fed. Solid foods should be given in response to a child’s signal of hunger. The frequency of meals and feeding methods should then be suitable for the child’s age.
4. Safe. Your baby is still highly prone to foodborne illnesses. Foods should be prepared and given in the safest manner. The proper measure should be taken to minimize the risk of contamination. Your baby’s food should be hygienically stored and prepared, and fed with clean hands using clean utensils.

Think your child is ready to wean? Patience, mommyz! This will take some time and a lot of adjustments. The number one trick to weaning right is by doing it slowly. To guide you, here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about weaning.

How Much Food and How Often Should You Feed?

Remember that the early stages of weaning are about complementation. Breast milk would still be the recommended main source of nutrition for babies 6 to 12 months old. However, it may be difficult to know whether or not you’re feeding your child enough. Remember though, your baby only has a small belly and wouldn’t be able to hold a lot of food.

Keep these pointers in mind if you want to start weaning:

• Begin with small quantities. Introduce solid foods by giving just about 1 to 2 tablespoons of specific foods.
• Watch out for signs. If your baby reaches or points at food, opens mouth when offered a spoon, or gets excited at the sight of food, they are probably hungry. Consequently, when they push food away, close their mouth when food is offered or turns head away from food, they may be signaling that they are full.
• Think about frequency. A typically feeding pattern would be to give solid foods every 2 to 3 hours (about 5 to 6 times a day).

Feeding Recommendation Chart

Feed This: Weaning Foods and Drinks To Encourage

Establishing healthy eating patterns is essential to promote good nutrition as your child grows. That’s why it’s important to start nourishing your child with a good diet as early as possible so that they develop the interest and preference for healthy foods.

Looking for weaning food options? Here are the best foods to offer your child:

• Vegetables: cooked and mashed carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, beets, spinach
• Fruit: bananas, oranges, melons, strawberries, avocados
• Meats: eggs and soft and shredded pieces of chicken, fish, turkey, or beef
• Starches: rice, corn, potato, cereals, pasta, crackers, whole grain bread
• Dairy: pasteurized yogurts and cheeses
• Water: give about 4 to 6 ounces a day.
• Breast milk or infant formula

After the first year, your baby can explore more foods in different tastes and textures. Need ideas for the best weaning meals and snacks for your child, the USDA has a What’s Cooking page to help you out.

Skip That: Weaning Foods And Drinks To Limit And Avoid

At an early age, there is no nutritional benefit in giving your child foods that are high in salt and sugar. You should also be aware of the foods that are not yet safe to give to a baby less than 12 months of age. Here are some foods and drinks to avoid giving your child:

• Unpasteurized dairy foods. Milk, yogurts, cheeses, and some juices may contain a harmful bacteria called E.Coli. These can cause severe diarrhea.
• Honey. Honey can cause a deadly type of food poisoning called botulism for children less than a year old.
• Fortified cow’s milk. Studies have shown that babies less than 12 months old are at greater risk for intestinal bleeding as they contain proteins and minerals that are still indigestible for your child. They also do not provide the right nutrition for your baby’s needs.

It may be exciting to give your child your favorite sweets and chips, but it’s also unnecessary to give them these kinds of foods at their age. Limit the following food choices:

• Added sugars. Candies, cookies, ice cream, and cakes are foods that are high in sugar. The American Heart Association do not recommend giving these kinds of foods to children aged 2 and below.
• Salty foods. Canned foods, processed meats, and frozen dinners can be very high in sodiums. Sodium can also be found in some snack foods. Babies don’t need too much sodium in their diets.
• Juices. The AAP does not recommend babies less than a year old to drink 100% juices. Fruits are better options than fruit juices.
• Sodas, flavored milk, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Food Preparation and Safety Tips For Weaning Babies

Babies less than five years of age do not have the right immunological defenses to fight foodborne illness, infections, and health complications. They are at greater risk for food poisoning resulting in severe diarrhea and dehydration. It’s vital to practice good food preparation and handling to ensure that your child is eating safe and clean foods.

Food Safety And Preparation

The first step you can do to ensure food safety and preparation of weaning foods is to always wash your hands. Practice regular hand washing before and after handling food, and after using bathrooms, changing diapers, or handling pets.

Tips To Keep Your Baby’s Solid Food Safe

• Routinely clean your kitchen equipment, countertops, and appliances.
• Wash your dishcloths and kitchen towels frequently. These can harbor germs and bacteria.
• Always cook foods like meats and eggs thoroughly.
• Follow the storage procedures labeled on your commercial baby foods or follow this guide:

• Follow safe microwave practices if you wanna heat solid foods. Always transfer the solid foods in a microwavable container instead of its original jars to allow heat to transfer evenly. Microwave foods at 15-second intervals and stir. It’s not recommended to microwave solid foods more than once.
• Watch out for choking hazards. Mash or cut foods in small pieces to prevent choking. Always make your baby sit while eating.  

The Takeaway…

Weaning, also known as complementary feeding, allows your child to grow and fully develop by introducing solids foods while complementing breast milk to ensure that your child receives all its needed nutrients, most especially iron, zinc, and fat-soluble vitamins. Experts recommend weaning to begin at 6 months of age while still continuing breastfeeding. However, the decision of when to wean should depend on whether or not the child is developmentally ready to eat.

Learning how to wean should rely on the 4 characteristics of complementary feeding: timely, adequate, properly fed, and safe to eat. In the early stages of weaning, the most important thing to consider is being able to experiment with simple first foods like mashed vegetables, fruits, and starches. Gradually and over time, you should start increasing the amount, frequency, and consistency of the foods.

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