Dr Frankie Phillips – Registered dietitian and public health nutritionist
Choosing a weaning style to suit you and your baby can feel daunting, with everyone seemingly having an opinion. Registered dietitian and leading child nutritionist Frankie Phillips outlines what baby-led weaning means.
Your baby’s first foray into solid food opens up a whole world of flavours and texture. But how do you decide what your baby’s first taste should be? Do you offer it to them on a spoon or fingertip, or do they just pick it up with their tiny hands? Thankfully, we’ve moved on from putting rusks in the bottle with milk, but choosing whether to opt for traditional or baby-led weaning still sparks debate. Looking for inspiration? Try our weaning recipe collection, packed full of perfect purées and tasty finger foods. Not sure if your baby is ready for weaning? Find out how to spot the signs. Be prepared for feeding by reading our review of the best high chairs for babies and toddlers. What is baby-led weaning? The term baby-led weaning refers to the relaxed and unstructured approach of offering your baby only solid finger foods and learning to feed themselves from the very start of weaning, with no help from you or another adult. This skips the step of food being spoon fed in a mashed or puréed form, and instead it is usually offered in soft pieces held in the hand. The phrase 'baby-led weaning' was coined around 2003 by healthy writer Dr Gill Rapley, who has written extensively on the topic. How do I initiate baby-led weaning? Manageable chunks of different family foods are put onto your baby’s plate or a tray, your baby can then feed him or herself how and what they want. Some research suggests this is a useful way of enabling babies to regulate their own food intake. This ‘responsive feeding’ might also improve eating patterns, because it relies on your baby’s innate ability to respond to cues for hunger and satiety, in a similar way to on-demand milk feeding. This may help with self-regulation of food intake and lead to healthier weight gain. Why is baby-led weaning sometimes criticised? According to some research, babies who follow the baby-led weaning approach are more likely to be underweight and may be at increased risk of nutrient shortfalls such as iron deficiency because baby’s don’t typically eat iron-rich breakfast cereals or red meat until later in the weaning process. What does traditional weaning involve? Your baby is offered a taste of food on the tip of a spoon, or on a fingertip. The first foods tend to be cereal, like baby rice mixed with their usual milk, or a fruit or vegetable purée. These mashed or puréed foods can be single foods, such as parsnip purée, or a combination such as mashed banana and mango. Some research has shown that it’s important to ensure your baby gets the real taste of food, even those that are bitter, so it’s best not to ‘disguise’ flavours (for example, mixing apple purée into broccoli). This approach is more clearly controlled by the adult and has the advantage of including a wide range of foods. A bit of both? The middle ground is what seems to be favoured by many, and is the advice given by the Department of Health with spoon feeding alongside self-feeding offering an opportunity to grab and chew on foods like avocado, banana or mini rice cakes. Whatever method you choose, weaning is a gradual process. Small pieces of soft food and one or two spoonfuls might be all your baby wants, and milk feeds remain important to provide the main source of nutrition. That’s why this stage is called 'complementary feeding' because it offers the opportunity to add variety to help lay the foundations for a healthy, balanced diet. This page was last updated in 19 January 2023. Kerry Torrens BSc. (Hons) PgCert MBANT is a Registered Nutritionist with a post graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food. Have you got any questions about weaning? Or any tips to share? We would love to hear from you below...
Registered dietitian and leading child nutritionist Dr Frankie Phillips shares advice on the signs to look for that show your baby is ready to start weaning.
After getting through those first few sleep-deprived weeks, you may have fallen confidently into a routine where your response to your baby's need to feed becomes second nature. However, after a few months of milk feeds, it’s time to shake things up and reach a new, exciting milestone: the weaning window. Discover more about weaning with our guides on what is baby-led weaning? and what can my baby eat and when? How do I recognise the signs that my baby is ready for weaning? Little ones naturally develop the skills they need to move on to solid food, and there are three tell-tale signs that appear at around six months: • Your baby is able to stay upright in a sitting position and hold their head steady • Your baby can co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth, so they can look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth • Your baby can swallow food (you’ll know if they aren't ready, because the food will be pushed out with their tongue) There are many myths about how to recognise whether a baby is ready for weaning, but signs such as chewing on fists, waking more in the night or wanting more milk feeds are not reliable signs of readiness. Why are solids important for my baby? For the first few months, breast or formula milk provides most of the nutrition your baby needs. However, as they approach six months (or 26 weeks) and for the rest of the first year, adding a wide range of foods to their diet to complement the milk becomes more important. This is because your baby’s stores of some nutrients, such as iron, begin to run low, so they need to start obtaining the nutrients they need from the foods they eat. Introducing textures early on is also valuable, because biting and chewing helps develop the muscles in the mouth and tongue, which are needed for speech. Why is six months the right time to wean my baby? The World Health Organisation recommends that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. In the UK, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS Choices advise ‘around six months’ as the time to start ‘complementary feeding’ – this is to take account of individual developmental stages, rather than provide a blanket recommendation. ‘Complementary feeding’ is a useful term, as it suggests weaning isn’t just replacing baby’s milk feeds, but accompanying these with new foods as your baby develops the skills of eating solid foods. Can I wean my baby before six months? Some babies might be ready to start weaning before six months, and if they are showing all the signs, then it’s fine to start. Always check with your health visitor first to be sure. That said, the latest research shows that it’s best to wait until your baby is at least 17 weeks old, because before this time, their digestive tract and kidneys may not be developed enough. Trust your instincts and your baby’s signals, and ignore pressure from others. Looking for inspiration? Try our stage-one homemade purée recipes below: Butternut squash & garlic purée Banana and avocado Celeriac, carrot & apple purée More related content: Read our review of the best high chairs for babies and toddlers. Have you got any questions about weaning? Or any tips to share? We would love to hear from you below. This article was last reviewed on 14 February 2022 by Kerry Torrens. Kerry Torrens BSc. (Hons) PgCert MBANT is a Registered Nutritionist with a post graduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy. She is a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and a member of the Guild of Food Writers. Over the last 15 years she has been a contributing author to a number of nutritional and cookery publications including BBC Good Food. All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
Leading expert in infant and toddler nutrition, Charlotte Stirling-Reed, discusses vegetable-led weaning. She also answers parent's questions about how to feed their children a healthy and balanced diet.
