The Weaning Journey Gains Momentum

So your baby is now enjoying one, possibly two meals a day, and is around seven months of age. Time to embark on stage 2 (this is roughly between the ages of seven and nine months)

You can move on from offering your baby simple meals with just a few single ingredients, to combining foods from different food groups. Not just for taste but texture too. 

If you’ve not gone down the baby led weaning route, then the texture of the food can now become mashed and lumpy as opposed to smooth purees. It’s important to give your baby opportunities to explore different textures as it helps them learn how to move solid food around their mouth, chew and swallow. Also now is a good time to start giving your baby finger food to try. Pieces of cooked vegetables, soft fruit, pasta and bread are all good ones to begin with. 

Keep portions small. You can always give more if your baby wolfs down the first offering! Use your baby’s fist/palm size as a guide to help. So a meal could be a fist sized portion of mashed potato with a palm sized portion of vegetable or meat, followed by a fist/palm sized portion of fruit. 

There are some foods which should be avoided during weaning.

Offer just water at meal times, not milk. Use an open cup or a lidded free flow one. At this age you can use water straight from the tap. 

Continue to give you baby milk feeds on demand between meals. You’ll find these will gradually decline as your baby eats more at meal times. Remember though breastmilk or formula remains the most important part of your baby’s diet right up to their first birthday. As a general rule between the ages of six months and twelve months a baby should be having around 500ml to 600ml of milk a day. 

Exposing your baby to a wide range of flavours during this stage will play a major part in how receptive they are to trying different food later on in life. It’s not uncommon for a baby to not be keen on a new food. You might have to try 10 or more times for your baby to get used to a new flavour or texture.

There’s no need to worry if your baby doesn’t eat much of a meal, there is still plenty of learning going on - exploring the texture of the food through touch, smelling the food, looking at the appearance of the food. Your baby will undoubtedly get messy - let them! I know it’s tricky but do resist cleaning them up. Wait until the end of the meal unless of course they’d like a wipe over earlier - unlikely but a few babies do not like being messy! 

Do not expect your baby to finish up every meal. It’s perfectly normal if your baby eats well one day and virtually nothing the next. Their appetite will vary from day to day. If your baby is growing well and gaining weight as per the guidelines then they are most probably eating well. If you do have any concerns about feeding then do contact your GP or health visitor, and keep a food diary as evidence. 

During this time your baby will most probably gradually start having a third daily meal. If they’re enjoying mealtimes and eating more then that’s a good sign that they are ready for this additional meal. Remember every baby is different so be led by your baby. 

Vitamins

The government recommends all children aged 6 months to 5 years are given vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D every day.

Vitamin D ;

• Babies from birth to 1 year of age who are being breastfed should be given a daily supplement containing 8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure they get enough. This is whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D you

• rself.

• Babies fed infant formula should not be given a vitamin D supplement if they're having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, because infant formula is fortified with vitamin D and other nutrients.

Vitamin A ;

• It's needed for a healthy immune system, can help their vision in dim light, and keeps skin healthy.

Vitamin C ;

• Is important for your baby's general health and immune system. It can also help their body absorb iron.

Eat with your baby. Don’t underestimate how much your baby will learn from watching you and others eating, talking and enjoying your food. 

Check out the blog next week for stage 3 which will take you up to your baby’s 1st birthday.