Importance of weaning

When babies are born, they are fed with breast milk or formula that is composed according to their specific needs. As time progresses, babies tend to move on from breast milk and formula to solid foods. The process of babies moving on to solid foods is called weaning. The importance of weaning is not to be neglected. Consuming solid foods allows babies to practice lip, tongue and jaw movements. Once your baby is accustomed to eating solid foods, members of your family can become involved in the entire process, promoting them to be more involved in the child’s life.

But how do you know whether your baby is ready to eat solid food? Usually, a baby is ready to shift to solid foods after six months. But you can always consult an online doctor before you take that important step. Common signs that your baby is ready to wean are:

• Disinterest in nursing or fussy about the feeding process
• Reduction in time of nursing sessions
• The child is easily distracted while nursing
• Biting or pulling during nursing

Once you have decided that your baby is ready for solid foods, you can start with any of the following:

• Carrot puree
• Pear and sweet potato puree
• Apple puree
• Sweet potato and lentils puree
• Apple and banana puree
• Avocado and banana puree
• Sweet potato puree
• Oats mixed with pureed fruit
• Pear and Rice puree

You must remember that your child is new to the process and that it may take time for him/her to get accustomed to weaning. You shouldn’t force the child to start eating too much solid food and make sure that the transition is a slow and comfortable one.

There are a few food items that one must refrain from while starting the weaning process. These foods are:

• Salt
• Sugar
• Honey
• Undercooked eggs
• Grapes, raisins, and peas
• 4 to 6 months: Cereals (single grain)
• 4 to 8 months: Pureed food (vegetables, fruits, and meat)
• 6 to 8 months: Baby finger foods with a single ingredient
• 9 to 12 months: Mashed, ground, or chopped foods

Once you have decided that your child is ready to wean, do not force the food into the child. While some kids grow into eating solid foods quickly, others take some time. So please be patient. You could reward your child for trying out more kinds of foods. This will help you in gauging what foods the child likes and dislikes.