Ensuring that your child is receiving adequate nutrition can sometimes feel like a daunting task – especially with things like allergies, intolerances and fussy eating to consider. Registered nutritionist and a leading expert in infant and toddler nutrition, Charlotte Stirling-Reed, has made a career out of giving parents confidence in feeding their children – from weaning, fussy eating and beyond. Below, she answers some of our staffers most burning questions… What is vegetable-led weaning? Vegetable-led weaning is essentially where you kick off your baby's weaning journey with vegetables, instead of the more traditional baby rice or fruits. Starting weaning with veggies can help babies to be more accepting of the savoury and bitter tastes you might get from vegetables earlier on. Babies are born with a preference for sweeter foods, so it's good to get them familiar with, and accepting, a variety of different tastes from the start of weaning. I normally recommend 10 days or so of single veggies before combining with other foods, and offering more of a variety alongside plenty of savoury veggies. Why do toddlers have such changeable eating habits? My little boy suddenly goes off something he used to love! Toddlers appetites are affected by so much and so easily. Being overtired, teething, feeling unwell, being distracted (all common things for toddlers) will likely affect your little one's appetite for food. Additionally, children are naturally a little ‘picky’ about what they eat and sometimes refuse certain foods for attention or simply because they don't feel like eating it that day. The important thing is to keep offering foods, even rejected ones, regularly so they stay familiar with them. Mealtime routines can help too as children tend to like structure and can be more receptive to foods if they know it's coming. If you have a serious veg dodger on your hands, what five healthy ingredients should you really persevere with? ‘Eating well’ is all about balance, so I wouldn't say there are five specific foods that will work miracles and cover all of the food groups for your toddler. If they dodge veg however, these things are important: Keep offering it. If you take it away it'll possibly lead to more frequent and longer rejection. Offer a wide variety of other food groups – starchy foods, fruits, proteins and dairy/alternatives so they are getting variety and plenty of nutrients elsewhere. Role model eating it yourself – they'll often pick up from watching you eat. Don't sweat it too much – the human body is very resourceful and will make the most of any foods/nutrients it is given. Just be sure to offer a variety and keep trying with the veg often! How many times should you offer a food to a toddler before giving up? i.e. can pushing children too hard to eat too many new things backfire? Yes absolutely, pushing too hard and putting pressure to ‘eat up’ or eat certain foods is likely to backfire and leave children more determined than ever not to eat the said food. However, there is research that shows that ‘repeat exposures’ (offering rejected foods multiple times) can lead to more acceptance. Ultimately, keep trying with foods, especially rejected ones, but not in a pressured way. Offer the food without comment, eat it yourself, talk about it and have it as a regular part of your and your family's diet. Familiarity doesn't have to start with eating it, just seeing it and seeing others eating it is often enough. Is hiding veg in meals a bad thing or a good way to get extra nutrients in? It's not ideal if you're only hiding it. In other words, if you're hiding some veggies to help add nutrients to the meal, try to also have some of the same veggies on show, so your little one can see and become familiar with them. My baby has a milk allergy. How do I ensure they’re getting enough calcium when I stop breastfeeding? Speak to your health visitor or GP about this, as it depends on lots of circumstances. Any tips for weaning on the go? Get some good storage containers that are light and close properly with no leaks. Take ice packs with you to keep food cool. I used to take a banana, a dollop of peanut butter and a fork in the early days of weaning my child Raffy – great on the go and a good boost of nutrients, too. What is your go-to healthy meal for toddlers when your cupboards are bare? Scrambled egg on toast with leftover veggies mixed into the egg. Or an omelette with frozen veg and potatoes. Always a winner! What storecupboard and frozen foods help kids get their 5-a-day? Tins of beans and lentils in water count as one of a child's five-a-day, and are easy to add into meals. Frozen veggies are also a staple in our house – it's easy to steam two handfuls or add them to another dish. Lastly, frozen fruits are a really common feature in our breakfasts or puddings. I add them to porridge/cereals in the morning, offer them as a snack with some yogurt or bake them into a crumble. Frozen and tinned fruits, as well as vegetables and beans can be just as nutritious as fresh ones. Should I give my kids a supplement? Yes. The Government recommend that babies who are breastfed should have vitamin D drops every day from birth (8.5-10mcg), and from around 6 months-4 years, should have vitamin A and vitamin C supplements too. Formula-fed babies don't need these supplements until they are having less than 500ml of formula milk, as the formula milk is already fortified