Health visitor, Sarah Giles answers your essential questions on introducing your baby to solids.

When is the best age to start weaning my baby onto food?

The World Health Organisation and Department of Health recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months.

Why can’t I wean my baby before 6 months?

The 6-month guideline is based on research showing that a baby’s internal digestive system isn’t mature enough to handle food until the 6-month mark, when babies are able to digest solid food. Research shows that weaning before the digestive system is ready may increase your baby’s risk of infections and allergies.  Find out more about why six months is the best time to start weaning here.

My baby is four months old, has started waking through the night, and seems hungrier – aren’t these signs he’s ready for solids?

It’s very normal for babies aged four to five months to wake during the night and be hungrier than usual but this is usually down to a growth spurt not the need for solids. Extra breast milk will be enough to meet their needs.

What signs are there that he’s ready for solids at six months?

If your baby can sit up, wants to chew and has lost his tongue thrust reflex - where he pushes food out of his mouth automatically, he’s ready for solids. Six months is also the time when your baby needs more nutrients and extra calories to grow and breast milk and formula alone will not provide this.

How do I go about introducing solid foods to my baby?

Start by making sure your baby is sitting up in a high chair or reclining chair so they don’t risk choking. Then offer a small teaspoon (make the spoon plastic not metal) of pureed or mashed food mixed with baby’s usual milk, and do this either after a milk/breast feed, or in the middle of a feed when they are not too hungry.  Still not sure where to start? Learn how to make the perfect puree here.

Begin with one meal a day. If your baby rejects your attempts try again later but make sure you try when your baby isn’t starving. Also remember at this point food is just for taste and texture, not for nutrition. Once your baby starts to like solids you can increase the quantity and consistency so food starts to fill him up.  There's more about how to start weaning here.

What kind of foods should I give my baby?

Go with baby rice or bland mashed vegetables or fruit as these work best. Once your baby likes this kind of food try introducing a more varied diet that the rest of your family eat, though introduce one new food at a time and bear in mind most food will need to be introduced a number of times before a baby will like it.

Do I reduce milk feeds once I start weaning?

Once your baby is eating solids at least three times a day you can drop a feed, but your baby still needs about 600ml of breastfeed or formula feed a day until they are at least 12 months old.

What foods should I avoid?

If there is a history of allergies in the family you should consult a healthcare professional before introducing nuts to your child’s diet – and don’t give whole nuts until they are 5 years old

Also avoid adding salt or sugar to any foods and do not give honey until your baby is one year old as it can contain a type of bacteria that can cause illness.

It also pays to be careful about hard lumpy food. Even though by 8 – 9 months your baby will be able to handle these foods – they can still choke on raw carrot sticks, apple pieces and grapes. Also foods with skin like sausages and fish. To avoid cut food into small pieces and remove all skins.

What is baby led weaning?

This is a method where you don’t mash or puree food, but let your baby explore foods for himself by offering him a selection of finger foods such as cooked carrots, banana, breadsticks etc. Advocates say it stops babies becoming fussy eaters but it can be hard to work out how much food is actually being eaten. The NHS recommendation is to offer mashed foods as well as softish finger foods and purées. This will help your baby get used to both eating solids, and feeding herself.