Weaning – the thought of this actually confused me – just like anything that is up coming with a baby (kinda of how I feel about potty training now haha). What would I start with – what could she have? At almost 4 months Harper was still in the 5th percentile and the maternal health nurse and my mum (so great having a mum as a doctor) said we could try her on some solids from 4 months as well as give her 1 formula bottle a day. She was always watching us eating so intently so just before she was 4 months on Christmas Day with a taste of potato off our finger. Each day we just gave her something – avocado, pumpkin – but just little tastes. She loved it. New Years day I popped a piece of pineapple on her lips and she started sucking away too. The first couple of weeks we decided just to give her some organic baby rice cereal mixed with breastmilk – which she loved. We found out however that it’s just empty calories with not a huge amount of nutrients so changed it by giving her mashed pumpkin or potato at lunch time. This got her used to swallowing and taking things off a spoon. We still didn’t have a high chair, and she couldn’t sit by herself so she just sat on our lap. We were totally winging it.
On 17th Jan (4.5 months) we went to Bali – and took lots of the pouches. I made sure they were ones with no additives but I did notice they all seemed to be laced with apple – up to 80% apple. Pumpkin, pea and apple, spinach, broccoli and apple…etc. We didn’t have much choice being in Bali – so gave her one pouch a day at lunch – and brought a pineapple for her to have. She would eat about half a pouch at a time during our time in Bali.
Whilst over there – I saw The Body Coach – Joe Wicks – doing baby led weaning with his little girl, Indie – who is a month older than Harper. I hadn’t heard it called that – but was always going to give Harper finger food but didn’t realise I could do it this early. He also was starting a page called Wean in 15 which had so many tips and ideas – it was great. I was so excited to get back and start our weaning journey properly. Chris and I love food so we were sure Harper would too. We had a weird start – we had no idea what we were doing and now that we had more information we felt ready to start fresh. I’m sure a lot of mummas feel the same way – so I hope this helps a bit.
When we got back from Bali (Harper was 5 months old) I steamed up some broccoli and mashed some pumpkin. NOPE – rejected it straight away. I kept trying to offer it and she wasn’t having any of it. I needed her to eat so pulled out a pouch – well – she wolfed it down. It was like she was addicted haha. It was then I realised – she was so used to the sweet taste of the fruit in the pouches she was hating the bitter and savoury tastes I was offering her. I wasn’t having a child addicted to fruit and sweet things so we decided to stop any fruit or sweet things until she was eating savoury and bitter foods and got used to the taste. The first few days there were tears and lots of closed mouth (and wasted food). I wasn’t giving in though. If you know me you know I don’t give up – we persisted with the bottle (and the sleep training) I would persist with this.
After about 3 days she slowly started taking mouthfuls of pumpkin, and started picking up the broccoli and eating it – YIPEE success. I still didn’t give any fruit until she was eating well like this for at least a week. She needed to like these flavours and textures. Babies don’t know flavours so if they reject something it doesn’t mean they don’t like it – it just means they’re not used to it. Offering foods between 5-10 times will ensure they get used to those flavours. Just like when you try something new – I’m pretty sure I didn’t like wine the first time I tried it and well – look at me now 😉
I was loving the mixture of baby led weaning and spoon feeding – it meant Harper got to experience different textures and flavours which is great for cognitive function and coordination. Some days she wasn’t overly fussed – and others she would wolf things down. We never pushed or rushed her though – we let her take her time. Even now – sometimes she doesn’t want the spoon – but she’ll hand feed herself or let me hand feed her. One of her favourite things to do is eat a whole plum or nectarine by herself – so cute.
At about 5.5 months we started introducing breakfast as well as lunch, then about 2 weeks after that we introduced dinner. We also introduced the allergen foods – nuts, eggs, milk/yogurt – one at a time and in the morning. We started with yoghurt and milk – then once we knew she wasn’t allergic to those – I would add some nut butter to her yoghurt.
By 6 months this is what Harper’s schedule looked like (obviously worked around naps). By 8 months we started adding in snacks in between meals as well but her milk consumption stayed the same.