with them. Charlotte Stirling Reed will be sharing her expert tips and advice (she also worked with Joe Wicks on Wean in 15) in a virtual weaning workshop. This event is free and will be on December 8th at 8pm-9pm. Register here, and you will be sent the zoom invite closer to the event. What do you think about veg-lead weaning? We’d love to hear below… Enjoyed this? Now read… When is my baby ready for weaning? The best high chairs for babies and toddlers What can my baby eat when? Weaning recipes More about weaning NHS guide to healthy weaning This page was published on 1 December 2020 Charlotte has a first-class degree in Nutrition and Human Biology and a Postgraduate Degree from Bristol University in Nutrition and Public Health. Registered with the Association for Nutrition, the Nutrition Society, SENSE Nutritionists and the Guild of Health Writers, Charlotte works as a Nutrition Consultant on a variety of projects and areas of nutrition. Her specialist areas are Maternal, Infant and Child Nutrition, Nutrition Communications and the Media. All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
7 of the best blenders and steamers for making baby food
Looking to wean your little one onto solids? Read our round-up of the best baby food blenders and steamers for making purées and finger foods, plus find weaning recipes and advice.
Being a parent is busy and once your little one is ready to start weaning, it’s guaranteed to get busier – and messier. Whether you’re choosing to adopt a baby-led weaning approach – where finger foods are used – or to feed your infant purées and mashed foods, time-saving gadgets such as steamers, blenders and mashers can save you precious minutes in the kitchen. Here, we've tried, tested and rounded up the best in blenders, steamers and mashers to set you off on the exciting road to weaning. You can also find plenty of hints, tips and weaning recipes in our comprehensive weaning guide. What is the best blender for making baby food? When looking for the perfect weaning gadget, your search certainly won’t fall short – there are plenty of devices on the market to choose between. From specialist baby food makers which can steam and blend, through to simple hand blenders, mashers and manual tools such as mills and grinders, they all have their merits. For ambitious home cooks who want to make everything from scratch, top-of-the range blenders such as the Beaba (see below) will appeal. If you're searching for a gadget which will be of use beyond the weaning years, a traditional hand blender, stand blender or food processor can be a great option, while hand-held mills and mashers are brilliantly affordable, compact, and tend to be easily portable. The best baby food blenders to buy Read on to discover the best blenders and steamers for making baby food. For weaning recipes and more, visit our weaning guide to find tips on identifying when your baby is ready for weaning, flavour combinations for the first year and recommendations on the best high chairs to buy. Oxo Tot Mash Maker Best affordable baby food maker Pros: Portable Affordable Silent Cons: Not as thorough as an electric blender Fiddly to clean This nifty and affordable hand-held device conveniently transforms steamed fruit, vegetables and ‘grown-up’ food into baby food in seconds. Essentially a stacking system, featuring an ingredient loading base, mill, and a stainless steel blade, the Oxo masher whittles down ingredients with ease. Given its compact size, it’s a great option if you’re eating out, travelling or just want to create weaning-friendly foods with minimal fuss and mess. To use, it’s a case of simply putting your chosen steamed, boiled or soft foods in the base, sliding the easy-grip hand-held mill over the top, and twisting a crank so the food pushes through to the cup at the top. While we did find the resulting purée to be mushy, as opposed to completely smooth, adding a touch of milk or water loosened the overall consistency. While admittedly it was tricky to extract every bit of purée from the device, especially around the blade, this is an extremely handy gadget, particularly considering its price and portability. It’s also dishwasher-friendly and has the advantage of being quiet to use. Available from Amazon (£16.75) Beaba Babycook Neo Best investment baby food blender Pros: Good-looking All-in-one device Cons: Slow to steam Pricey Considering the Babycook Neo’s good looks (its navy blue and pink colourway makes it look like a stylish coffee machine), compact design and ease of use, this modern piece of kit is one you’ll undoubtedly want to leave out on your kitchen worktop – but it does come with a hefty price tag. It’s straightforward to use and works well: the glass jar unscrews easily, the lid affixes without resistance, and the ‘steam’ and ‘purée’ buttons are large, obvious, and cushiony to touch. An array of ingredients can be steamed, from potatoes and green beans to meat, fish and fruit. To steam, chop your chosen ingredients into 1x1cm cubes, pop them in the glass bowl, and fill the stainless steel tank with one of three water levels (110ml, 130ml or 150ml). You’ll need to plan ahead though – steaming sweet potato cubes took us over 15 minutes. The machine beeps when the ingredients have finished steaming, although it would be handy if there was an in-built timer to denote how much time is left on the clock. Once the veg is steamed, it’s incredibly