TV expert offers baby advice

TV’S DR PIXIE MCKENNA SHARES A GUIDE FOR HANDLING THE WEANING PROCESS, WITH LISA SALMON

GETTING your baby onto solid foods can be an exciting step – but it may be hard work too, and knowing when the time’s right to make the switch can be tricky. The NHS’s Start4Life (nhs.uk/start4life), which recently launched a new weaning hub full of NHS-backed advice and healthy recipes to help parents through the process, says official advice is that most babies shouldn’t be weaned until they’re six months old. This is about the age when their bodies are better able to cope with solid foods, they’re more able to feed themselves, and better at chewing, swallowing and moving food around their mouth. Still, it’s never really ‘one size fits all’ with babies.

Meanwhile, TV’s Dr Pixie McKenna, a GP and author of several books on weaning and child development, has teamed up with Waterwipes with Soapberry (waterwipes.com) and created a guide for parents approaching the weaning phase.

Here are 10 things parents should keep in mind when it comes to weaning your baby onto solid foods...

1. There’s no magic age to start

BABIES will generally be ready to start weaning at six months old, although Dr McKenna points out: “All babies develop at different stages, and what might be right for some won’t be for others.” Signs to indicate that a baby’s ready for solid foods might include sitting up with support and holding their head steady, putting toys and other objects in their mouth, and watching with interest when others are eating.

2. Try different types of weaning

THERE’S no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to weaning – what works for one baby might not work for another, says Dr McKenna.

There are two main types of weaning methods: Spoon-fed weaning, where babies learn to spoon feed first, and baby-led weaning, where babies skip the smooth food phase and learn to chew from the beginning.

Dr McKenna says baby-led weaning is a good way for babies to learn their own feeding skills, as well as developing motor control, enabling them to experience a greater variety of foods. However, she says spoon-fed weaning has benefits too, as you know exactly how much and what baby’s eating, baby can get food quicker, and it usually causes less mess.

3. Babies’ don’t need ‘baby food’

“BEFORE you rush out and buy 101 jars of baby food, there are easier and better ways to introduce infants to solids,” says Dr McKenna. Babies should be exposed to lots of variety and most can start with any pureed single-ingredient food with no added salt or sugar.

Foods like butternut squash, carrot or sweet potato are good choices, as they provide a rich

Sorry mums and dads, there’s no proof weaning helps babies sleep through the night... Dr Pixie McKenna