Starting Solids

• Stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady
• Co-ordinate their eyes, hand and mouth so that they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth all by themselves
• Swallow food. Babies who are not ready will push their food back out, so they get more round their face than they do in their mouths

• From 6 months old for babies it is recommended to give a small amount of food prior to their milk, but if they are very hungry it is best to offer the milk and attempt giving food at another time. The pace of eating should be determined by the baby and they will let you know when they don’t want anymore. They may also be fussy about the tastes and textures they will eat, so any food a baby refuses can be tried again on another day, as it does not mean they will not eat this food in the future. Babies enjoy holding food and baby utensils, and sitting up they start leading the meal time activity, though usually messily. It is reported that babies who are solely spoon fed tend to eat more than those using the ‘baby led’ method and can be fussier eaters. However, a combination of spooned and finger foods can give parents the confidence that their baby has the right nutritional requirements for their age.

 

• By the time a baby is 7 to 9 months they may well be taking three meals a day but still have about 600mls of milk. Water can be offered in an open cup or free flow cup with meals from 6 months old. Their supply of iron and zinc that was built up in pregnancy will start to dwindle at this age so it is important to offer foods that contain these.

 

• At aged 10 to 12 months the babies may still be taking 450mls of milk a day, but the majority of nutrition will now come from food. Babies like and benefit from social interaction so including them in family meals times will support their eating habits, with them copying behaviours at the table.

 

• By the time your baby is 12 months old they will have reduced the amount of milk they drink be drinking no more than 350mls of milk and it is at this time that they can be offered full fat cow’s milk as a drink. There is no research evidence to say that follow on milks are required by children.
  

 

• At the age of 2 a child can be gradually introduces to semi-skimmed milk if they have a good balanced diet, but it is not until they are 5 years old that skimmed milk is recommended. Whereas breastfed babies can continue breastfeeding until they or you want this to stop, and it is often a natural decrease.
  

• Always offer the same food as the other family members and peers wherever possible. It is important not to offer alternative meals, snacks, pudding or favourite drinks (such as milkshakes) if the meal is refused as this can be seen as rewarding your child for poor feeding behaviour.


• Give clear instructions about what to eat and follow through any consequences you set, for example, your child can have a favourite pudding only if the agreed amount of the main meal has been eaten.


• Start by offering food you know your child will eat and gradually increase the variety.


• Ensure meals look attractive and the plate is not piled too high with food as this may put your child off.


• Allow your child to get messy and explore different foods.


• Don’t try to trick your child, or force feed them, they need to trust you


• Ignore bad behaviour such as throwing food.


• Offer small, regular meals and limit the time taken to about 20 minutes, clear away any uneaten food at the end of this time without commenting on it.


• Do not give your child too many drinks or snacks as this can fill them up, offer drinks after they have eaten some food rather than directly before mealtimes
  

• Babies are able to hold their head steady.
• Babies will be able to sit or sit supported.
• Babies can take food off a spoon using his upper lip and move food to the back of their mouth, and swallow it.
• Babies can reach out for things and put things in their mouths.
• Babies can pick up and hold finger food and put it in their own mouth.
• Babies may be able to hold a spoon but will not be able to guide it well enough to feed themselves.

• Allergies can also produce symptoms like, wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and runny nose, itchy skin and rashes, swollen lips and throat, sore, red and itchy eyes, diarrhoea and vomiting. Severe symptoms, known as anaphylaxis, will require emergency medical advice and can be life threatening.
 
• It is best to introduce food that is known to cause allergies one at a time, for example eggs, fish and shell fish, wheat, gluten, nuts, seeds, some berries. Though any foods can cause an allergic response or sensitivity.
 
• Cows’ milk can be used in cooking from 6 months but should not be given as a drink to your baby until they are over 12 months old. So if you are breastfeeding try to continue until the baby is over 1 years old.
 
• If a baby is allergic to cow’s milk they have a higher chance of being allergic to soya milk also.
 
• Food containing ‘E’ numbers can cause a variety of reactions in children e.g. hyperactivity.
 
• Adding salt to your babies’ food is not advisable as their bodies are not developed enough yet. Adult ready meals and adult gravy also contain salt and are not advised at this age.
 
• Adding sugar their food is not advisable as it can affect their teeth development even before they have grown through their gums.
 
• Artificial sweeteners are not suitable for babies. They can encourage a sweet tooth.
 
• Some fish contain high levels of mercury and should be avoided i.e. shark, swordfish and marlin
 
• Hard foods like whole nuts are a choking hazard.
 
• Honey should not be given to babies under a year old as it can contain bacteria and cause tummy upsets.
 
• Babies can have full fat spreads, yoghurts and cheese. Low fat spreads aren’t advised and they require the extra nutrition.
 
• Foods carrying a risk of food poisoning should be avoided, raw and uncooked shellfish, mould-ripened cheese e.g. brie and camembert, soft/raw eggs.
 
• Rice milk is not recommended as it has been found to contain arsenic

Introducing solids to babies is recommended at aged 6 months due to the development of their digestive organs and up to this age they can get all the nutrition they need from their own stored supplies and milk, whether breast or formula. It is not recommended to start introducing solids before babies are 17 weeks old, again due to their internal organ development and early weaning is also reported to be linked to increased allergies. Babies also have a tongue thrusting reflex that helps to protect them against choking and by 6 months they have mastered new skills to enable them to pass food from the front to the back of their months and swallow allowing them to commence baby led weaning. At 6 months babies start to require extra calories to sustain growth as they are becoming more active and require extra iron sources in food.

Click here to read the Unicef Start for Life Introducing Solid Foods Leaflet

Fussy eating is very common and most children will go through a phase of it as they grow up. It can often occur during the transition from soft to lumpy foods. It can be seen as part of normal development. Toddlers will refuse food that they have eaten before.

In this phase of development children will try to test the limits and strive for independence. Most children will grow out of the fussy eating, particularly when they start school.

• The most important thing you can do is to be calm and consistent as possible at mealtimes
• Don’t worry too much about the combination of foods – remember breakfast cereal doesn’t always need to be kept for breakfast!
• Meal times should be fun and relaxed, but with rules and structure to help your child learn appropriate behaviour.
• Give plenty of encouragement to your child when they are eating, even when they only eat a little bit, and ignore any unwanted behaviour, children soon learn that good behaviour is a much better way of getting your attention,
• Try to ensure there are no distractions such as TV at mealtimes. Ideally all meals should be eaten at the table. This will help the child associate the table with meals, whereas the lounge is associated with watching television.
• Try to eat together as a family. Children will copy parents, siblings and peers. Often children with eat well at school or nursery, but refuse meals at home.
  

• Give your child plenty of motivation to eat, they will be more motivated if they get lots of encouragement from you, if they are old enough you can talk to them about how important food is to help us grow strong.
• A scrapbook recording new foods eaten can be very rewarding to a child. Perhaps they could receive a reward when they fill a page?
• Some children have developed a genuine fear of food. Give them plenty of reassurance, comfort and encouragement to tackle their fear.