In this article

Breastfeeding When not to breastfeed Types of breastmilk Mother's diet Dietary guidelines

Foods to avoid Bottlefeeding Possible feeding problems Weaning guidelines

The first two weeks of weaning The next six to eight weeks From six to nine months From eight to nine months

For the first four months, babies can’t properly digest any foods other than breast or formula milk. Some foods in particular wheat (which is found in several baby cereals) may cause problems.

Most babies are ready to start solids when they are about six months old. There are nutritional and developmental reasons why infants need solid foods from six months, infants who are weaned at or near six months will need to be moved onto a more mixed diet, more quickly than those weaned earlier to ensure continued development of normal feeding behaviour and continued nutritional adequacy. Whenever weaning is started, textures and variety should gradually build up.

Start with a little fruit or vegetable puree with no added salt or sugar, or baby rice. Just a small teaspoonful is enough to start with. If the food is heated use a bottle heater and make sure it is not too hot when you give it.

Foods you might try:

• commercial baby rice
• vegetable or fruit puree (potato, carrot, sweet potato, parsnip, apple, pear, banana)
• thin porridge (made from cornmeal, sago ,or millet)

Foods to avoid:

• wheat based foods, including baby rusks, these are often wheat based and can contain a lot of sugar
• eggs
• meat
• citrus fruits
• fish
• nuts
• salt
• fatty foods
• unnecessary sugar
• chillies or other strong spices
• artificial additives
• runny honey

Feeds will still be mainly milk, but now gradually increase the amount of solid food after the milk feed. At the same time move gradually from solids at one feed, to two and three. Begin to add different foods and different tastes, you can start to introduce simple herbs. Mash, sieve or puree a small amount without adding salt or sugar.

Foods you might try:

• purees using chicken or lentils
• a wider variety of fruits and vegetables- can be given with baby gravy and baby cheese sauce
• natural yoghurt
• cottage cheese - however, cottage cheese and yoghurt should not be given if there is a history of eczema, asthma or hayfever

Still avoid:

• wheat based cereals, including bread
• eggs
• citrus fruits
• nuts
• chillies and other strong spices
• do not use follow on milk to replace breast or formula milk before six months

You can now move on from puree to food that’s just mashed with a fork or minced. Once the baby has grown used to a variety of foods, the solids can be given first and the milk second. With the total milk for the day reduced to approximately one pint.

Continue with breast or formula milk for the first year. Pasteurised whole cow’s milk can be used after six months but only for mixing solid foods. Diluted fruit juice (1part juice to 5 parts water) or plain water can be introduced as a drink with meals.

Foods you can now include:

• wheat based foods- breads, pasta and cereals
• citrus fruits
• well cooked eggs

In other words, all foods the foods the rest of the family eats providing the consistency is right for the baby.

Once the baby, can hold and handle things pieces of peeled apple, peeled carrot, bread crusts and pitta breads give good chewing practice and help the baby to learn to feed themselves. Avoid sweet biscuits and rusks so that the baby doesn’t get into the habit of expecting sweet snacks. Even low sugar rusks contain more sugar than the baby needs. Continue to give breast or formula milk, although follow on milk can be given now. As the baby develops the ability to chew, food can be chopped.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in September 2005.
First published in March 2001.