HSE weaning baby

Getting started Encourage your baby with plenty of eye contact, smiles and lots of chatting. Meal times can be a lovely time to interact with your baby. Try to involve your baby in family mealtimes and eat together as a family as often as you can.

You will need the following equipment: • choose a high chair with a foot support so that your baby feels stable and can concentrate on learning to eat. Your baby should not slide around in their high chair.

They should be well supported and comfortable, • blender, liquidiser, • steriliser for bowls and spoons, • small bowl, • feeding spoons with a short handle are easier for little hands to use and • lidded beaker with a free flowing spout.

The first spoonfeeds Solid food tastes and feels very different to milk. Your baby may spit out the food to begin with. This does not mean they don’t like it. They’re getting used to the new tastes and textures, the experience of having a spoon in their mouth and are learning to swallow.

Choose the right time, ideally a time when: • you are not rushed or under pressure, • your baby is not too hungry, • your baby is alert and not tired, • neither of you are distracted by TV, radio or other people.

Offer them some of their usual milk feed then introduce a few teaspoons of puréed food. Allow your baby time to get used to the taste and texture.

Don’t ‘force feed’ or rush them. Give them the rest of their usual milk feed when they have had enough.

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