WEANING FOODS CHART

Written by nutritionist Catherine Lippe RNutr BSc(Hons).

With so many wonderful and nutritious foods out there, it can be hard to know where to start! We’ve put together a handy little chart that you can use to guide your little one through their unique weaning journey.

When your baby is approaching the weaning age, it can be hugely exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking. Weaning is a wonderful and important part of their development, and while there is advice available, every baby’s experience is unique.

When it comes to what food to give them, the most important things are:

• Nutrition - Are they getting the nutrients they need?
• Tastes - Expose your little one to as many different flavours as possible.
• Textures - Your baby will slowly learn how to chew and swallow food during weaning.

Weaning Foods at 6 Months

The NHS and Public Health England recommend starting the weaning journey at six months. However, every baby is different. Some might be ready earlier, while others may need a little longer. If you’re unsure, speak to a healthcare professional.

At this early stage, you simply want to introduce the act of eating to your little one. Some babies start with soft finger foods straight away, while others may benefit from being introduced to purees first.

Here are some food ideas to consider during the first month:

• Vegetable purees, starting with bitter flavours, are great for first tastes.
• Soft veggies, including finger foods (cooked carrots, sweet potatoes etc.).
• Soft meats and fish (you can give meat purees from the start of weaning).
• Smooth fruit purees.
• Some starchy foods in small portions.

Weaning Foods at 7-9 Months

Once they’ve got used to their first tastes, you can introduce your budding foodie to a wider range of flavours and textures!

Other foods you could consider at this stage include:

• Lumpy purees to add new textures.
• Soft fruit finger foods, like bananas or cooked apples.
• Steamed greens, such as broccoli or kale, for added nutrition.
• Slightly tougher meats or chunks for different textures.

Weaning Foods at 10-12 Months+

When your little one reaches this stage, they will start to have regular meals three times a day with the rest of the family. Here, you can add even more textures and nutritious goodness for them to discover!

Weaning foods for your baby as they approach 12 months include everything mentioned before, alongside:

• Family meals in baby-sized portions.
• Crunchier finger foods, such as breadsticks.
• Unsweetened desserts for after meals, such as yoghurt.

Babease Advice for Weaning Foods

We have created this chart to provide a rough guide to different weaning foods. It is not a rule to be followed; instead, we hope to inspire you to make choices that work for you and your little one.

If you want to wait another month before introducing certain textures, that’s fine, as is spending more time on purees if necessary. Just go at the speed of your baby, and with a little love and persistence, they’ll get to eating family meals in no time!

If you’re looking for exciting meals to serve the whole family, including your budding foodie, discover our recipes section. From simple baking to wonderful family meals, it’s full of all the tastes and textures you could ever need for your little one’s weaning journey!