Weaning - Weaning Baby

When to Wean Baby

Most babies are weaned by their first birthday. Babies that are extremely hungry may need to start solid food sooner . Even if your baby always appear to be hungry, you should wait until she is at least four months old before introducing solids.

Although most babies are ready for solids by four months old, but many babies do not begin until they reach six months. Prior to the age of 4 to 6 months, infants will naturally push solid from their mouth by thrusting their tongue forward.

How to Wean Baby

From early on (at around 4 months), try teaching your baby to use a lidded feeding cup. When you are ready to start to wean your baby, you can begin by cutting back on the number of feedings and replacing a nursing session with the feeding cup instead of using the bottle.

At first, start by giving your child one feed of solid per day and slowly increase it to 2 feed and then three. The weaning process usually takes about eight weeks. By the end of the eight weeks period, your child should be eating 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Bottle or breast feeding can continue along with solid food, but gradually cut down. Eventually, the breast/ bottle will only be used for nursing comfort.

When you feed your baby solid, to miniminze the risk of choking, make sure that your baby is sitting up. Always give solid first. After the feeding you can offer her a cup of fluid (avoiding sweetened drinks because juice should not be offered until the infant is at least 6 months).

Baby Feeding Equipment