Weaning

Weaning is the gradual process that begins when you first introduce solid foods into your baby’s diet.

Although milk continues to be an important food in your baby's diet, the amount, variety and texture of foods eaten can be increased, until around the age of one when your baby will be able to eat more or less what you do.

Why do babies need to be weaned?

As babies get older, milk alone cannot satisfy all their nutritional needs. Their stores of nutrients such as iron start to run out and need to be supplemented by a more varied diet. Moving on to more solid foods also helps develop the muscles necessary for chewing and eventually, speech.

The World Health Organisation recommends that until the age of 6 months, your baby only needs breast milk. Weaning usually begins soon after, but the exact age depends entirely on the individual baby – although the Department of Health recommends you shouldn’t introduce solid food until your baby is at least 4 months old.