First foods

It is messy but very rewarding as you wean your baby on to solids. You will know it is time to start trying solids when your baby is:

• four to six months
• starts waking up in the night for feeds when he/she wasn't previously
• isn't being satisfied by bottle or breast feeding
• is able to support his/her own head

Before 4-6 months try to avoid weaning as there may be a higher risk of developing food allergies later on. The process should be very gradual, starting with just one teaspoon of baby rice or pureed fruit/vegetables once a day. Regularity and quantity of food should be built up gradually at your baby's own pace. A great time saver is to freeze pureed food in ice-cube trays so that it can be defrosted as required.

• Pureed fruit or veg such as potatoes, carrot, pear, banana
• Make porridge using baby rice and milk
• Processed first foods - check ingredients list for our no-nos

• Pureed fruit or veg such as potatoes, carrot, pear, banana
• Make porridge using baby rice and milk
• Processed first foods - check ingredients list for our no-nos

• Salt & spices - as these cannot be digested
• Sugar & honey which can encourage a sweet tooth
• Nuts due to choking and allergy hazards
• Bread, cereal and pasta due to possible wheat intolerance
• Fatty foods
• Gluten (in rye, wheat, barley & oats) as they cannot be digested
• Shellfish
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Eggs and dairy foods

The best time to offer your baby solid food is in the middle of or after a milk feed. Before a feed he/she may be over-hungry and reject solid food.

Use a liquidiser or mash food and add a little water or breast milk if necessary to create a puree, then sieve to create the correct consistency. Sit baby in a bouncy seat or on your lap when still young and use a flat plastic spoon. Finally, don't worry if not much of the food goes in - at this stage baby should be getting all the nutrients he/she needs from breast or bottle-feeding.

Even if your baby seems incredibly hungry try not to wean completely before 6-8 months as early weaning can increase the likelihood of developing food allergies later on.