WEANING DIET

HH MURTALA
Department of Nursing sciences, Bayero University Kano
Introduction
• Weaning is the process by which babies who were fully reliant on milk
are introduced to solid foods.
• Most health experts recommend that babies begin getting solid food
at around 4-6 months of age.
• Six months is often recommended because babies, at this age, begin
to need extra nutrients not found in milk, such as iron and zinc.
• Small amounts of solid food can provide these nutrients.
When to start solid food in babies
• It is recommended to look for signs that a baby is developmentally
ready for solids. These include:
1. Sitting up well
2. Good head control
3. Can hold food in their mouth and is willing to chew
4. Can pick up food and put it in their mouth
5. Is curious at mealtimes and keen to get involved
Approach to weaning
• Baby-Led Weaning
• In this method, babies are encouraged to self-feed from the start.
• You can introduce solid foods as finger foods and allow your child to
explore solids at their own pace.
Approach to weaning…..2
• Advantages
1. It encourages independent eating sooner.
2. Babies may be more likely to decide when they are full and less
likely to be overweight in the long term.
3. It reduces the need for separate cooking, as family meals are usually
appropriate.
4. Your whole family can eat together.
Approach to weaning….3
• Disadvantages
1. It increases concerns around gagging and choking. However, if
offered appropriate foods, your baby’s risk of choking should not be
higher than under a traditional approach.
2. It’s difficult to know how much food your baby has eaten.
3. It can be messy.
4. It may be more difficult to identify food allergies, as several foods
are often introduced at once.
Approach to weaning…4
• Traditional Weaning
• In this approach, you feed your baby and gradually introduce it to
more solid foods.
• You’ll begin with smooth purees before moving to mashed and
chopped foods, then finger foods and finally small bites.
Approach to weaning….5
• Pros
• It’s easier to see how much your baby has eaten.
• It’s less messy.
• Cons
• Making separate meals and having to feed your baby can be time-
consuming.
• There may be a higher risk of overfeeding, as you might struggle to read
your baby’s fullness.
• If babies get too used to smooth purees, it may be difficult to move them to
other textures.
Appropriate weaning diet
• Mixing foods with a little breastmilk or formula milk can improve acceptance.
• Appropriate first foods include:
• Soft, cooked vegetables: Broccoli, carrot, potato, sweet potato, butternut
squash, pumpkin, peas — pureed, mashed or served as finger food
• Soft fruit: Banana, mango, blueberries, raspberries, avocado, cooked pear or
apple, plums, peaches — pureed, mashed or served as finger food
• Cereals: Oatmeal, rice, quinoa, millet — cooked, mashed or pureed to a
suitable texture and mixed with a small amount of breastmilk or formula milk
 Building up Solids
• Once your baby is around 4-6 months old and regularly eating solid food, you can offer a
wider variety in order to slowly build up to three meals daily.
• You can begin including:
• Meat, poultry and fish: Ensure these are soft and easy to manage. Remove any bones.
• Eggs: Make sure they’re cooked well.
• Full-fat dairy products: Plain yogurt and cheese are good options.
• Gluten-containing grains and cereals: Choices include pasta, couscous and barley.
• Pulses: Your baby might like butter beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas.
• Finger foods: Try rice cakes, breadsticks and cooked pasta, as well as soft fruits (banana,
pear, mango, avocado) and soft, cooked vegetables (carrot sticks, sweet potato
wedges, broccoli).
• Nuts and seeds: Ensure these are finely ground or given as a nut butter. Whole nuts should
not be offered to children under 5 years old. Watch closely if there is a family history of nut
allergies.
Building up Solids….2
• At around 7–9 months, many babies can manage three small meals each
day. Try to include a source of protein, carbohydrates and fat at each meal.
• At around 9–11 months, many babies can manage family meals cut into
small bites. They should also be offered harder finger foods, such as raw
pepper, apple, carrot, crackers and bread.
• By this age, most babies can manage three meals daily and possibly a
dessert, such as plain yogurt and/or fruit.
• At 1 year old, most babies can eat what the rest of the family eats and join
family meals. At this stage, many babies can consume three small meals
plus 2–3 snacks daily.
• Remember that each baby is different — your baby may eat more or less
depending on its own needs.
 Foods to Avoid
• Although it’s important that your baby eats a wide variety of foods, there are some foods that
should be avoided, including:
• Honey: Never give honey to infants under the age of 12 months due to the risk of botulism, a
serious form of food poisoning.
• Undercooked eggs: These may contain Salmonella bacteria, which can make your baby ill.
• Unpasteurized dairy products: Pasteurization kills bacteria in dairy products that may cause
infection.
• Sugary, salty or highly processed foods or drinks: These usually supply very few
nutrients. Sugar can damage teeth, and babies’ kidneys cannot cope with too much salt. Avoid
adding salt to family meals.
• Whole nuts: Do not give to babies and children under 5 years due to choking risk.
• Low-fat products: Babies need proportionately more fat in their diet than adults.
• Cows’ milk: You can add cows’ milk in small amounts to foods. However, it should never be
used as a main drink or given in large amounts as it does not provide enough iron or nutrients
for your baby.
 Tips for Successful Weaning
• Babies naturally prefer sweeter tastes. Therefore, try to offer vegetables prior to
fruit to limit the chances that your baby will reject vegetables.
• Offer plenty of variety. Try to avoid giving the same foods repeatedly. If your baby
doesn’t like certain foods, keep introducing it and try mixing that food with a well-
liked food until your child becomes familiar.
• Do not force your baby to eat more than they want to, as they usually stop when
they have had enough.
• Make mealtimes relaxed and allow your baby to make a mess. This encourages
babies to experiment more with food and create a positive association with
eating.
• Plan ahead by cooking varieties every day.
• Try to include your baby in family meals. Babies are more likely to eat foods that
they see others around them eating.
Potential Dangers
• Although weaning should be fun and engaging, there are a few risks
to be aware of.
1. Food Allergies
2. choking
• Here are some helpful tips to reduce the risk of choking:
i. Sit your baby upright while eating.
ii. Never leave your baby unattended while eating.
iii. Avoid high-risk foods, such as whole nuts, grapes, popcorn, blueberries and meat
and fish that could contain bones.
iv. Don’t give too much food at once or force-feed your baby.
Conclusion
• Weaning is a vital process in which your baby transitions
from breastmilk or formula to food.
• Whether you choose baby-led or traditional weaning, or a mix of both,
you should begin giving your baby soft fruits, veggies and cereals at
around 4-6 months.
• You can then progress to other foods.
• Keep in mind that you’ll want to avoid certain foods and keep an eye
out for allergies and choking.
• To improve the chances of successful weaning, make mealtimes relaxed
and enjoyable, allow your baby to make messes and include them in
family mealtimes as much as possible.