In this article

When to start weaning Stages of weaning

Foods to be careful with Foods to avoid for babies under six months old

Drinks Nutritional issues

Salt - avoid adding salt during cooking, and limit foods with high salt levels, such as bacon.

Sugar - avoid adding sugar to foods and drinks.

Honey - don't give honey to your baby until he or she is a year old. There's a very small risk of a certain type of food poisoning called infant botulism. By one, your baby's digestive system has developed enough to stop the bacteria growing.

Avoid the following foods, as there's a potential risk of an allergic reaction:

• Nuts and seeds, including peanut butter. Peanuts can be given from six months of age if they're crushed, but whole peanuts should be avoided in children under five because of the risk of choking. If you, or a family member, has a history of food allergy or other allergic conditions, avoid peanuts and peanut products altogether until your baby is three.
• Wheat-based foods
• Eggs
• Fish and shellfish
• Liver

From six months, water and diluted, unsweetened fruit juices can be offered at mealtimes. Drinks between meals should be tap water or breastmilk/formula. Full-fat milk can be used as a drink after the age of one. Semi-skimmed and skimmed milk are not suitable for this age group.

Don't give your baby fizzy drinks, fruit squashes, tea, coffee or drinks with artificial sweeteners.

From the age of one, encourage your baby to drink out of a cup, as this is better for their teeth than a bottle.

Iron

By six months, your baby's iron stores are reduced significantly and they'll need extra iron from their diet. Rich sources of iron include red meat. Iron present in vegetable sources is not as efficiently absorbed, but including vitamin C-rich foods with these sources helps to increase iron absorption.

Vitamin D

There's a risk of vitamin D deficiency in babies under a year old. Certain groups in the UK, such as babies born to mothers who have low vitamin D status, babies of Asian or African origin, or whose mothers cover most of their skin up when outside, are most at risk.

The Department of Health recommends a supplement of vitamins A and D for breastfed infants from six months, or from one month if the mother's nutritional status was poor during pregnancy. Formula-fed infants over six months who are receiving less than 500ml of formula each day should also receive this supplement.

This article was written by the MRC Human Nutrition Research and published in August 2008.