straightforward to make purées – simply remove the metal steaming jug, pour the ingredients into the main jug, add milk, formula, or the juices your ingredients were steamed in, and press the mixer button for up to 12 seconds. Conveniently, you can pulse continually, or in individual bursts. The resulting purée had an even consistency and was smooth and glossy. What’s more, the noise levels were moderate enough not to wake a napping infant. Overall, the Beaba does have longevity, and it’s impressively multi-functional. On top of steaming, puréeing and mashing ingredients, it also has a defrost setting; handy if you already have purées stored in the freezer. Ultimately, its suitability will depend on how much you’re looking to use it. If you’re a hands-on cook looking to batch cook and defrost your own homemade purées and sauces with minimal fuss, this could be the gadget for you. Latest Deals NutriBullet Baby Best baby food blender for accessories Pros: Value for money Batch cooking-friendly Compact Cons: Excess packaging No power switch Food gets stuck under blade This was the only blender we tested which came with a complete weaning set; in addition to two blender cups, a batch jug, a base unit and two power blades, the NutriBullet Baby also comes with two easy-pop batch trays with lids, a spatula, and six date-dial storage cups. You’ll also find a user manual and cookbook, which contains a wealth of recipes, plus a pocket nutritionist denoting suggested feeding schedules, and nutritional information. Smaller than the standard NutriBullet, this is pleasantly compact and occupies less counter space than other baby food blenders we tested. As with the standard NutriBullet, this powerful blender turns on as soon as you slot in the cup – something to watch if you’ve not used one before. The jug is great for batch-cooking purées and the accompanying mini spatula helps to scoop every last bit of purée out, although its bendiness does limit its effectiveness somewhat. As well as being quick and efficient to operate, it handily comes with two blades; a ‘baby blend blade’ for puréeing and blending foods, and a ‘milling blade’ for milling grains to make cereals or baby rice. Unlike some weaning gadgets, ingredients do need to be cooled before blending, which can add time to your feeding schedule. It’s also worth noting the blender and each of its parts come packaged in a fair amount of cardboard and plastic. Overall, this is a blender designed with a lot of thought and research – it offers a fantastic introduction to the world of weaning, especially if you’re looking to batch cook. Available from Amazon (£53.86) Philips Avent 4-in-1 Best multifunction baby food steamer and blender Pros: Steamer and blender Relatively compact Efficient Cons: A bit fiddly Not the most attractive When it comes to baby bottles and sterilising products, Philips Avent is one of the leading names in the sector and this multifunctional 4-in-1 gadget can steam, blend, defrost and even reheat homemade food. It’s incredibly easy-to-use: just one twisting dial is used to steam, blend, heat and defrost food. One of the most innovative parts of its design is that the same 1000ml jug can be used to both steam and blend ingredients – it’s simply a case of flipping the jar upside down according to the function you wish to use. The clear jar also means you can see your vegetables steaming, so you won’t risk overcooking them or losing precious nutrients. It takes approximately 15 minutes to steam vegetables, and as everything takes place within one cup you can conveniently use the steaming juices to blend your ingredients into a purée. We found it slightly fiddly to slot the jug into place, with the steaming end trickier to slot in than the blending end. Design-wise, it looks pretty basic and as it’s white, it shows up the faintest of splashes, especially from purées. But looks aside, it certainly delivers on the task in hand and it’s wonderfully convenient. Handily, the jar and blade are dishwasher-friendly, too. It creates an exceptionally smooth purée – one of the smoothest out of all of the blenders we tested. The accompanying spatula is firm and scoops the food out of the difficult-to-reach parts. The blender also comes with a handy recipe booklet, which contains 16 straightforward recipes created in collaboration with nutritionist Dr Emma Williams. Available from Amazon (£159.99) Judge Electricals mini chopper Best mini chopper for making baby food Pros: All-purpose gadget Cons: Large for a mini chopper If you’re in the market for a handy kitchen gadget with a lifespan beyond the weaning years, this makes light work of making everything from breadcrumbs to chopping nuts, fruit, meat and vegetables, and can also be used to make sauces. It’s incredibly straightforward to use, requiring the push of one large button to operate. This large power button means it can easily operate one-handed, although the power unit is slightly on the chunky and heavy side. Nonetheless, it’s still smaller than a lot of blenders and processors on the market, and its 200W motor makes it adept at making purées. It can be used for both purées and roughly chopping food, with the latter function ideal for mashing down adult meals into smoother textures. For roughly chopping food, you simply blitz your ingredients (which need to be pre-cut to half an inch before blending) with the power button, while for purées, you