Charlotte Stirling-Reed has answered a few of our readers’ questions about weaning. This Baby & Child Nutritionist and Best Selling Author (How to Wean Your Baby) will be a speaker at The Baby Show hosting a weaning masterclass.
Q My baby is happy to put food in mouth but spits it out again (7 months)
A This can be perfectly normal. Eating is something that all babies have to learn how to do – it’s not something they just naturally know how to do. There are so many skills involved with eating, from the hand-eye coordination, to the oral-motor skills needed to bite, chew and move food around in the mouth. All babies will develop their skills at different rates. Spitting is one way of experimenting and figuring out what to do with food in their mouth. Give them plenty of practice with different types of foods and textures and role model yourself how to take bites and chew. This can really help babies to learn what to do with food.
Q When do I stop breast milk feeding –so my baby is hungry for solids (8 months)
A Breastfeeding is recommended until 2 years and beyond, if both you and your baby are happy to continue. At 8 months, breastmilk is still a significant source of nutrition for babies, and it’s quite normal if they don’t yet have a huge appetite for solid foods. Focus on trying to get a good routine in place for meals and milk feeds, aiming to leave at least around 30 minutes to 1 hour between milk and solids, to allow your little one to have some appetite for solid foods.
Q My baby will not swallow solids is it because he doesn’t have teeth (6months)?
A This is a common misconception many people have when it comes to starting solids. Babies don’t need teeth to be able to swallow foods, and they can manage quite a variety of foods with their hard gums, as long as they are appropriately prepared. 6 months is still right at the very beginning of weaning, and so we’re not necessarily expecting a lot of food to be swallowed. It’s all about experimenting and getting used to all of the different sensations involved with solid foods.
Q What is a well-balanced diet for my 10 month old?
A A balanced diet for little ones includes:
- Starchy carbohydrates – pasta, rice, potatoes, cous-cous, bread, chapati, wraps
- Fruits and vegetables
- Protein and iron rich foods – meat, fish, eggs, tofu, beans, pulses, nuts, seeds, cheese and yoghurt
It’s a good idea to try to include a variety of these foods in your baby’s meals to ensure your little one is getting the balance they need. Not every meal needs to be perfectly balanced, but aim to balance their meals out across the day and week.
Q How much should my baby be eating a day (6 months, 9 months, 12 months)
A Firstly, there are no recommended portion sizes for babies under 1 year as they really are all SO different. Babies are really good at knowing themselves when they are hungry and when they are full, so it’s important to follow their lead when it comes to how much they want.
At around 6 months, your baby will just be starting on solids, and we usually recommend starting with one meal a day, and just single flavours – e.g. veggies for the first 10 or so days. After this, you can start mixing flavours and building in more variety of foods – including allergens and iron-rich foods.
By around 9 months, your baby may be eating 3 meals a day and having more “balanced” meals, with more variety of foods and food groups. Don’t worry if your baby isn’t there yet – all babies are different and they all take to weaning at their own pace.
By 12 months, solid foods become the main source of nutrition for your little ones, alongside continuing to breastfeed if you and your baby want to. Your baby will likely be eating 3 meals a day and may need up to two snacks in between. Try to include a variety of each of the food groups – starchy carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, protein and iron rich foods and dairy or fortified alternatives.
www.thebabyshow.co.uk, which is returning to London Olympia from 25 – 27 October 2024 For advice on weaning advice, baby & child nutrition go to Charlottes website.