Nursery World - A parent's guide to weaning

At around four months and definitely by six months, babies need to be gaining additional energy, vitamins and iron. Some babies take to solid food readily, mouths open like baby birds in a nest. Others direct their efforts at spitting out the contents! Your health visitor will be able to tell you about the general process of introducing solid foods to your baby, but here are the answers to some of the questions parents commonly ask. Q. Does food need to be warmed?

Q. Does food need to be warmed?

Good food hygiene is essential during weaning. If you decide to warm up food, it is important that you begin by heating it through thoroughly to kill off any bacteria and then allow it to cool down. You should also sterilise all feeding equipment until your baby is at least six months old.

Q. What should I give my baby to drink?

Milk feeds (formula or breast milk) will remain a very important part of your baby's diet, although cool boiled water should also be introduced when weaning. This will help your baby to digest the solid food more easily and help to prevent constipation. Cows' milk should not be given before 12 months old and when it is introduced it should be full-cream; semi-skimmed milk should not be given before two years old and skimmed not before five.

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