simply hold the button down for 20 seconds at a time. One of the biggest bonuses is that the jug can withstand heat, so you can add in food of up to 50C, unlike a lot of blenders and choppers on the market. The roomy jug can also make up to half a litre of food at a time – ideal for getting ahead with food prep. The motor is conveniently on the quiet side, and it’s easy to scoop out ingredients once blended. While it doesn’t produce the smoothest purée on the market – this can be remedied with a little stir – this mini chopper has the advantage of being quick and easy to use and clean, especially when operating one-handed. Available from: Amazon (£20) Wayfair (£22.99) Horwood (£36) Russell Hobbs Desire matte black 3 in 1 hand blender Best everyday blender for making baby food Pros: Space-saving Affordable Sleek Cons: Somewhat noisy Baby blenders may only be required for a matter of months, so an all-rounder gadget, such as a hand blender, can be a great option if you’re looking for a device that will whip up food beyond purées, and not take up too much valuable kitchen space either. This nifty 500W 3-in-1 blender from Russell Hobbs is straightforward to use. Elements attach and click into place easily – which is exactly the time-saving gadget you need when you’re juggling childcare and a to-do list longer than your arm. The wand attachment can blend, pulp and purée ingredients, while the whisk attachment can be used in place of a regular whisk. The chopper attachment can be used as a mini food processor. For the purpose of purées, or mashing up an adult dinner for a little one, we’d recommend using the wand attachment. As it's hand-held – unlike other models we tested – you have the benefit of determining the consistency of your purée, plus you can handily control the consistency of your ingredients thanks to its two speed settings and pulse option. Contents are easy to scoop out of the 700ml capacity beaker. While it’s powerful, and created a wonderfully smooth purée in our tests, it was louder than some of the models we tested. Overall, it’s a versatile, affordable and sleek blender and is certainly a great option for weaning – and beyond. Latest Prices BabyMoov Nutribaby+ Best baby food maker for gadget lovers Pros: Sleek interface Efficient multi-tasker 5-in-1 Cons: Might be too complex for some This nifty machine does it all: on top of steaming and blending, it can also sterilise, defrost and warm up baby jars and baby bottles. Given all of its capabilities, we found it does take a little longer to get acquainted with the model, but overall it’s easy to set up, use and clean. The Babymoov Nutribaby + comprises of a tiered steamer and blender which is separated by a LED control panel. The most detailed panel of all of the units we’ve tested, it handily denotes water levels, temperature of goods, and even whether the kit needs descaling. This sleek interface comes with a number of pre-set functions – from steam to blend, reheat and sterilise – all of which are accessed with a simple push of a button. There’s also a countdown timer which flashes when the steamer is in use, so you know exactly how long is left – and can adjust the time accordingly. It’s all very functional to use; the model comes with two steaming baskets, so you can steam meat and vegetables separately if you so wish. A button beeps if the steamer runs out of water while steaming – which we encountered – and there’s also the option of cooking eggs and steaming rice and grains, in addition to fruit and vegetables. The steamer is quiet and efficient and while the blender is relatively loud, it has three speed options, so you can create soups, smoothies and purées to your desired consistency. We found it created a thoroughly smooth purée and the blender blade was easy to remove and clean too. Conveniently, you can use the steam function and blend function simultaneously, saving you additional time in the kitchen. The fact that the Babymoov Nutribaby + can also heat baby bottles – and sterilise them – is an added bonus. In spite of all its functionalities and settings, this is nevertheless a compact, stylish and well-designed model. Overall, it’s a fantastic option for weaning and beyond, and in our opinion offers great value for money, particularly as it can create food for the whole family. Latest Deals How we tested baby food blenders We tested each baby food device against the following criteria Consistency of purée Noise levels Blade strength Speed of blitzing Ease of use Jug strength Safety Functionality Size Design and aesthetic Ease of use Cleaning Additional extras Assembly and packaging We used our sweet potato puree weaning recipe to test each product. This review was last updated in June 2020. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Related reviews Best food processors Best blenders Best smoothie makers Best hand blenders Best veg box How do you make your baby food? We'd love to hear your tips in the comments below...
Explore Good Food's simple, nutritious finger food recipes, perfect for baby-led weaning and packed with essential goodness.
Start with these baby-led weaning recipes, and then, when they're ready, move on to our curated toddler recipes for continued growth and flavour.
Top 5 weaning recipes for the first weeks
Is your baby ready for weaning? Discover BBC Good Food's easy, triple-tested baby food recipes, from simple sweet potato purée to spiced pear.
