Top 15 Key Principles to Make Baby Weaning Enjoyable

This is the second principle that moms must never forget. In the early stages of weaning, babies have been exclusively fed milk (in liquid form) for the first six months. Therefore, when introducing solid foods, moms should start by offering thin foods and gradually move to thicker ones to help babies adapt and adjust to their new eating routine.

The 'small-to-large' principle helps train your baby's digestive system to gradually adjust to a wider variety of food amounts and ingredients. Start by feeding small portions and gradually increase, for example, in the first month, offer 1-2 spoonfuls of food per meal, then increase it to 1/3 of a bowl, and then to half a bowl. This ensures proper digestion while providing enough energy and nutrients to support your baby's growth and development.

Allow your baby to try a single food for 3-5 days has several benefits that moms can easily observe:

• First, the 3-5 day period helps parents identify if their baby has any allergies to certain foods.
• Second, if the food is well-received, switching to a new food after this period can prevent your baby from getting bored with the same dish and keep mealtimes exciting.

Cereal stage: starting at 6 months, parents can introduce nutritious cereals to their baby. At this stage, ready-made cereals from reputable brands can be used as they contain all the necessary nutrients for babies. If preparing homemade cereal, ensure cleanliness and nutritional value, but be cautious of foods that may cause allergies.

Porridge stage: by 9-10 months, babies can eat more solid foods, and parents can start cooking porridge for them. Avoid using just bone broth, as it doesn't provide enough nutrition. Instead, include meat, fish, and vegetables. Prepare separate pots of well-cooked porridge, and add meat, fish, and vegetables to each meal, along with a little cooking oil for extra nutrients.

Rice stage: once babies have enough teeth (20 in total), they can chew rice properly. Cook rice soft and mash it for them. Gradually introduce vegetables by making soups such as Malabar spinach soup, pumpkin soup, and soups with carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and kohlrabi. Remember to cut vegetables into smaller pieces to prevent choking.

Some proper hygiene and safe food storage practices when preparing baby’s weaning meals:

• Wash hands for both caregivers and babies before food preparation and eating.
• Store food properly and feed your baby immediately after preparation.
• Use clean utensils for preparing and serving food.
• Provide your baby with clean plates and bowls for eating, and avoid using bottles for weaning, as they are harder to clean.

From birth, babies already follow a feeding schedule, so when starting solids, moms should maintain fixed meal times. During this stage, babies' digestive systems are adjusting to solid foods, so it's best to offer meals 1 to 2 times a day, spaced 6 to 8 hours apart.

It's important for moms to establish a consistent feeding time to create a healthy eating routine for their child. This way, when it’s time to eat, the baby will feel hungrier and more eager to eat.

For a baby's delicate digestive system, mothers should avoid forcing them to eat too much. Start with 50ml per meal and gradually increase to 60ml, 70ml over a few days, stopping when the baby shows signs of not wanting more. Overfeeding can lead to an overloaded stomach, making digestion difficult, causing discomfort and potentially making the baby fear mealtime.

Many mothers worry their baby isn’t eating enough and try to push food, even when the baby signals they’ve had enough. However, this not only doesn’t help but may cause the baby to develop a fear of eating, stressing both the baby’s digestive system and the mother. Rest assured, your baby is smart and will not let themselves go hungry, so it’s best to stop forcing them to eat.

Since a baby’s kidneys are still developing, mothers should avoid adding salt or sugar to their food before the age of 1. Adding seasonings can overwhelm their kidneys and may cause serious health issues.

If you want to enhance the flavor of your baby’s food, try using natural ingredients like shrimp or chicken. For sweetness, you can add root vegetables. Always say no to salt and sugar for your baby’s health.

From the very start of weaning, make sure your baby sits in a dedicated highchair for meals. As babies explore their world, keeping them seated in one spot can be a challenge.

However, don’t be discouraged. Consistently encourage your baby to sit still and develop the habit of eating properly. This will benefit their developing digestive system. Say no to feeding your baby while carrying them around or distracting them with play.

Not including enough fat or adding very little fat in your baby’s diet can result in insufficient energy. In reality, cooking oil is easy to digest and provides a lot of energy and nutrients that help with nutrient absorption. Furthermore, oil is crucial in aiding the absorption of vitamin D and calcium.

Many people believe that broth made from bones is rich in calcium. However, the calcium found in bones like marrow and tubular bones is inorganic and not highly nutritious.

Ideally, during the weaning stage, mothers should aim to serve both the liquid and solid parts of the food, such as finely chopped or pureed seafood, meat, and vegetables. After cooking thoroughly, both the liquid and solid portions should be given to the baby. This ensures better nutrient absorption and overall effectiveness.

Exclusive breastfeeding or formula feeding provides all the necessary nutrition for babies in the first six months. The UK’s Health Department recommends that by six months old, babies are ready to start reducing their daily milk intake and transition into solid foods.

However, since every baby develops at different rates, the UK’s Health Department also advises that if a baby shows signs of being ready to wean off breast milk (or formula), they can begin solids before reaching six months.

That said, since a newborn’s digestive system is not yet fully developed, it’s still recommended to exclusively feed breast milk or formula for at least the first 17 weeks.

It’s important to understand that six months old is not the only standard for starting solids. There are other criteria to consider:

Your baby’s weight has doubled since birth, they can hold their head upright and sit on their own, they know how to move their lower lip forward to accept food from a spoon, they turn their head away when they don’t want a certain food, their tongue no longer reflexively pushes out unfamiliar objects (except for the nipple), and they show an interest in the food you offer.

Start introducing solid foods to your baby that resemble breast milk or formula to help them get used to 'new tastes,' making the transition to solids smoother and easier for your baby.

Follow the 'sweet-to-savory' rule when beginning solids. Typically, sweet porridge is the first choice as it resembles the taste of breast milk. Later on, this can be gradually replaced with savory porridge, which contains a wider range of nutrients for your baby.