I personally believe there are some baby-related phrases that should be reconsidered. “Sleep training” is one of them (find out why here). And, the other is the sing-song sentence that pops up around the time a parent is trying to work out when to start weaning – “Food before 1 is just for fun!”
The ‘theory’ behind this phrase came from the notion that as long as babies are drinking enough milk (whether from bottle or breast), they are getting enough energy and nutrients.
Sure, this takes the pressure off parents worrying about how much of the bolognese sauce their cherubs were actually digesting, but it’s not true.
Let’s unpack this a bit.
When to start weaning?
The general consensus is that you should introduce your baby to solids between 4 and 6 months. But it’s not always as simple as that. Here are some of the things you need to be looking out for once your baby hits the 4-month mark:
- Can they hold their head straight and sit upright?
- Are they grabbing at food when you’re eating and trying to put it in their mouth?
- Can they move food around in their mouth and swallow it?
And, contrary to popular opinion, if your baby is dribbling a lot or shoving their fist into their mouth, then they’re not hungry – they’re most likely teething.
Why are solids so important to my 6-month old?
The problem with the outdated term, “Food before 1 is just for fun”, is that it doesn’t take into account what we now know about infant nutrition.
While your baby will get less than 10% of their nutrients from solid foods between 6 and 9 months, this will increase to 25% from 9 months onwards. By the age of 1, your baby should be on full meals, 3 times a day, in order to get the nutrients they need, especially minerals like iron and zinc.
Why is iron such a big deal?
Your baby is born with a store of iron that lasts them 4-6 months. Introducing solids from this point helps to build their iron levels back up as they start to deplete. Iron is a pretty big deal for your baby’s growth and development; they need it to make hemoglobin which carries oxygen around the body. It also plays a large part in healthy brain development. Unfortunately, breast milk only contains low levels of iron, no matter how much spinach you chow down on yourself!
How can introducing solid foods help my baby?
It’s not just nutrition that can be supported through weaning. Actively teaching them how to eat supports other aspects of your baby’s development. Such as:
- Learning to chew: As your baby chews they work the muscles in their face and jaw, strengthening them. This helps with their speech development.
- Fine motor skills: As they start to move food towards their own mouths they’re working on their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Experiencing different textures: Whether you start with puree and gradually introduce lumps, or you go straight in with finger foods, exposing your child to different textures means they are less likely to be fussy later on.
What foods should I start weaning with?
So, once you’ve figured out when to start weaning, what should you feed your hungry cherub? As you might have guessed, iron-rich foods are important. Options include meat, poultry, cooked tofu, legumes, and fully-cooked eggs. Compliment this with fruits, veggies, grains, and dairy as foods rich in Vitamin C help your baby absorb all this iron.
Research now suggests that giving common allergy foods (like nuts) early can decrease the chance of a reaction. But if you’re worried then have a word with your doctor.
I don’t recommend rice cereals, as they have very little nutritional value. Go straight to porridge and other whole foods.
Another little tip from experience: Offering food at set times (breakfast, lunch, dinner) helps your baby understand that we sit at the table and eat. This can discourage them from getting into the grazing all-day habit when they’re older.
If you’d like more tips on weaning, do not hesitate to get in touch. Good luck!
