Yayy!! It's Baby Weaning Time! But wait, what should be cooked and what should be the weaning schedule? Are you also fussing over baby weaning? If yes is your answer then this blog is your solution. Every infant reaches a time in their lives, usually around the age of six months, when breast milk no longer suffices their tummy needs. This is the time when both you and your baby are ready to embark on the path of introducing solid foods, and this thrilling process is known as weaning. Weaning is a huge change in your baby's eating habits and ultimately it will be a change for you too. But these changes should be induced gradually into your baby's feeding habits. So if you are also worrying over how to start weaning? What should be the right weaning dish? Or any other baby weaning related issues then let us help you out with this ultimate weaning guide. But first, let us get in touch with the basics of baby weaning. Baby Weaning in Layman’s Term Before we go into the details of the baby weaning process, let's define what we mean by weaning. Weaning is the process of supplementing your infant's breast milk or formula with solid foods. Now, when we say solid meals, we don't mean the traditional solid things that we grownups consume. These solid foods are a little more substantial than breast milk or formula. In addition, the texture of solid meals is thickened gradually over time, and new varieties of soft, chewable foods are introduced. When to start weaning? Weaning should begin about six months, according to most experts and pediatricians. Because every infant develops at a different rate, it's nearly difficult to set a certain age for weaning. Some babies begin eating solid foods as early as six months of age, while others rely on formulas and breast milk for as long as 7-8 months. Your little angel may occasionally stare at your dish, attempting to choose something from it. Is this, however, a sign that she is ready to advance in the feeding stages? Yes, this is sometimes the case, but it is not always the case. Babies are curious creatures who are quickly drawn to a variety of objects, even your dish. So, if staring at food isn't a telltale indicator of baby weaning, what is? Some indications for when to start weaning can be: Your baby is around six months of age The baby is now able to keep her head and neck still without anyone’s support She can comfortably swallow She can see food, pick it up, and put it in her mouth however in the beginning the babies are all adorably messy. The baby has developed some hand and eye coordination Weaning Tips | Don’t Miss Baby weaning should not begin until your baby is at least four months old, which means she must be at least 17 weeks old. Her digestive system simply will not be ready before then. When you've decided to start weaning, pick a time when both you and your baby are comfortable and happy, and no sicknesses or colds are preventing her from trying something new. Another thing to consider is whether or not your baby is truly hungry, as this may cause her distress, and whether or not she is completely full of milk, which may cause her to refuse to eat. An hour after her first breastfeeding of the day is most probably the ideal time as per the experts. How to wean a Baby? Now since you have understood the right time to start baby weaning, it’s time to understand how to start weaning. Spoon feeding your baby is the first and foremost step towards moving forwards in the stages of baby weaning. After that, you can move to baby-led weaning. One thing to keep in mind is that your kid should be at least 6 months old before beginning to eat finger foods. Early-stage of baby weaning Spoon-feeding Because you are in charge of the spoon at first, spoon-feeding is less messy than baby-led weaning. It also means you have a better understanding of how much your kid is consuming in the early weeks. Because the babies are only eating puree at this point, you'll be spending more time in the kitchen. You may also notice your baby attempting to take the spoon from your hand, but they are not ready for it at this time, so prepare two baby-friendly spoons, one for her to play with and the other for you to feed her. Baby-led weaning The baby may not eat much of it, but it gives her the opportunity to become familiar with the appearance, smell, and texture of many foods. This creates a sense of familiarity with the food, which encourages newborns to eat. You don't need to prepare special meals for your baby; simply feed her soft food from your plate, which you may flatten by pressing between your finger and thumb. Expect food on the floor if you're doing baby-led weaning. As a result, determining how much of your baby's food has been consumed rather than smeared around her plate will not always be easy. Try to be calm as she will most likely spit out the lump and possibly vomit a little. Weaning Guide | Choose the Right Food Selecting the right food for babies is undeniably a major concern for many parents. And for that reason, we have prepared a list of food items that you can give to your babies in their early weaning stages. Depending on the different stages of baby food you can serve your baby with: Stage 1 baby food: Purees oatmeal, vegetables, bananas, rice and any other single food ingredient. Stage 2 baby food: strips of soft vegetables like mango, thicker purees, egg yolks and yoghurt. Stage 3 baby food: Chewable soft food items like strips of riped fruits, well-cooked vegetables, scrambled eggs and shredded meat. Also Read: 5 Tips For Successful Weaning Some Quick, Super Easy Recipes for Baby Weaning Mashed fruits like banana Mashed Bananas are suited for both spoon-feeding and baby-led weaning. For Spoon-feeding: ensure that the consistency of the mashed banana is thinner. For doin: do add some formula or breastmilk. Since bananas are rich in iron they are an exceptionally good weaning option. Fruit smoothies Different fruits are high in different minerals and vitamins, which are necessary for your baby's healthy development. At first, you can mix a smoothie with just one fruit and keep the consistency thinner. However, you can thicken the smoothie afterwards by adding one or more fruits. Bonus Weaning Tips Offer your baby water in an open cup with no spout or lid to drink with her meal as soon as she begins to wean. She will undoubtedly create a mess at first, but she needs to learn to drink from a cup and eventually abandon her sipper bottle. Know when your baby is full. Getting upset, turning her head away, and clamping her mouth shut are all common methods of expressing this. Keep an eye on her energy levels. She's consuming enough food if she has the same amount of energy as usual. Consider what she eats over a week rather than the length of a day. The appetites of babies can change from meal to meal. Always begin with small servings and a diverse menu. Don't be concerned if your baby's milk consumption decreases as her food intake rises. Weaning a baby at 4 months should be avoided because their stomach is not ready yet but still if you think your baby is ready for it then start with a very fine puree of a single ingredient. Baby Weaning Schedule It's difficult to determine the baby's weaning timetable at this stage because they are only beginning to become familiar with different food textures. So, at first, limit yourself to one weaning each day. Gradually introduce another meal time with a new variety of food once they have adjusted to something other than breastmilk and formula. You can also add certain combinations at this point, such as oatmeal puree with ripped mango strips. Introduce a third mealtime of mixed flavours after your infant has been weaning for about a month. You can also ask your baby's pediatrician to make you a weaning chart so you can keep track of when he or she is ready to wean. Weaning Plates | Your Baby Weaning Partners You should serve a portion of healthy food on a healthy plate after you've made it. Baby weaning sets that are both clean and safe are necessary for this. Weaning plates made of bamboo are an excellent option because they are chemical-free and environmentally friendly. They're easy to clean and come in a variety of colorful styles and patterns to make your baby's weaning period more enjoyable. Bubba Boo's bamboo baby weaning sets offer one more remarkable feature. The bamboo weaning plates have a strong suction base, making them an excellent choice for baby-led weaning. Bottom Line Baby weaning is a tiring activity, but with the appropriate weaning tips and our ultimate weaning guide, it may become a joyful activity for you and your baby. As we've mentioned before, you know your kid best, so don't blindly follow anything; instead, use the information here to create your own weaning schedule for your baby. Also Read: Top Foods To Try When Weaning Your Baby
