How to wean a baby

For a few months, I’ve spent a fair amount of time reading up on weaning babies. There are many ways that people have used to wean their babies. The three most common ones are spoon fed, baby led, and a mixture of both. I’ll add some links at the bottom of this post to give you more information. In the meantime, here’s a quick look at the three types of weaning:

Spoon fed weaning
This is when you purée food and slowly introduce it to your baby alongside breastfeeding or formula feeding. Progress on to mashed or chopped food as baby gets more and more confident with chewing and swallowing.

Baby led weaning
With this practice, you basically let your baby take the lead. By giving them what you’re eating at mealtime, you let them explore different textures, tastes, and shapes by themselves. Watch out for gagging and choking though.

Mixture of both
The method I’m currently using. I purée different vegetables and fruits and feed my little girl with a spoon. Sometimes, I let her try feeding herself with a soft boiled carrot or broccoli. I personally feel that this helps baby learn what she is eating and explore her food in her own time.

There is no right or wrong way of doing things. Speak to your health visitor and do what you feel is best for you and your baby. As long as you’re listening to your healthcare professionals and your own instincts, I think you’ll be absolutely fine. Remember, every parent and every baby is unique.

Tip: For a healthy start, try introducing vegetables and fruits first. Before moving on to meats.

I purée different vegetables, fruits and meats and batch freeze them. You may find it easier to use a freezer bag and label it as below. I use little heart icons to remind myself and my husband of what’s new, what is going down really well and what is okay. If baby doesn’t like something, try again in a few days. Don’t give up. Most importantly, try different foods. Don’t hesitate to try something just because you or someone else doesn’t like that particular fruit or veg. Also, try to introduce new food around people that are less likely to make disgusted faces or noises at what you’re feeding. I know a lot of people turn their noses at broccoli. To a baby, trying new things should always be a positive experience and not a negative one. Keep an eye out for allergies

See below links for information on allergies and how to spot them.