Some tips and guidelines for weaning your baby.
General tips   Suggestions for 6-9 months   Suggestions for 9-12 months   Suggestions for 12 months

General tips:

The World Health Organisation now advises that babies up to the age of six months only need breast or formula milk. If you think your baby needs solids before this time, talk to your health visitor.

Do not add salt or pepper to a baby’s food until your child is at least 12 months old and then use very little.

Try not to add sugar, use a sweeter fruit or add a little mashed banana, which is sweet. Do not use honey until your child is 12 months old.

Never use whole nuts and it is better not to serve smooth or chopped nuts until your child is two, but seek advice from your GP or health visitor.

Thin your baby's purees down with breast milk, baby milk or water only.

Some foods may cause an allergic reaction, so avoid them until he's six months. these include citrus fruits, well-cooked eggs, wheat-based foods, strawberries and fish. If allergies run in the family, ask your health visitor when to introduce certain foods.

Suggestions from 6-9 months:
At this age you should be giving your baby smooth, thin purees.

Try making purees from: apple, pear, mango, banana, papaw, carrot, cauliflower, potato, courgette, pumpkin, broccoli, peas, sweet potato, swede, parsnip, ground rice, or rice flakes, polenta or millet.

Introduce lumpy foods from six to seven months. Between seven and eight introduce finger foods such as breadsticks

Suggestions for 9-12 months:
Your baby should now be eating food chopped into pieces, mashed, minced and finger foods. Babies should now be eating three meals a day, as well as milk when waking up and before going to bed. Full fat cow's milk can now be used for cooking (e.g. custard, cheese sauces).

If your baby is very active you will need to offer snacks throughout the day. Never offer biscuits or sweets to fill empty tummies, give rice cakes, salt-free crackers, bread sticks, toast or fruit. Never give snacks before a meal or it will kill the appetite for a nutritious and balanced meal. Serve water with meals or diluted fruit juices.

Try: kiwi, seedless grapes, peach, nectarine, apricot, plum, melon, mango, avocado, spinach, leek, parsnips, well-cooked eggs, grains, pulses, bread, pasta, sugar-free breakfast cereals, flour, fish, meat or well-cooked shellfish. NB Some foods may cause an allergic reaction see above

Suggestions for 12 months:
Your baby can now be given pasteurised, full fat cow's instead of formula as his main drink , goat's and sheep milk.

By this age your baby should be well integrated into eating the same food as the rest of the family.Give him a spoon to feed himself. Do not add salt or alcohol to the baby's food and introduce strong new flavours (such as spices) slowly. Let your baby experiment – he will soon let you know if it is not what he likes – do not rule any disliked foods out, just try again a week later.

For some recipe inspiration why not look through babyworld's recipe selection

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