Complementary feeding or weaning is presenting solid foods to your baby along with his milk feeds (breast milk or formula). As mentioned in the previous post (Is my baby ready to wean?), babies develop at different rates so begin when your baby is ready – the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends babies to wean by 6 months. Begin weaning by 6 months but not before 4 months, by then, healthy term babies are ready to learn new feeding skills and milk feeds alone no longer provide all the nutrients and calories they need to grow and develop normally. There are 3 stages to weaning: Stage 1 begins at 6 months, upon weaning with a smooth mash or puree for the first few tastes. Followed by stage 2 once your baby has learnt to accept smooth foods, you are ready to move on to mashed food with soft lumps and offer soft finger foods with all meals. Finally, by 9 months of age at stage 3, your baby is ready to move on to minced and chopped foods and you should start encouraging self-feed. The 3 stages are described below.

Stage 1: Weaning at 6 months

Choose a quiet time of day, half way through a feed:

• Smooth mash or purees

• Your baby’s tongue will push forward and food will come back out at first

• Small amounts once a day

Move on by giving your baby solids before the milk feed:

• Move on to 2 meals/day and then 3 meals/day

• Give different foods at each meal: Baby Cereals, mashed soft cooked vegetables and mashed soft/cooked fruit

Use breast milk or formula to mix with food, and slowly start adding in :

• Pureed/ mashed meat, fish, chicken or egg (well-cooked)

• Lentils or pulses

• Mashed rice, noodles or pasta

• Full fat dairy products

Stage 2: My baby is 6-9 months

• Increase the quantity according your infant’s interest and appetite – offer foods from all 4 food groups

• Your infant may need to try many times before learning to like a new food/taste

• As the amount of solids increases the volume of breast/ formula milk will decrease

• Offer a cup of water with meals

• Encourage finger foods, self-feeding and mess

• Babies learn by coping: eat with your infant and include him at family meal

Stage 3: My baby is 9-12 months

• Your infant is now biting and chewing onto family foods and family meals

• You can now cut out early morning milk feeds

• Cut out bottles and change to open cups or free flow beakers

• Reduce milk feeds one by one to 2 feeds per day at 11-12 months

The Three Stages of Weaning