Each baby is different and many may be ready for weaning earlier or later: this is just a guide and it worked very well for me. Although this schedule starts from three months, it is important to mention that the first three months of it are really about getting the baby used to different tastes rather then nutrition necessity – it’s a big change from milk to many other foods, and we need to make sure that by six months baby’s taste buds are ready for all the different foods as by then baby probably will be HUNGRY! I also must point out that with my two kids this schedule ran like clockwork – the transition from milk to solids was smooth and easy. The guide refers to breast feeding throughout, but works just as well with a bottle fed baby.The Baby Weaning Guide
From about 3 months: offer tiny amounts (¼ - ½ teaspoon) of fruit (e.g. peeled pear or grape but it must be sweet) after the 10 am breast feed. It may take a long time for the baby to accept solids - be patient and keep trying! It may help to mix the foods with a little milk to start with.At approximately 4 months move the fruit to after the supper breast feed and offer pureed veg (e.g. carrot, parsnip, cauliflower, broccoli) after the 10 am breast feed, again keeping the amount very small. Before 6 months, the baby does not need the solids for nourishment, it just needs to get used to the different tastes. Give the vegetables separately so that the baby gets used to the individual tastes.
Other Foods to Offer the Baby
- Sticks of bread to suck, re-baked in the oven for 5-10 minutes
- Sticks of celery, cucumber, parsley or raw carrot to suck.
- Baby rice, potato, stewed and skinned prunes
When the Baby is Six Months
- For 10 days, give the solids in between the two halves of the breast feed;
- Gradually move the solid food to before the breast feed, first lunch, then breakfast, then supper at 5-7 day intervals.
So by about 7 months all 3 meals can be taken before the milk, for example:
- 5.30 amMilk
- 9.30 amBreakfast - pear or prunes, natural yogurt, toast, milk
- 1.30 pmPotato or rice with other veg, milk
- 5.30 pmBaby muesli, banana, milk
- 10.30Milk - gradually reduce amount given