Your first guide to weaning your baby – plus, best highchairs
What first foods can I give my baby?
By Sally J. Hall
What is weaning, anyway?
Babies drink only milk when they are born, either breastmilk or formula, because their neonatal tummies can’t handle anything else. However, as your baby grows and matures, they can start to eat their first ‘proper’ food at six months of age (the stage at which weaning is recommended by the World Health Organisation).
Weaning is also called complementary feeding, because when you start, your baby will still be having the same amount of their usual milk at first. Gradually, as they learn to eat new flavours and enjoy new foods, the amount of milk will decrease.
The process happens gradually and before you know it, your little one is eating all the same foods that you do!
How much milk should my weaning baby have?
Milk continues to be the most important nutrient at first, whether that’s breastmilk or an infant formula that’s suitable for your baby’s age. This gives your baby most of the nutrients and ingredients they need for a healthy life.
This means that your baby’s first meals are just tastes, rather than proper meals. Think of it as an exciting time, trying out each new flavour one at a time, then starting to mix them.
How do I know that my baby is ready for weaning?
There are a couple of good signs that your baby is able to start eating food once they reach six months:
- they can hold their head up and keep upright in a sitting position
- they have good coordination and can hold a spoon, grab things and bring them to their mouth.
What can my baby have when I start weaning?
Many parents start with baby rive, followed by soft, cooked fruit and vegetables. Whether you choose to use spoon0fed methods or want to try baby-led weaning, where you cut pieces of soft food into fist-sized chunks, is up to you. You can combine the two!
Finger food ideas
Small, baby fist-seized pieces of soft cooked and cooled potato, sweet potato, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower and more.
Take some slices of apple and bake the with a little cinnamon sprinkled on them.
Banans are nature’s own finger food. Offer your baby the whole fruit with the top peeled back.
Soft fruits that need no cooking are ideal – strawberries, kiwi fruit, peach and apricot, papaya and mango.
Rosted veg is a great idea and can be cooked for the whole family. Try peppers, courgette, sweet potato, butternut squash. Make sure the pieces are just the right size for baby hands to grab!
How can I feed my baby easily?
The best way to feed your little one is at the table with the family. A good highchair can help, so here is our pick of some of the best ones around.
The best highchairs for easy weaning and easy mealtimes with the family
£196
This clever wooden highchair transforms as your child grows, eventually becoming an adult chair. It may look like a big investment at first but this will still be around for decades to come and it comes in lots of lovely colours. You can add a set for a newborn to sit in or a toddler set too.
£145
This clever chair folds compactly for storage and still has lots of adaptability as your baby grows. Add the bouncer nest for newborns, with its three position seat and then remove it an add a baby seat and trat. It’s sturdy and grows with your child.
£189
A classic wooden highchair will always look good and this one is made from sustainable beechwood. Though it doesn’t fold, it is quite compact and transforms from a seat suitable for newborns through to a highchair and then an adult-sized chair. Both seat and foot rest can be altered to ensure your child is always sitting comfortably. Attachments include cushions and a play tray.
Tutti Bambini Nova
£149
This is another handy highchair that can be used for multiple stages of your child’s life, right up to 12 years old. There’s a separate bouncer that can be used on the floor or on the highchair frame, so you won’t need to buy an extra piece of kit. It can also be a highchair that reclines, perfect if they fall asleep mid-meal and then it turns into a little child-sized table and chair. It comes with a bag for travel and there’s a handy shelf to store toys and more.
Cosatto Noodle
£99
This reclining seat is great to use from birth, as the seat reclines and you can have your baby with you at all times – especially at mealtimes. It has a well-padded and easy to clean seat and it can be adjusted through seven heights, so it will always be perfect for any table. It can be folded when you want to put it out of the way and will still stand up when folded.
£34.94
A great budget choice, this compact highchair can be used from when your baby is sitting well – around six months – and will still be comfortable up to about three years. It folds flat when you’re not using it, so it can be slipped beside a cupboard and it’s also easy to clean. It’s easy to assemble and had a cup holder, footrest and removable seat cover.