How do I know when to start weaning?
Weaning is a process of gradually introducing solid food to your baby to fulfil their growing nutritional needs and usually starts when the baby is around 4-6 months old. Several signs can be identified as the time to start weaning.
1. Your baby is unsatisfied after a full milk feed.
2. Your baby demands more frequent milk feeds.
3. Your baby’s weight gain is slowing.
4. Frequent waking up at night to feed.
5. Start putting in food & things into their mouth.
2. Your baby demands more frequent milk feeds.
3. Your baby’s weight gain is slowing.
4. Frequent waking up at night to feed.
5. Start putting in food & things into their mouth.
How do I feed the baby?
When weaning, introduce the food to your baby gradually as below:
- Introduce food in small portions (1-2 spoons after each breast / bottle feed).
- Increase food in frequency (when your baby's demand for milk decreases, increase the food intake).
- Gradual introduction from liquid food to semi-solid food to solid food (enabling baby’s digestive system to adapt).
- Make sure you feed your baby with easy-to-swallow and digestible food that provides your baby with sufficient nutrients such as baby rice, potato, banana, etc.
What do I feed the baby?
Allow your baby’s chewing capability and reactions to food be the ultimate guide, do not force feed them. Use the guide below on how to introduce new food according to your baby’s digestive capability.
Baby’s type of bottles and teats will depend on baby’s feeding requirement:
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Note:
Avoid sugar, salt, refined flours, processed food, food with additives, preservatives, colours, hydrogenated fats and concentrated fruit juices (low nutrients).
Practise safe feeding with these tips:
- Always supervise babies & toddlers.
- Ensure that they are sitting upright.
- Use appropriate feeding tools.
- Make sure that the food is not too hot or cold.
- Do not feed cereal in baby’s bottle to avoid choking.
- Stop feeding when baby is no longer interested.
- Avoid food that can cause choking hazards such as nuts, carrots, grapes, hot dogs (dice it small if need be), meat or tough food.
- Avoid food that breaks into big pieces in baby’s mouth such as crackers and biscuits.
- Serve baby from a clean bowl to avoid contaminating the food container / jar.
- Use caution when heating baby's food in a microwave. Test the temperature and heat foods that are only meant for microwave cooking.
