Publication
Fun first foods: An easy guide to introducing solid foods (Revised 2011)
When should weaning begin?
Breast milk alone can provide all the nourishment babies need until they are around 6 months old. Try to feed your baby on breast milk alone for up to 6 months of age. Most babies need food in addition to milk from 6 months. However, some babies may need other foods before then.
It is really important that weaning should not begin before 4 months. This is because a younger baby’s digestive system and kidneys are too immature to cope with other foods and there is a risk that the baby may develop allergies.
For the sake of consistency we have used ‘she’ or ‘her’ throughout the booklet.
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