Share your tips and tricks for weaning your little ones

[EllieSmumsnet]

We all know how exciting, yet daunting, the weaning journey can be. From choosing the right first foods to dealing with worries about allergies and picky eating, there’s so much to consider. How did you approach weaning with your little one? What were your biggest challenges, and what tips do you have for other parents starting this journey? Share your experiences and let’s help each other make weaning a smoother ride!

• Share your tips for weaning children below
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Mum to children with allergies. Biggest tip is add 1 food at a time. So if there are any reactions, you know what caused it 😊

I always started with baby rice mixed with breast milk and gradually introduced puréed fruits and vegetables again with breast milk until the food was a thicker consistency. Make a note of what foods baby seems to enjoy, and those that are spat out !

Wait until you are both ready, a good nights sleep, baby is able to understand and follow your spoon, wait until they are at least 6 mo, and be patient, if more gets spat out than is swallowed, just be patient and praise good eating and tell them what they are eating.

Don't worry about how much your baby eats, they'll still be getting most of their nutrients from breast milk or formula. It's a slow process.

Let them eat what you are eating where possible.

Eat at the same time and same/similar foods. It helps baby see how to eat and modelling a healthy diet (and keeps me eating healthily too).

Don't over complicate the plate. One or two foods at a time. Don't expect a quick result!

Tried to mostly make food that was suitable for all, and then gave them the same as us, but mashed up to reduce choking risk.

I make the chewing actions with my mouth whilst feeding, sitting in their chair, with gentle flavours, moving on to more distinctive flavours.

My tips are to make sure baby is settled, and your health visitor has agreed with you that you can start weaning, 6 months was the time I always started with mine. Just before lunch, as long as they are not tired. This will start with a routine for feeding. Try blander flavours, squash, pear for example and add new flavours and textures gradually - and. a suitable spoon and bowl will make a difference to feeding too - a colourful silicon spoon was my choice.

We loved baby led weaning. We just gave him a small portion of what we were eating (without salt) and ate together as a family. We could model picking up food and chewing, he could eat as much or as little as he wanted. And we got to eat our food while it was hot.

My tips would be to have them present when you eat, and introduce pureed foods to them as you are eating, if you can give them yours, that's good, if not pureed cooked fruits and delicate tasting vegetables are good, plus a soft small spoon.

My health visitor advised baby rice big mistake
after one tiny portion my baby became so constipated
I would start with fresh vegetables very very loose maybe mixed with breastmilk I started them with parsnip carrots single veg first and then introduced mixes much better plan avoid any processed baby rice jars of food, et cetera

There is a big difference in weaning today than when my adult youngster's were growing up. The one time honored, is to all eat at the same time.

Baby led weaning today is awfully messy however I see the point. Putting different foods on a plate with a spoon means put a catch mat for food under it so it's easier to clean up.

I certainly agree with foods that may cause intolerance being given one at a time. Slow weaning.

If feeding foods separately, like lunch I always sit with my grandchildren as I did when mine were young, and eat with them.

I did this from when they were little even if I just had fruit. I would chop it up in a bowl so that could get used to community eating and sitting at a table together.

Time spent eating together is good for there spirit, they are getting used to food being a shared community of love, whatever there generation. I think it's good for all.

My adult youngsters have continued this on with theres. Sharing meal times is a loving bonding experiences which babies and toddlers learn from and us adults slow down too when sharing food with our offspring/grandchildren

Do what you're comfortable with! I was too nervous to follow baby led weaning so started with homemade fruit and vegetables purees, one new food at a time to help pinpoint any allergic reactions. I started to feel guilty that my nerves were stopping her from experiencing bigger foods but the guilt didn't last long as I realised that every mealtime would just be a state of worry and panic for me, and she would pick up on it so I felt fine with purees. Gradually I'm getting much more comfortable with finger foods and she eats them everyday without any problems. As long as you offer a widge range of healthy foods, it doesn't matter if they're whole or blended. And remember, weaning is about them trying new tastes and textures, not about how much they consume, their milk should still be their main source of calories. Offer small amounts of common allergens such as peanut butter (smooth) at least 3 x a week as this minimises the risk of them becoming allergic to these foods.

My Daughter loves the kids tilda rice, so do I 😆

I did traditional mushed up baby weaning with ds1 and then baby led weaning with ds2 as it became popular. Baby led was so much easier !!! Sounds odd but porridge fingers - google it - we’re a great super easy first food

I’d definitely advise to download the solid starts app if you plan to baby led wean as it lists how to serve each food safely for each age. :)

We loved BLW! We started by giving him things like steamed veg and potatoes and then once he’d tried all the allergies we were able to give small portions of what we were eating. He’s now 10 months and loves his food. He tucks into curries, chilli and all sorts with his little spoon and the mess is starting to slowly abate! 😅

variation, eat the rainbow, it takes more than one time for a child to like a flavour so don’t be put off if they don’t like it the first time

Check NHS guidance - Your baby's first solid foods - NHS (www.nhs.uk) :)

My advice is small amounts, and look the child in the eyes, and encourage the new stage in their development, don't wean if baby is tired, unwell or refuses - just try again in a couple of days time. The key is to be patient and have wipes on hand for the mess !

Have baby sit at the table with you before they are weaning (if they can sit unsupported in a high chair) let them watch you eat, and give them baby cutlery to play with/chew.

Once able to sit unaided and teaching for food they are getting ready

My tips are to make the chewing motion in front of them when eating - smiling and chewing - they will copy - make sure baby is 6 mo and seems to be hungry after their milk. I used mashed banana with a fromage frais, pureed carrots, and added flavours gradually and slowly. My advice is also be patient, don't act frustrated or try to rush when feeding.

1. Don’t worry if they’re not meeting your expectations regarding intake and what they’re trying - easier said than done but it will come in time
2. Remember it can take 10 tries before a baby will eat something!
3. Combine purées with finger food, even if they don’t eat it keep leaving something for them to pick up and try and they’ll get the hang of it.

I have some Bibado weaning spoons, which I think are creative and will enable my DC to hold and guide to her mouth, easy grip, and another tip is a pelican bib to catch everything which is expelled, or dropped.