Weaning is an important event in a child's life. There are various customs that families follow when it comes to introducing the child to food and drinks other than breast milk / formula milk. In India, a ceremony called 'Annaprashan' or 'first rice-eating' is commonly performed, celebrates the transition to solid food.
We never had a ritual as such for weaning. My husband and I decided to wean our child when she was precisely 4 months and 19 days old. One of the reasons why we chose not to wait until 6 months was because my maternity leave was coming to an end in a month and I wanted her to get used to different tastes and textures before joining back for work. I didn't want another person like a nanny to introduce solids to her in my absence, as you never know the level of patience she may have.
The initial process of weaning shouldn't be rushed. You need to give the baby enough space and time to get used to new food. In the beginning, there were days when my daughter used to have just half teaspoon of puree and there were days when she used to reject the same food which she liked earlier. She gradually improved over weeks and can now finish eating whatever is offered to her.
I started weaning by giving her few sips of rice water once a day. After a week or so, I introduced different cereals like barley, oats and finger millet (ragi) once daily, using the 3 day rule. The porridges I made were runny in the beginning. I gradually increased the consistency by the time she turned 6 months. Once she completed 6 months, the frequency of giving her solids was increased to two times a day. I always made sure that her first meal of the day was always breastmilk and not solids. The frequency of feeding solids gradually increased to three, four and five times a day at 7, 8 and 9 months respectively. At present, I make sure that my little one who is nearing 10 months, consumes frequent small meals in the form of three main meals and two snacks (finger food) a day, in addition to breast milk.
I began doing my research on weaning when my daughter was around 2 months old. I started collecting a lot of home made baby food recipes from various blogs and Youtube channels. I often spoke to my friends who were already moms and took valuable suggestions from them. It helps to speak to young mothers rather than moms of a different era.
I have come up with a couple of Q&As that will help new parents to familiarise themselves with weaning. Some of these questions may have crossed your minds and some may have not.
If you don't have the patience to read through the entire information below, just scroll down and read the 9th Q&A which has important tips concerning weaning.
Weaning is a process by which a breast-fed / formula-fed infant is gradually introduced to adult-like diet.
2. When should an infant be weaned?
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends babies to be exclusively breastfed upto 6 months of age. Ideally, weaning should begin from 6 months onwards.
However, if the baby shows certains signs that he/she is ready to be weaned, the process of weaning can begin any time between 4-6 months. Its best to consult your pediatrician before going ahead with weaning.
Introducing other foods before 4 months is not only harmful but can also make your baby want to consume less of breast milk, resulting in poor growth.
3. What happens if I choose not to wean my baby at 6 months?
Breastmilk has all the essential calories and nutrients for adequate growth and development upto 6 months. The demand for extra calories and nutrients increases as the child grows. This can be met only if food along with breast milk (or formula milk) is given to the child.
Choosing not to wean your child can lead to serious calorie and nutrient deficits. Inadequate weight gain is a common issue.
4. How do I know if my baby is ready to be weaned?
You know your child is ready to be weaned if -
* Your baby is between 4-6 months of age and weighs 6-7 kgs.
* Proper head control is attained.
* Baby can sit with support.
* Your baby shows interest in the food that you and your family eat. For example - focusses on what and how you are eating, smacks lips while watching you eat, tries to grab the food from your plate, etc.
5. How do I wean?
The process of weaning is spread over 3 stages depending on the age of the baby.
Stage 1 : 4 - 6 months
You can offer mashed food and purees once daily, during this stage . Make sure the puree is runny in the beginning and increase the thickness gradually. Add breast milk / formula to make purees. Remember, your baby should mainly get all the nutrients and calories from breast milk / formula.
Stage 2 : 6 - 9 months
Increase the quantity and frequency of meals depending on your child's appetite. Try introducing finger foods.
Stage 3 : 9 - 12 months
At this stage, you can start offering grainy food and bite sized fruits/ steamed vegetables. Reduce the amount of breastmilk or formula to 1-2 times a day.
6. What foods should I choose for weaning?
The basic principles to choosing the right food are -
* The food should provide adequate energy, be nutritious and be easy to chew /swallow.
* It should be easily available to the family.
* It shouldn't be expensive. You can choose to prepare baby food from items that are already available in your kitchen, provided they are appropriate for consumption as per the baby's age.
Here's a list of suitable baby food depending on the stage of weaning.. [Link]
7. What items do I require to prepare baby food?
Most of the items required can be easily found in the kitchen. You can read my post here to find out the Top 5 must haves for baby weaning.
8. I can't prepare baby food. Can I use commercially available baby food instead?
The choice is yours. Being a working mom, I chose home made baby food instead. Here are my reasons why -
* There are so many brands available, it was difficult to choose the right one. I was to lazy to do too much ground work.
* After going through several customer reviews, I realised even the best brands had issues with packaging and quality.
* Some of them were available in combination with milk powder which is of animal origin. I didn't want to introduce animal milk into my child's diet before 1 year. Moreover, animal milk may cause allergies or indigestion.
* As a baby, I was introduced to Cerelac and a hell lot of readymade purees. I was also not introduced to different foods while growing up, which I feel, has led me to be a picky eater. I don't want my child to be like me. Its a good thing to expose your child to healthy eating at an early age.
9. What important things to consider while weaning?
* Do not consider it as a task. Enjoy the time you spend feeding your baby.
* Try not to switch on the television while feeding to avoid distraction. If you need to get your baby in the mood, make funny actions/sounds or play music in the background.
* Never force feed the baby. If your baby doesn't like a particular food, try feeding the same food after a couple of days or weeks. I have also come across certain people who make sure that not a single ounce of food is left behind in the feeding bowl. Please don't expect and force your child to finish the entire bowl if he/she can't. You will have an idea after a couple of trials of how much your baby can eat. Prepare sufficient quantity just enough for a meal, if you are worried about wasting food.
* Stick to a pattern while preparing your baby to eat solids. I used to stick to a routine of placing my child on a high chair, buckling her up, tying a bib around her neck and showing her the bowl.
For more information on weaning, I highly recommend checking out the following links -
1. Baby weaning diet plan and recipes
2. Baby food recipes YouTube videos
3. Articles on Baby Weaning
References -
1. WHO document - Weaning : from breast milk to family food, a guide for health and community workers [Link]
2. Philips Avent - Stages of Weaning [Link]
3. Stages of Weaning [Link]
