Baby 6 Months in a week want to start giving her solids

[Helpmexx]

Hi,

I wanted to start my daughter on food, what's the best thing to try first, she will be 6 months in a week.

So do I use normal porridge?

Smashed avocado?

What's best?

And what milk? Cows milk from 6 months?

Thanks xx

Hiya I've just started weaning my second baby and we're using the Ella kitchen pouches, first tastes I think they're called. All different fruits and vegs etc so she's trying all flavours rather than just bland porridge. It's all about exploring new tastes at this stage as their main diet will still need to be their usual food. Good luck, it's super messy but fun!

@MamaBearThius

Hiya I've just started weaning my second baby and we're using the Ella kitchen pouches, first tastes I think they're called. All different fruits and vegs etc so she's trying all flavours rather than just bland porridge. It's all about exploring new tastes at this stage as their main diet will still need to be their usual food. Good luck, it's super messy but fun!

Oh perfect thank you, should I buy a baby steamer and blender to? Are you going to steam and blend or just use pouches? xx

@MamaBearThius

Oh perfect thank you, should I buy a baby steamer and blender to? Are you going to steam and blend or just use pouches? xx

Also am I giving her full meals to replace her breast milk?

When they say full fat cow's milk from 6 months they mean in her meals. So you can give her things made with milk like fish pie, porridge, lasagne, cauliflower cheese etc, just like you'd have it made with full fat cow's milk.

The things that you've thought of sound great. There's a huge variety of stuff for her to try as well.

Have a look at this guide from the Caroline Walker Trust as it gives some great suggestions including advice on portion sizes. You'll probably need from page 13

There are also some lovely things to get her to try in MN's Weaning recipes.

And don't forget to take plenty of photos

My two both started with Christmas dinner. A bit of mashed potato, some roast veg. They smeared it in their hair mostly.

You don't need to be blending (unless you want to), just give a range of textures and they'll figure it out.

Neither of mine dropped any breast feeds until past 12 months. "Food before one is just for fun" as the saying goes.

Don’t expect her to actually ‘eat’ very much for a while. A good few months even. She will still need her regular breastfeeds.

We just gave the dc what we were having. My eldest's first meal was a roast dinner. The beauty of weaning at 6 months is that they should be able to pick up food, put it to their mouths, chew and swallow. No need for purees or gimmicks, just a healthy varied diet. No nuts, honey, avoid added salt and sugar and enjoy sharing food. With your baby, the floor etc. It can be a bit messy at first but learning to touch food and experiment with textures, is part of the journey.

Normal porridge is fine too. Don't need to buy special stuff. Use full fat milk for cooking and carry on with formula or breastmilk as usual.

I'd start with finger foods. No baby food as such. Porridge is nice, my 6 month old used to pick up a whole broccoli head for example and suck on it so it mashed in her mouth.
First baby I blended everything, second baby we did finger foods/baby led weaning. If I had another baby I'd def do finger foods again. So easy and a brilliant eater as a result, both mine were breastfed too until over the age of 3

Yes I'll be blending. I did with my first little girl, she's 4 now and it all feels like a distant memory! I'm a lot more chilled out than I was with her!
Baby is taking to weaning like a boss! I'm hopeful she starts feeding less through the night

The best thing about the later weaning age is how few rules there are. You can't give honey until 1, halve grapes, nothing high in salt and watch for sugar but other than that they can try anything else.