Giving your baby their first taste of foods is a huge milestone, which can feel exciting and daunting all at the same time. Weaning begins with single fruit or vegetable purées or soft finger foods like florets of steamed broccoli or cauliflower. The below recipes have been designed to give your baby a great tasting foundation before proteins and other richer foods are introduced. 1. Sweet potato purée Sweet potatoes are an easy, simple first food for when you start weaning your baby. The taste tends to be readily accepted and you can blend in their regular milk for a creamy, easily-digestible purée. Sweet potato purée 2. Carrot & swede purée Once your baby has tried single tastes of these root vegetables, try combining for a more interesting flavour combination. This carrot and swede blend is packed with vitamins that you can make with their usual breast milk or formula. Carrot & swede purée 3. Apple & beetroot purée This vibrant purée is a great way of introducing a new taste like beetroot into your child’s diet. The more varied the flavours sampled at an early age, the easier the weaning process should be when they start exploring more complex dishes. Just make sure you have a decent sized bib at the ready! Apple & beetroot purée 4. Spiced pear purée This makes a lovely purée for breakfast or a first dessert. A subtle pinch of cinnamon will stimulate your baby's taste buds, laying the foundations for more interesting recipes in the future. Spiced pear purée 5. Perfect banana & avocado purée This simple no-cook purée is great if you need to feed your baby in a hurry. Made with ripe, nutrient-rich avocado and banana, this is also quite a filling meal. Yogurt can be added for a protein boost if you like. Perfect banana & avocado purée Like this? Try... The best high chairs for babies and toddlers Weaning – safety, hygiene and storage What can my baby eat when? When is my baby ready for weaning? What is baby-led weaning? All of our weaning recipes
We all know you need to be extra careful when preparing or storing food for your little one. Our easy-to-follow tips are designed to keep health and safety in check.
Weaning can certainly get messy at times, but it's all part of the learning process for your baby. However, when you're cooking, preparing or storing food for your little one, there are some simple food safety tips and tricks that will help keep them healthy, happy and well-fed. Top cooking safety tips for weaning your baby Hygiene is really important when it comes to feeding your baby, but the following rules apply whoever you’re cooking for: Always wash your hands before preparing food and if you touch raw foods, wash your hands straight afterwards. Wash your hands after touching the bin too, as well as any family pets. Keep equipment, work surfaces and appliances clean. Particularly if you’re preparing meat, clean your equipment (eg boards, knives, bowls, forks) thoroughly before using it for something else. Chopping boards have been shown to harbour an alarming number of bacteria. A plastic one you can put in the dishwasher is a great option and having a couple to hand helps to avoid cross-contamination as you cook. Use one for raw and one for ready-to-eat foods. Examine your chopping boards regularly – plastic boards will damage over time with knife grooves and these incisions may harbour bacteria. Dry your board after washing with disposable kitchen paper – this minimises the time in which bacteria can multiply. Never stack damp boards together as this encourages bacterial growth. Wash your dishcloths and tea towels regularly. According to the NHS, kitchen sponges have been shown to have the highest number of germs in the home. Be aware of cross-contamination, so, for example, avoid getting meat juices on hands, then taps, dishcloths etc. Keep pets away from food and work surfaces. If your child doesn’t eat all their food, throw the rest away. Unless eggs carry the British Lion Mark you should cook eggs (both white and yolk) until firm. However, eggs produced under the British Lion Code of Practice (and carry the British Lion Mark) are considered very low risk for salmonella and are safe for babies to eat partially cooked. Cook shellfish thoroughly. Wash raw vegetables and fruit thoroughly, then scrub or peel as necessary. Don’t wash raw chicken. Bacteria will be killed by thorough cooking. Washing is more likely to spread bacteria to sinks, work surfaces and handles. Don’t reheat cooked food more than once. Cook food until piping hot all the way through, then allow to cool to a temperature suitable for baby. How to store weaning recipes safely As babies only eat small portions, batch cooking is a real time saver and helps prevent waste. Here are some simple guidelines for keeping food safe: Keep raw food away from ready-to-eat food. Keep raw meat in a sealed container at the bottom of the fridge, where it won’t touch or drip onto other foods. If you're batch cooking for your baby, cool the food as quickly as possible, within 1-2 hours. The NHS suggests putting the food in a sealed container and running it under the cold tap. Stir it a few times during the process so the food cools evenly. Once cooled, portion it up into small pots and freeze immediately, then you can take out only what you need. Label accurately with the food contents and the date when cooked and frozen – most food can be frozen for up to 3 months. Defrost food thoroughly before cooking, either in the fridge overnight or in a microwave on the defrost setting. You may also be interested in the following guides... When is my baby ready for weaning? The best high chairs for babies and toddlers What can my baby eat when? Weaning recipes More about weaning NHS guide to healthy weaning ​What's your experience of weaning your baby? We'd love to hear from you below... This page was last reviewed on 2 February 2020 by Tracey Raye. All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
Weaning your child can seem like a daunting task, whether you’re a nervous newcomer to the kitchen or a keen cook. Discover what to cook, how to cook it and practical advice on hygiene and storage.
