It’s weaning week! So, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Piccolo to give you the low-down on getting started with weaning.

Read on for their top tips on how and when to get started with weaning to make sure you feel prepared for this exciting next stage in your child's food journey.

One of the most common questions when it comes to weaning is “how do I know if my little one is ready?”. Well, there’s a range of important signs to look out for:

• Your baby is able to keep their head up and steady on their own.
• your baby can sit up comfortably without your help, preferably using a highchair.
• Your baby is able to pick food up and move it straight to his mouth, showing signs of coordination. It might take a few goes, but make sure that your baby isn't using their reflex to push food out of their mouth when fed with a spoon.

If your baby checks these boxes, it’s most likely time to start introducing food into their diet! It can be an exciting and sometimes nerve-wracking adventure, but fear not, we’ve been there (& got that very messy t-shirt), so here are some top tips to help you navigate the weaning journey: 

Start simple

Just like you wouldn’t start teaching your baby algebra before they learn basic maths, it’s best to start with simple single-ingredient foods like mashed sweet potato or pureed apple. Don’t be tempted to get too fancy too soon or you might overwhelm your little one’s taste buds!

Let them get their hands dirty

Weaning is all about exploring and experimenting, so let your baby get hands-on with their food. Trust us, it’s a lot more fun to let them smear avocado all over their face than it is to try to spoon-feed it in!

Take it slow

It’s important to introduce new foods gradually and watch out for any signs of allergic reactions. Nobody wants to deal with a full-blown rash or tummy troubles, so make sure to introduce one new food at a time and wait a few days before trying something else.

Milk is still king (or queen)

While your baby is starting to eat solids, it’s important to remember that milk is still their primary source of nutrition until they turn one. So don’t stress too much if they’re not eating massive amounts of food just yet.

Mix it up

As your little one starts becoming more comfortable with eating & gets a bit older, you can start introducing different textures and thicker purees. Don’t be afraid to mix and match flavours to see what they like best.

Let them take the lead

You can’t force a baby to eat if they’re not interested, so follow their cues and let them decide when they’re full. Don’t be surprised if they love something one day and hate it the next – babies are notoriously fickle!

Have fun with it

We won’t lie, weaning can be a messy, chaotic, and sometimes frustrating process, but it can also be a lot of fun. So… grab a bib, get your camera ready, and enjoy watching your little one explore the exciting world of food – those faces are priceless.

Pro tip

If you’re just starting your weaning journey Piccolo’s Baby Blends bundle is perfect for introducing new flavours at mealtimes.

Even better, you can also get 20% off all Piccolo products using code: MUDDYPUDDLES20 at their online shop. Offer ends 31/05/23 at 23:59pm. Sign up to Piccolo’s Family Club to bag 20% off all Muddy Puddles products.