As you begin to feed your baby solids, portions must be kept small and spaced out. When you begin to wean, one or two spoonfuls once a day is a good starting point and you can go on from there. At first your baby may seem to eat very little, be patient and remember it can take time for them to learn how to eat. In the first few days, don’t be surprised if they refuse to eat or spit it out. Just try again later or even the next day. You could also try making the food a little more familiar by mixing it with a few teaspoons of your baby’s milk. Add 1 teaspoon of food to your baby’s milk, make it into a soft, smooth puree and slowly build up the amount given at one feed. Once your baby is taking about 6 teaspoons of food at one time, add in a second spoon feed at a time of the day that suits best.
As your baby becomes used to fruits, vegetables, and cereals like baby rice, you can start to add different types of foods and you can also increase the amount of times you feed solids throughout the day.You will need to try and test what works for you and your baby at this time, although normally at around 12 months your baby should be having two to three solid meals a day. At this point your baby’s daily intake should include their milk feed, cereal, vegetables and fruit, and meat, poultry, fish, yoghurt, well cooked eggs, and cheese. For recipes and ideas have a look at our recipe section.
