Weaning is the process of introducing solid foods to an infant, gradually in a stepwise manner. It is a transition from a milk-based liquid diet to a diet with new taste and new consistency. Introducing food for the first time to your baby can be confusing and stressful for both mother and child. Our aim is to make this change as comfortable as possible.

I am going to give a few guidelines for a mother who is planning to start complimentary feeds for their babies.

1. When is the right time to start weaning?
   It is recommended that weaning should start after 6 months. Most babies are ready to start solids anytime between 4-6 months. Babies more often than not give cues to their mothers when they are ready to start solid food. Some of these cues that can be picked up at home are:
   
   • Baby should be able to sit upright with or without support
   • Baby should be able to hold objects or a spoon in his hand
   • Baby should have good head control
   • Baby follows a spoon with food when you are eating
   • Drooling or lip smacking at the sight of food

   It is always best to ask your pediatrician before you start weaning.

2. Why is it important to start weaning at 6 months?
   Mother’s milk or formula milk provides optimum nutrition to a baby for the first 6 months. After 6 months baby’s calorie needs increase rapidly and milk alone is insufficient to provide adequate nutrition. Weaning is also called complimentary feeding as semisolid food is given along with breast milk or formula milk to fulfil baby’s requirement.At around 5-6 months, developmentally babies start holding objects and start putting things in their mouth, they start observing and are curious to see what they are being fed. If semisolids are introduced at this age successfully, there are less chances of having a picky eater at your hands.
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5. What are the different types of weaning? Is it important to follow one type?
   The internet is flooded with articles on baby-led weaning and traditional weaning detailing the pros and cons of each. It is rather confusing to read these articles and a mother can easily get intimidated. Weaning is not a major project that requires special training. Follow your instincts, your culture and your baby’s cues and do what you feel is best for your baby. You can start with purees and if your baby enjoys textures or finger foods more then start self-feeding as early as 7 months. The way you wean depends on the way your baby prefers to be fed.
6. What are the right first foods?Pureed or mashed vegetables and fruits like carrots, bananas, apples, pears are the best way to start. Homemade rice cereal is absolutely hypoallergenic and easy to digest cereal. Finger foods like boiled carrot sticks, small pieces of banana, boiled rice kernels can be used to stimulate self-feeding. Make sure that finger foods can be mashed between your fingers and soft enough for your baby to chew on using their gums.It is very important to follow these Golden rules for Weaning to ensure that feeding your baby doesn’t end up becoming a daily fight.
   
   1. Introduce one solid meal at a time. Gradually increase the quantity of food in that meal till your baby comfortably takes 3-4 tablespoons in that meal. Introduce the second meal thereafter.
   2. Try solid food 30-45 minutes after regular milk feed rather than on an empty stomach. This ensures that the baby is not cranky and fussy to try anything new.
   3. You can start with pureed food and adjust the consistency depending on what your baby takes.
   4. Gradually as the baby gets more comfortable more grainy textures can be introduced.
   5. Babies don’t need variety. They in fact love repetition. DO NOT start too many things too fast. Give the exact same food everyday till your baby takes it comfortably without fussing.
   6. Allow the baby to feel the food with his hands.
   7. Tempt the baby by putting some food on his lips before you start feeding. Allow the baby to close his lips around the spoon. Don’t push food inside his mouth with the spoon.
   8. Do not force feed. Stop feeding if the baby turns away or fusses. Force feeding brings a very negative connotation to the whole activity and eventually baby ends up resisting meal times. Feeding should be a pleasant experience for both mother and child.
   9. Wait for 4-5 days before starting new food to watch for any allergic reactions.
   10. Taste the food before feeding the baby. Even babies like tasty food. Some babies find bland food tasty and some like spices.

Myths and Facts

Myth: Babies like sweet food more than savory food
Fact: Babies actually enjoy savory food more at the time of weaning. They don’t like added sugar in their meals. Adding extra sugar to baby food is not required and is not recommended as well. After all we don’t want to raise sugar babies who later have to watch their weight all their lives.

Myth: Babies cannot chew their food as they don’t have teeth
Fact: Babies are capable of using their gums to mash on soft food. Make sure the food can be mashed between your fingers to assure it is safe for baby to eat using their gums. Some babies enjoy bite-sized food more than pureed forms.

Myth: Babies cannot self-feed before 18 months
Fact: Self-feeding can be started as early as 6 months when the baby learns to hold objects. Cutting strips of food that can be easily grasped and giving your baby a chance to pick them up and put in their mouths is a good practice to introduce them to self-feeding early.

Myth: Babies should not be given masalas or chilli
Fact: Babies are born with a raw palate. They are open to trying all the flavors that you introduce to them. You can add spices and even chilli in your baby’s food and your baby will let you know whether he likes it or not. Some babies like bland food and some may enjoy chilli in their food.

Myth: Babies only need mother’s milk till they are 1 year old. Solids are optional
Fact: Mother’s milk is the best form of nutrition for a baby till 6 months of age. After 6 months, milk needs to be supplemented with solid food to fulfil nutritional requirements. Children who are primarily on milk-based diet tend to suffer from iron deficiency, vitamin D deficiency and constipation.

I will conclude by saying that:
“Mothers know best and they should follow their instincts along with their baby’s signals. Never use force with your baby as that does more damage than good.”

If you would like to know more about raising an intuitive food lover toddler, you can read my previous blog on “Good Eating habits in a Toddler”.