Introducing your baby to new foods can feel like a big responsibility, but the good news is it really is a lot easier than you might think. Deciding which foods to put in front of your child and how to combine them draws a great deal on the flavour combinations we enjoy as adults, and thankfully the techniques needed to get the food on the table are equally as simple. First flavours - from around six months Weaning begins with single fruit or vegetable purées or soft finger foods. Get your little one used to a variety of different flavours and textures by trying the following: Cooked food Steamed cauliflower or broccoli, either in florets or puréed Steamed or roasted carrot, swede or parsnip, peeled, in thin batons or puréed Boiled or roasted sweet potato, peeled, in wedges or puréed Boiled peas and beans, as well as green leafy veg like spinach puréed Boiled lentils, puréed Roasted or steamed butternut squash or pumpkin, puréed Steamed apple or pear, puréed Steamed stone fruits (like peach, nectarine or plum), skin and stone removed, puréed Raw food Mango or papaya, skin removed, puréed or in slices Banana, skin removed, in chunks or mashed Ripe avocado, mashed Cucumber, skin removed, in sticks Stoned fruit, skin and stone removed, in small pieces Very ripe pear, peeled, in slices Finely grated carrot Berries, citrus fruit, kiwi, pineapple, celery and tomatoes are best avoided to begin with due to potential allergies. Kiwi is not a highly allergenic fruit but it is associated with cross reactivity and so if a baby has a sensitive tummy or suffers rashes then it is best to introduce a little later. When to introduce does to a certain extent depend on whether the family has atopic tendencies - so introduce for most babies at around eight months, whilst those with atopic tendencies should wait until around 10 months. When you do introduce them, do so one at a time and in small amounts so that you can notice and pinpoint any adverse reactions. Firstly try foods you know your baby is fine with, then leave three days before you try the next new food. Gradually introducing foods in this way makes it easier to identify adverse reactions. Let your baby play with their food and generally explore what they’re eating. A lot more may come out than goes in but this is all part of the process. They may reject certain flavours initially but babies may need to try foods over and over again before they accept them, so don’t be disheartened. You’re laying the groundwork for a broad palate later on. Flavour pairing - from around eight months Once your little one has got the hang of eating some solids you can start to get more creative. Think about flavour combinations often found in soups or simple comfort food dishes. You can start to add meat and fish as well as eggs, dairy and tofu as long as there are no allergy issues. Speak to your Health Practitioner if you're concerned about food allergy. Stirring through whole milk, yogurt, butter and grated cheese adds another dimension.You might also want to introduce the odd extra from time to time to really expand their tastes: try a tiny pinch of ground spice, finely chopped fresh herbs or roasted garlic. Root vegetables: Combination inspiration: carrot and parsnip, carrot and swede, celeriac and apple, parsnip and apple How to prepare root vegetables: Peel and cut the vegetables into chunks. Put in a steamer and cook for 15-20 mins until soft (putting apple in halfway through cooking time). Put the vegetables/fruit in a blender. You can add a splash of baby’s milk or butter to enrich and loosen the purée a little if you like. Potatoes: Combination inspiration: leek and potato, courgette and potato, cheese and potato, spinach and potato. How to prepare potatoes: Peel and cut potatoes into large chunks, then boil for 15-20 mins. Alternatively, wrap a baking potato in tin foil and oven cook at 200C/ 180C fan/ gas 6 for 1 hour 15 mins – 1 hour 30 mins depending on the size. Scoop out the flesh and mash. Try leek & potato or courgette & potato – boil the potato as above, adding a chopped leek or courgette halfway through cooking time. Drain, put in the blender adding a knob of butter, a tablespoon of grated cheese or a dollop of yogurt. For spinach and potato, put a knob of butter in a small saucepan, add the spinach and gently cook for a few minutes until wilted. Blend this with cooked potato – you can add a very small pinch of nutmeg too. As in soup, potato works well with more or less anything so don’t be shy to add a little to vegetable, fish or meat purées. Sweet potatoes: Combination inspiration: sweet potato and carrot, sweet potato and lamb, sweet potato and chicken, sweet potato and spinach. How to prepare sweet potatoes: For sweet potatoes, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick the potatoes in several places and bake for 45 mins-1 hour until soft. Scoop out the flesh and mash. Sweet potato is equally versatile and works well with carrot, lamb, chicken or spinach. Weaning recipe: slow-cooked lamb with veg & sweet potatoes Lentils: Combination inspiration: lentils and butternut squash, lentils and carrot, lentils and sweet potatoes. How to prepare lentils: Lentils are a great source of protein and iron, they’re cheap and easy to cook, plus most variants can be blended to a creamy, smooth consistency. Combine red split lentils with sweet potato and make it easy by boiling both of them together for 15 mins. You’ll need to peel and chop the sweet potato too. Take inspiration from the earthy flavours of Middle Eastern food, adding a pinch of ground coriander or cumin into the mix. Weaning recipe: lentil & sweet potato purée Broccoli and cauliflower: Combination inspiration: broccoli or cauliflower with small handful of cheese, broccoli or cauliflower with potato, broccoli or cauliflower with white fish, broccoli or cauliflower with salmon. How to prepare broccoli and cauliflower: Cut broccoli and cauliflower into