Introducing Solid Foods

Our 'bread and butter' (no pun intended!) but as with everything our perspective and advice changes over time so time for an update!

What are the current important messages we should be conveying to parents as they begin to introduce solids to their babies. Why should we not be calling it 'weaning' and what about giving milk alongside solids? What signs of readiness should we look for? What is responsive feeding in terms of solid foods and what key messages about this should we be passing on to parents? What is the current guidance on introducing allergens, including where there is a known allergy in the family?

We put the emphasis on discussing the important messages about food - feeding responsively to the child's cues, building healthy habits for life, satiety and hunger signals, the social aspects of a mealtime and enjoyment of food; rather than on arbitrary rules or lists of requirements.

We would love to hear from you with any thoughts or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

**Resources and Further Reading: **

Our previous podcast - Does early weaning REALLY make babies sleep better?:
https://soundcloud.com/iamahealthvisitor/does-early-weaning-really-help-babies-sleep-better

Dewey 2001 - Nutrition, growth, and complementary feeding of the breastfed infant:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11236735/

First Steps Nutrition 'Eating well recipe book
Simple, cost-effective ideas for the whole family':
https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/eating-well-infants-new-mums

Introducing allergens to baby - Allergy UK:
https://www.allergyuk.org/assets/000/002/342/Weaning_–_Introducing_your_baby_to_solids_original.pdf?1547805087

St John's Ambulance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oswDpwzbAV8

Introducing solids to the breastfed baby:
https://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/solids-how/

Rewards and Punishments for food - Why not?:
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/ask-an-expert-reward-punish-children-with-food

HENRY - Health Exercise and Nutrition for the Really Young:
https://www.henry.org.uk

NHS Choices info on food storage and preparation:
https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/safe-weaning/preparing-food-safely/#anchor-tabs

Feed Eat Speak:
https://www.feedeatspeak.co.uk