week four – lets get weaning

8 week step by step weaning guide

So now you’re all set. You’ve made the big decisions and got all the equipment. Let’s go!

Here’s an initial table of what we’re going to introduce and when

Week one

Milk – 4 feeds a day approx. 7oz/200ml per feed

Food – Baby rice with formula/breastmilk

Quantity – 1 tablespoon

Frequency – Once a day (lunch or supper)

At this point when you start introducing a new food, only introduce one new food every day to make sure your baby isn’t allergic.

Week two

Introduction of veggies (1 at a time)

Milk – 4 feeds a day approx. 7oz/200ml per feed ( 5oz at lunchtime milk)

Food – Baby rice mixed with veg puree

Quantity – 1 tablespoon

Frequency – Twice a day (lunch and supper)

What veg? Carrot/Butternut squash

Week three

Introduction of more veggies

Milk – 4 feeds a day approx. 7oz/200ml per feed (3oz at lunchtime milk)

Food – vegetable puree

Quantity – 2 tablespoons

Frequency – Twice a day (lunch and supper)

What veg – courgette/avocado/parsnip/sweet potato

At this point we’re going to 3 meals a day, so they can start having fruit with their breakfast too

Week four

Introduction of breakfast and fruit

Milk – 4 feeds a day approx. 7oz/200ml per feed (1oz at lunchtime milk)

Breakfast – 1 tablespoon of baby rice with 1 tablespoon of pureed fruit

Lunch – 2 tablespoons of vegetable puree

Supper – 2 tablespoons of vegetable puree

What veg – peas/broccoli/cabbage/cauliflower/red cabbage

Week 5

Introduction of protein

Milk – 3 feeds a day approx. 7oz/200ml per feed

Breakfast – 1 tablespoon of quinoa flakes/Weetabix/porridge oats with 1 tablespoon of pureed fruit

Lunch – 2 tablespoons of vegetable puree, 1 tablespoon vegetarian protein

Supper – 2 tablespoon of vegetable puree, 1 tablespoon vegetarian protein

Week 6

Introduction of wheat/carbs

Milk – 3 feeds a day approx. 7oz/200ml per feed

Breakfast – 1 tablespoon of quinoa flakes/Weetabix/porridge oats with 1 tablespoon of pureed fruit

Lunch – 2 tablespoons of vegetable puree, 1tablespoon vegetarian protein, 1tablespoon wheat/carb

Supper – 2 tablespoon of vegetable puree, 1tablespoon vegetarian protein, 1tablespoon wheat/carb

Week 7

Introduction of meat and fish

Milk – 3 feeds a day approx. 6oz/150ml per feed

Breakfast – 2 tablespoon of quinoa flakes/Weetabix/porridge oats with 1 tablespoon of pureed fruit

Lunch – 2 tablespoons of vegetable puree, 1tablespoon meat/fish protein, 1tablespoon wheat/carb

Supper – 2 tablespoons of vegetable puree, 1tablespoon meat/fish protein, 1tablespoon wheat/carb

Week 8

Introduction of dairy and eggs

Milk – 3 feeds a day approx. 6oz/150ml per feed

Breakfast – 2 tablespoon of quinoa flakes/Weetabix/porridge oats with 1 tablespoon of pureed fruit + dairy

Lunch – 2 tablespoons of vegetable puree, 1tablespoon meat/fish/eggs/veg protein, 1tablespoon wheat/carb

Supper – 2 tablespoon of vegetable puree, 1tablespoon meat/fish/eggs/veg protein, 1 tablespoon wheat/carb

Then that’s it! You are all done. Baby is weaned and can now enjoy every meal with you.

Your baby will be comfortable with the idea of swallowing, and any purees you give them can be less pureed. Try and start mashing things with a fork so that they start to get used to lumps and textures. Just make sure that there are no big lumps that might cause them to choke, and give them soft items to hold to eat. And in

terms of what they can now eat, just go for it! If your diet is healthy and balanced, baby is perfectly capable of joining in with family meals now. I would still advise sticking to the previously mentioned proportions and contents of food, but that’s a way that I believe we should all be eating anyway! So if your food is balanced, nutritious and with no added salt, please give this to your baby too.

This is when I would start the introduction of finger foods too. Baby will become increasingly independent and they might not be so keen to let you spoon-feed in the upcoming weeks and months. Equally as the milk amounts continue to drop they might require a little afternoon snack. They’ll want to take charge themselves, so let them! But be prepared for mess!

Good starters for baby lead introduction and snacks …

Bananas

Avocado

Mango sticks

Orange segments

Bread sticks

Eggy bread

Cheese on toast

Nut butter on bread

Hard boiled eggs

Remember that things need to be soft to start with. If you want to give them vegetable sticks to nibble on, make sure they are cooked through and nice and soft so if your little eons get carried away the veg will just slip down!

See the tables below for an easy guide to put on the fridge.

Hope that helps, with love from food envy xxx