Baby Weaning Hacks, Tips, Baby Weaning Foods, How to Introduce Solids

7 Baby Weaning Hacks - Tips to Introduce Solids, New Foods to Infants

0 to 1 years

Created by Ruchira Chandra
Updated on Jun 10, 2017

7 Baby Weaning Hacks Tips to Introduce Solids New Foods to Infants

So, your baby is 6-months-old and you want to make a transition from breast milk to top feeds. This very transition from breast milk to top feed is known as weaning. Weaning may start when the baby is around 6 months or post 6 months when the baby is entering her seventh month. Know what is the ideal age to wean off child from breastfeeding.

Remember that though you may have started the weaning process, you may still continue to breastfeed your baby. As breastfeeding is not just a feeding process, but an emotional connect between the mother and the baby.

Baby Weaning Tips

Though there are no specific rules for weaning, here are a few tips, which i found effective to wean off my child from breastfeed:

#1.Wean Gradually:

Reduce one feed at a time. Give the baby ample number of days to get used to one less feed.

#2. Golden Feed:

Babies tend to be attached more to the first feed and the last feed of the day. So, drop these feeds at the last leg of the weaning process. The last feed of the day is most tricky. This may need a little extra effort.

#3. Nutritious Filling:

Start introducing new foods (scroll down for suggestions- a 3-step guide) to replace your feed. Tasty, nutritious and an appealing palette will make it easier.

#4. Introducing Solid Foods?

Here are a few pointers to introduce solids to newborns..

Offer very little in quantity; remember the baby is tasting something absolutely new for the first time. Give your child time to get used to the new burst of taste.
Do not force the next serving. Wait for them to open their mouth.
Do not add any salt or sugar. Let the food be in its purest pureed form.
Introduce only one new food at a time, so that you can check for allergies and any digestion issues.

#5. Reserve a Seat:

Reserve a place for your baby at the dinner table. Babies naturally tend to follow their parents, so this will help in introducing ‘food’ and ‘eating’.

#6. Encourage Exploration

Allow the child to explore the new foods. I know it gets a little messy butit helps to develop an interest in the newly introduced food. Your baby may need some guidance at this point.

#7. Pamper and Indulge:

If you feel that the child’s stomach is full and yet he/she is craving for the feed, it’s a sign that your child is missing intimacy.Try to comfort with various activities like sing along, play, snuggle…. anything. Just pamper your child with your attention. This will assure your child that there is no emotional disconnect. It also helps in reducing the anxiety.

#8. Be Patient:

Even after trying everything, if the child hasn't taken to weaning favourably, then perhaps your child is not just ready as yet. Stay patient and try another month. It will happen at the right time.

New Foods Suggestion - 3 Step Guide

Step 1: Start with soft fruits in puree form. Banana is a good starting point. Just mash and serve. Apple or pear (boil/steam and mash) can follow. Fruits like chikoo, mango and papaya can be simply mashed.

Also Read

Step 2: After the baby successfully crosses step 1, you can introduce veggies. Root vegetables & carrots are great to start with. Vegetables should be fully cooked and mashed. You may introduce ghee at this stage.

Step 3: After step 2, the menu could include daal, soft & mushy boiled rice, finger foods,cow’s milk, fully cooked and boiled egg and poultry items.

Your baby is now getting a new world of tastes and textures. You will notice the frequency of breastfeeding shall reduce.

What Weaning Foods to Introduce to Infants?

Ideally a baby should be exclusively breastfed till 6 months of age. But if need be, and after paediatric consultation, some children can be started on other food sources by 4 months. This can vary from children to children depending on their growth and development and behavioural changes i.e. curioisty and interest towards food. For more check weaning foods for 4-7 months babies .

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After 7 months, slowly your child is learning to chew and has started sitting. Tooth eruption may have also started. You can start experimenting bit more with these foods. Add a spoon of butter/ghee/oil to your little one’s dish. Know what weaning foods for 7-12 months baby .

Here begins the new stage of struggle, when your baby grows to become a picky eater. Phew ! That’s another level of struggle altogether. Read tips to solve feeding problems in fussy eater .

For now, be happy that you have come this far. Next level. I would love to know what are some other weaning hacks that worked for you. Please do share in the comments. Happy parenting !

This content has been checked & validated by Doctors and Experts of the parentune Expert panel. Our panel consists of Neonatologist, Gynecologist, Peadiatrician, Nutritionist, Child Counselor, Education & Learning Expert, Physiotherapist, Learning disability Expert and Developmental Pead.