florets and steam them for around 8 mins. Think cauliflower and broccoli cheese or fish cakes for inspiration. Try these fish pie bites for Stage 2 weaning. Weaning recipes: Fish pie bites Squash and pumpkin: Combination inspiration: Squash or pumpkin with garlic, squash or pumpkin with red split lentils, squash or pumpkin with swede or squash or pumpkin with​ parsnip. How to prepare ​squash and pumpkin: Cut the squash or pumpkin in half and roast in the oven at 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 for 40 mins-1 hour or until tender, depending on the size. Weaning recipe: Butternut squash & garlic purée Fruit: Combination inspiration: Banana and mango, banana and strawberries, banana and avocado, rhubarb and pear, rhubarb and apple, rhubarb and strawberries, rhubarb and banana, peach, banana and mango. How to prepare rhubarb: Roughly chop the rhubarb stalks and pop in a saucepan with a generous splash of water and cook for around 15 mins until tender, then purée. To combine it with apple or pear, put a little more water in the pan and cook the fruit together for the same time or until everything is tender. You can also cook the rhubarb on its own and then mash in strawberries or banana. How to prepare stone fruits: Stone fruits like plums, nectarines, peaches and apricots can be peeled and stoned and then cooked in a saucepan with a generous splash of water for around 15 mins until tender, then purée. Think about smoothie combinations, like peach, banana and mango. Remember to remove skin and seeds/stones and be aware of potential allergic reactions. Grains: Combination inspiration: Grains and mashed banana, grains and strawberry, grains and stewed stone fruits, grains and ripe mango, grains and papaya, grains and puréed vegetables. How to prepare grains: Grains are a great carrier for different flavours. Add mashed banana or strawberry, or stewed stone fruits to porridge or pudding and risotto rice. Ripe mango or papaya can be blended into these too. Add any of the fruit or vegetable purées to your grains and go for variety – spelt, basmati rice or pasta. Particularly in the case of rice, its better to cook the quantity you need fresh. You can always mix it together with a purée you’ve already made and defrosted. Meat & fish: Combination inspiration: white fish with leek and potato, salmon with leek and potato, salmon broccoli and potato, chicken with peppers and tomatoes, minced lamb with potato and carrot. How to prepare fish: For fish fillets, simply wrap them in tin foil and cook in the oven at 200C/gas 6 for 10 mins or until opaque. If you combine them with other baked or roasted veg this really saves time – simply put the fish in towards the end of the cooking time. To expand your baby's palate, think about adding a few fresh herbs – fish goes well with chives, dill and parsley, lamb and beef with cinnamon and cumin. Add the smallest pinch for a hint of flavour. Weaning recipe: Haddock, cauliflower & potato purée Hygiene and storage Hygiene is even more important when it comes to cooking for your baby. Read our guide to learn how to safely prepare and store your baby's food. Most importantly – relax... Sharing food is one of life’s pleasures. Join your baby in their new adventures with food. Try not to worry too much what or how much actually goes into their mouth. Experiment with combinations – some work better than others, but there is no right or wrong as they all offer different flavours and nutrients. If you give them plenty of choice and variety, the rest will take care of itself, sometimes sooner, sometimes later. Ultimately, you’re preparing your baby to eat with you throughout their childhood and to be comfortable and confident to explore the world of food for themselves. This is just the beginning. You may also be interested in the following guides... When is my baby ready for weaning? The best high chairs for babies and toddlers What can my baby eat when? Weaning recipes More about weaning​ NHS guide to healthy weaning ​What's your experience of weaning your baby? we'd love to hear from you below...
Stepping into the wonderful world of weaning? We've got everything you need to keep the little person in your life happy, healthy and safe...
Is my baby ready for weaning? Registered dietitian and leading child nutritionist Frankie Phillips tell us how to recognise the signs that your baby is ready for their first taste of food. When is my baby ready for weaning? What is baby-led weaning? Choosing a weaning style to suit you and your baby can feel daunting, and everyone seems to have an opinion. We explain what baby-led weaning really means... What is baby-led weaning? What can my baby eat when? Which are the best first foods? When do you introduce protein and texture? And how much should my baby be eating? Our registered dietitian covers everything you need to know... What can my baby eat when? Weaning recipes From perfect purées to fabulous finger foods, our easy and healthy baby and toddler recipes are sure to be a hit with the little person in your life. All our weaning recipes Flavour pairing for the first year Weaning your child can seem like a daunting task, whether you’re a nervous newcomer to the kitchen or a keen cook. Discover what to cook, how to cook it and practical advice on hygiene and storage. Flavour pairing for the first year The best high chairs for babies and toddlers A good high chair will take you from weaning through to toddlerhood and sometimes beyond. We enlisted parents to test popular brands like IKEA, Stokke and BabyBjörn to bring you our best buys for kids' mealtimes. The best high chairs to buy You may also be interested in the following guides... When is my baby ready for weaning? The best high chairs for babies and toddlers What can my baby eat when? Weaning recipes More about weaning​ NHS guide to healthy weaning ​What's your experience of weaning your baby? we'd love to hear from you below...