7am – wake and bottle 150-200ml
8:30 – breakfast
11:00 – bottle 150ml
12:30 – lunch
3:00 – bottle 150ml
5:30 – dinner
7:00 – bottle and bed 150ml
Below are my top tips to get your baby to eat a good balance diet in a mixture of different ways (eg. spoon, mashed and finger food). This is all from my experience.
- PATIENCE: this is so new to them so you need let them go at their own speed. Feeding a baby can take up to an hour so make sure you make time. If they reject the spoon on first try, just let them play with the food and try again in a minute or so. Sometimes a taste off your finger can help – if they like it they may open their mouth for you. Or sometimes I wait a good 10 minutes and then go back to it. When babies are teething or aren’t well they do tend to go off their food a bit too – so just be patient – if they’re hungry – they will eat – but try not to worry too much. (if it persists always consult your health care professinal).
- PERSISTENCE: once again – this is new to them so if they reject something a few times it doesn’t mean they don’t like it. They don’t know what they like at this age. The textures, the flavours are all new. You need to offer things up to 10 times for them to accept it. Don’t give up – you want your baby to grow into a toddler and adult that likes as much as possible – nothing worse than a fussy eater. Sometimes I’ll give Harper something and she seems to hate it – but by day 3 she’s loving it.
- RELAX: I’m the most non anxious mum ever – I’m happy to let her try everything and see how she handles it. I do know though that seeing your baby gag can be scary – are they choking? Gagging is a great skill for them to learn – it teaches them to bring the food forward rather than swallow. Letting them explore different textures and flavours is so great for their brain function. Don’t leave them alone and watch what goes in their mouth and act accordingly but let them work it out. Babies are good regulators – when they’re full – they’ll let you know. They’ll push the food/spoon away, or clamp their mouth shut.
- VARIETY: This is setting up your baby for life. If you wouldn’t eat it – don’t give it to them. Offer as many fresh ingredients as possible. Process, pre packaged foods usually have lots of additives, added sugar and added salt – and are not good for anyone – let alone babies. Making good choices starts now. Make your own snacks, or take fresh fruit and veges. If you’re out and about ask the cafe for simple things – toast, avocado, fruit – there’s usually something on the menu they can have too. Avoid honey, added sugar and added salt for the first 12 months. Variety means they are getting all of their nutrients – if you’re not sure – consult a health professional or dietician.
Below I’ve popped down what we gave Harper and at what ages. In the coming weeks I will pop up some recipes as well.
We have really enjoyed weaning Harper – and it should be fun for both parents and baby. Take your time and enjoy the ride. Food is a big part of their life and they should enjoy it. Educating our children about healthy eating is so important – and if we can start good habits now – we’re on the front foot. Be ready to be messy – it’s all about fun and babies loves exploring especially with their hands.
Foods we were giving Harper at 5 months:
Mashed sweet potato, pumpkin and potato
Yoghurt – full fat greek/natural
Cucumber pieces
Mango
Broccoli – whole pieces and blitzed
Avocado
Asparagus
Carrot
Toast with unsalted butter
Scrambled eggs
Sweet potato fries
By 6 months:
Whole stone fruit – and slices
Nut butters – no added salt
Porridge – oats and full cream milk with pear pieces
Kiwi slices
Sliced tomato
Baby bistro baby meals
Pesto – pine nuts, olive oil, basil and parmesan
Cheese
Weetbix with full cream milk and apple or pear puree
Beans mashed
Salmon – with sweet potato and greek yoghurt
Bananas
Strawberries
By 7 months
Pasta (penne chopped) with salmon, basil, greek yogurt and cheese and pumpkin or carrot puree
Snow peas
Beef steak/port steak slices
Watermelon
Chicken
Blueberries
Banana pancakes
Salmon potato cheese greek yogurt basil
7.5 months
Mac and cheese
Spag bol
Everything else and things we eat – except Honey and added salt and sugar
I hope this has helped any new mummas in some way. We are loving this journey and hope you do too.
Love and Life
the Figure x
NOTE:
I am a certified nutrition coach however I do not have any qualifications in baby weaning and food so this is general advice only and I advise you to contact your health professional for more detailed advice on baby food and weaning.