INTRODUCING SOLID FOODS AND WEANING STAGES
From six months onwards, your baby will require more iron for growth and development which they cannot get from just breastmilk or infant follow-on formula.
Introducing solid foods into your baby's diet can be divided into three stages. These stages correspond with the physical and feeding milestones taking place as your baby matures.
Stage 1 - The Learner Eater
By the time your baby reaches the learner eater stage, milk can no longer meet the energy needs of most infants and the iron reserves are being depleted. Milk will still provide most of your baby's energy, protein, vitamins & minerals, but not all of them.
This is when pureed foods are introduced into your baby's diet. These early tastes of soft pureed (solid) foods are intended more for education rather than for nutrition.
Stage 2 - The Explorer Eater
Once taking solid foods, more flavours and textures should gradually be introduced to accustom your baby to different ranges of foods and tastes. Quite often your baby will reject new foods the first time, but prevail as your baby will become adjusted and get used to the different taste after you have offered it several times over a period of a few days (unless your baby really doesn’t like it, then they will continue to refuse the food).
Stage 3 - The Confident Eater
By the time your baby has reached this stage, he/she may or may not have accepted every type of food introduced so far. At this stage your baby will need to eat three meals a day, interspersed with snacks and/or drinks.
Click on the document above right for more information on introducing solids and weaning stages.
