Knowing when to start your baby’s weaning journey can be confusing for parents, especially with your first baby.
With thanks to Laura Erskine, Parenting Expert with BabyDoc Club UK

There is a lot of conflicting information around when to begin your baby’s weaning journey but, in our view, it is important to give your baby at least two weeks to get used to solids. This will ensure that from six months your baby can move more quickly through the different stages of weaning.

It’s therefore ideal to start at around 5 ½ months. Do keep in mind that every child is different so here are some key signs to tell if your baby is ready to start their weaning journey or visit the NHS website for more information:

• They sit up well without support.
• They’re developing a ‘pincer’ grasp.
• They are starting to demand feeds more often.
• They are keen to participate at meal times and are ready or willing to chew.
• They have lost the tongue-thrust reflex and don’t automatically push solids out of their mouth.
• They are waking up during the night rather than sleeping through.

First Foods

The best first foods on their weaning journey will be easily digestible and will be smooth in texture (no lumps). I always recommend starting with a puree of a single root vegetable, which are great to prepare in batches and store in single feed portions. Be sure to use BPA free plastic portion pots when freezing and avoid using open ice cube trays which can be contaminated with other food stuffs in the freezer.

Texture and Weaning

4-6 months – Blended to runny puree

6-7 months – Smooth and slightly thicker puree, no lumps

7-8 months – Thicker puree with increased texture

8-9 months – Minced and mashed with soft lumps

9-12 months – Minced and finely chopped.

Moving On

Once you have the first foods out of the way, you can start to offer finger foods with each meal from 6 months. Think of a weaning meal time as a time to explore foods and textures, offering a minced or mashed version of the family dinner along with some finger food is the perfect way to do this.

About BabyDoc Club

BabyDoc Club is the UK’s only social-first parenting community.  With an audience reach of over 4.5 million mums a day through their Facebook and Instagram social accounts, BabyDoc Club provide no-nonsense advice straight to mum’s social news feed.  Unlike other parenting communities, BabyDoc Club don’t require followers to leave their favourite social platforms to get the lowdown on common parenting challenges, expert product recommendations and special offers. BabyDoc Club is the millennial mum’s favourite parenting community with content formats perfectly optimised for the modern social Mum.

Follow BabyDoc Club on Facebook, on Instagram or visit their website

Disclaimer: The views and advice given in this article are those of the guest writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Weaning Week or any other organisations represented on this platform