A NUTRITIONIST'S TOP 5 TIPS FOR STARTING WEANING
Starting the weaning process can be both exciting and daunting for parents. It’s a significant milestone in your baby’s development, and with the right tips, it can be such a smooth and enjoyable journey for you. Here are five top tips to help you get started with weaning, from friend of Etta Loves The Baby & Child Nutritionist, Charlotte Stirling-Reed.
1. Do Your Research
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to educate yourself a little about what weaning is and what to expect. This can simply help to build your confidence for when you start and allow you to understand the basics of introducing solid foods to your baby. SR Nutrition offers a wealth of information, including blogs, webinars, and her new book “The Ultimate Weaning & Toddler Cookbook” will help guide you on your weaning journey!
2. Get Yourself Prepped
While you don’t need fancy equipment to start weaning, having a few essentials can make the process easier. Items like a high chair, baby spoons, and bibs are pretty essential, but you can also get a lot of other helpful weaning equipment like mini blenders, suction bowls, freezable pots etc that are also very helpful! Being prepared with the necessary tools can help you feel more confident and organized as you introduce your baby to solid foods.
3. Expect Ups and Downs
Weaning is not always a smooth journey, and it’s normal for babies to have varying appetites and reactions to new foods. Some days your baby might eat well, while other days they might not be interested at all. It’s important to stay patient and understand that every baby is different. Keep offering a variety of foods and don’t get discouraged by any food refusal.
4. Start with Veggies
Introducing your baby to a variety of tastes early on can help them develop a preference for a varied diet later on. Starting with vegetables, especially those with more varied bitter, savoury and neutral flavours like green veggies, can be great to start with. This approach can help your baby get used to different tastes and maybe even reduce the likelihood of picky eating later on.
5. Have Fun!
Weaning should be a fun and enjoyable experience for both you and your baby. Make mealtimes a positive and relaxed environment. Encourage your baby to explore and play with their food, and don’t stress too much about the mess. The goal is to help your baby develop a healthy relationship with food and enjoy the process of eating.
Thank you so much Charlotte for such brilliant advice ,as always. For more information and inspiration you can pre-order Charlotte’s new book The Ultimate Weaning & Toddler Cookbook which is out on 6th March 2025.
Photo: Dean Chapple Photographer