Publication
Fun first foods: An easy guide to introducing solid foods (Revised 2011)
Stage 2: Moving On
Once your baby has become used to eating a few foods it’s time to move on. Each baby is very different but as a rough guide ‘getting started’ might last 2–4 weeks. Some babies will move on faster than others - be guided by your baby. If your baby doesn’t like the food the first time, don’t worry, leave it a few days then try again.
The next stage of weaning is about introducing:
- more foods: give her 1–2 servings of protein-rich foods, 2–3 of starchy foods and 2–3 of fruits and vegetables.
- more texture: from puree to lumps, and lumps to mashed and minced foods.
- more nutrients: as your baby’s need for iron and other important nutrients increase.
- more meals: moving from food at one meal a day to foods at 2 and 3 meals a day.
- more food experiences: drinking from a cup, and feeding herself with finger foods.
It is normal for babies to spit out lumps in food. At first use her favourite foods, making them thicker then with a few lumps.
More foods
Try mixing a new food with a familiar one. For example:
- add cooked lentils to carrot or parsnip puree
- mix some full-fat natural yogurt into stewed fruits
- mash potatoes with some minced meat (but remember no salt should be added to baby’s food).
More texture
Through this stage your baby will move from thick purees to mashed or minced foods. Don’t be frightened of giving your baby lumps in foods. It is important for her to learn that food comes in different textures. Some babies hate lumps but are happy to eat finger foods such as cooked carrot sticks, or small pieces of crust or toast.
More nutrients
As your baby gets older make sure that your baby has a variety of foods from all the main food groups to get the vital nutrients she needs. See page 6 for examples and servings.
Iron
Iron is essential for your baby’s normal development. Breast milk contains iron but after around 6 months there is not enough for your baby’s needs. Give iron-rich foods regularly such as:
- Red meat, dark chicken or turkey meat, canned fish. Use minced meat for dishes such as shepherd’s pie (page 20). Liver contains a lot of iron but it should be only eaten once a week.
- Low sugar breakfast cereals with added iron. Wholemeal bread, lentils, beans and green vegetables contain some iron too.
Don’t leave your baby alone while eating in case she chokes.
More meals
Little by little, bring your baby into line with family meal times so that she has food at 2 then 3 meals a day. She will still need milk on waking and at bedtime and can drink cooled boiled water or diluted natural fruit juice at meal times (see drinks, pages 29–30).
When your baby can hold things in her hand, let her join in with a spoon at meal times. Try not to worry about the mess — this is quite normal!
This is what a day may look like
On waking |
Breast or bottle feed |
Morning |
Baby cereal with baby’s usual milk. Fruit – pureed at first then soft fruit pieces. |
Lunch |
Pureed then minced or mashed savoury meal. For example:
Offer cooled boiled water in a cup. |
Dinner |
Pureed food then minced or mashed. Finger foods when ready.
Offer cooled boiled water in a cup. |
Bedtime |
Breast or bottle feed. |
Drinks |
As the amount of food increases your baby will drink less milk. After 6 months she will get much of the calcium she needs from milk products such as cheese, full-fat yoghurt, fromage frais and custards. |
More food experiences
Start to offer cooled boiled water in a cup, helping her until she can hold it herself. Avoid giving her sweetened or acidic drinks, e.g. fruit drinks, squashes, fizzy drinks, both sugared and low calorie which will harm her teeth. Between meals only offer your baby cooled boiled water or her usual milk to drink.
Learning to drink from a cup can be messy but she needs to learn to sip not suck. Drinks taken from a bottle are more likely to lead to dental problems because the fluid tends to stay in the mouth longer than when sipping from a cup.
Recipes
Make this simple sauce to accompany pasta.
1 dessertspoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small red pepper, finely chopped
1 small courgette, finely chopped (optional)
400g can chopped tomatoes in juice
1⁄2 teaspoon dried herbs (optional)
1. Heat the oil and gently fry the onion until soft.
2. Add the red pepper and courgette if used. Continue cooking,
stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.
3. Pour in the can of chopped tomatoes and herbs if used.
4 Cover and cook gently for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Variation
• Add 200g (8oz) minced beef at step 1 to make a Bolognese sauce.
• Add a few mushrooms, or a drained can of tuna.
To serve with pasta and cheese:
15–20g small pasta shapes
1 tablespoon of grated full-fat cheddar cheese
1. Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
2. Drain and serve with a tablespoon or two of the tomato and
vegetable sauce and top with cheese.
This recipe is suitable for all the family, and can be frozen.
1 dessertspoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, scrubbed, grated or finely chopped
100g split red lentils
1⁄2 teaspoon korma paste or 1⁄2 tsp mild curry powder
200ml water
100ml canned coconut milk
1. Heat the oil and gently fry the onion until soft.
2. Stir in the carrot, lentils and korma paste or curry powder.
3. Add the water and coconut milk, stir and bring to the boil.
4. Cover and reduce the heat, allowing to bubble gently for 15–20 minutes. Keep checking and stirring, adding more water if required.
5. When the lentils are soft, remove from the heat and allow to cool.
6. Mash or puree to the right texture for your baby and serve with plain boiled rice.
This makes several portions. Freeze in small quantities as soon as the food is cool.
100g minced beef
1⁄2 small onion, finely chopped
2–3 tablespoons of water
1 small carrot, scrubbed and grated
2 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 tablespoon frozen peas
1–2 tablespoons milk
1. Place the mince and chopped onion in a small pan and cook gently until the mince is browned. Add 2–3 tablespoons of water and the grated carrot. Cover and allow to cook gently for 15–20 minutes.
2. Stir occasionally, adding more water as required.
3. Meanwhile boil the potatoes until almost tender. Add the peas for the last few minutes. Then drain and mash together with a table- spoon or two of milk. Don’t add any salt.
4. When the mince is cooked, serve with the mashed potato.
2 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
10g (knob) of sunflower spread or 1 dessertspoon vegetable oil
1 small leek, chopped into very small pieces
5 small florets of broccoli
Milk to mix
1. Boil the potatoes until tender.
2. Meanwhile heat the sunflower spread or oil, and gently cook the leek until soft. Then remove from the heat.
3. Steam the broccoli over the potatoes until tender.
4. Mash the potatoes with the leeks and broccoli, using milk
as required.