WEANING
DEFINITION
Weaning is the process of
gradual and progressive
transfer of the baby from
the breastfeeding to the
usual family diet.
AIMS OF WEANING
•Growth of the baby
requires more food
items, minerals &
vitamins
•To train GIT to digest
starch & other solid
foods.
•To educate the child
independence by using
PRINCIPLES OF WEANING
•Good quality food items and
should be home made.
•Gradually the amount of food to
be increased.
•Introduced new food once at a
time.
PRINCIPLES OF WEANING
•The baby may be given food
as the rest of the family
takes.
•Children are encouraged to
feed themselves.
•Mother and child are taught
hygienic habits.
PRINCIPLES OF WEANING
•Breastfeeding to be
continued with weaning up
to 2 year or beyond
•No strict rules
•Food should be given when
the infant is hungry but
never force the child to take
the food
PRINCIPLES OF WEANING
•Observe any
indigestion, pain in
abdomen, diarrhea or
rash and report to the
pediatrician
Stages to introduce the
weaning foods
• There are 3 stages to weaning:
• Stage 1 begins at 6 months, upon weaning with a smooth
mash or puree for the first few tastes.
• Followed by stage 2 once baby has learnt to accept smooth
foods, you are ready to move on to mashed food with soft
lumps and offer soft finger foods with all meals.
• Finally, by 9 months of age at stage 3, baby is ready to
move on to minced and chopped foods and you should start
encouraging self-feed
Stage 1: Weaning at 6 months
•CHOOSE A QUIET TIME OF DAY, HALF
WAY THROUGH A FEED:
•Smooth mash or purees
•Your baby’s tongue will push forward and
food will come back out at first
•Small amounts once a day
a smooth cream of liquidized or crushed fruit or vegetables.
"tomato puree"
Conti..
•MOVE ON BY GIVING YOUR BABY SOLIDS
BEFORE THE MILK FEED:
•Move on to 2 meals/day and then 3
meals/day
•Give different foods at each meal: Baby
Cereals, mashed soft cooked vegetables and
mashed soft/cooked fruit
VEGETABLES
Conti..
•USE BREAST MILK OR FORMULA TO MIX
WITH FOOD, AND SLOWLY START ADDING IN :
•Pureed/ mashed meat, fish, chicken or egg (well-
cooked)
•Lentils or pulses
•Mashed rice, noodles or pasta
•Full fat dairy products
Stage 2: My baby is 6-9
months
•Increase the quantity according your infant’s
interest and appetite – offer foods from all 4
food groups
•Your infant may need to try many times
before learning to like a new food/taste
•As the amount of solids increases the
volume of breast/ formula milk will
decrease
Conti..
•Offer a cup of water with meals
•Encourage finger foods, self-feeding and
mess
•Babies learn by coping: eat with your infant
and include him at family meal
FINGER FOODS
Stage 3: My baby is 9-12
months
•Your infant is now biting and chewing onto
family foods and family meals
•You can now cut out early morning milk feeds
•Cut out bottles and change to open cups or
free flow beakers
•Reduce milk feeds one by one to 2 feeds per
day at 11-12 months
Free flow beakers
FRUIT PULP
HIGHER-PROTEIN FOODS
Foods to avoid when weaning
baby
•Salt. You have probably heard that we should not have too
much salt in our diet – well, this applies to your baby too. ...
•Sugar. Babies may naturally prefer sweet over savoury
foods but sugar can lead to tooth decay and putting on too
much weight.
•Honey.
•Eggs.
•Tea, coffee and soft drinks.
•Nuts.
•Low fat food.
•Fish and shellfish.
