Lucy is a trained Norland Nanny and Maternity Practitioner with over ten years of experience. She has worked with children 0-17 years both privately and in the community for the NHS.
Lucy founded NEST (a Early Years Consultancy business) in 2018, and feels passionate about working alongside families and offering them a bespoke service with the right support and advice, in a non-judgmental and supportive way.
Weaning is Lucy’s favourite developmental stage, so she has put together five top tips for you!
- Public Health England recommend that baby’s only have milk (whether this is breast-milk or formula milk) until they are six months of age (unless you have been told otherwise by a health professional). From six months you can introduce solid foods into their diet. This can either be in puree form or by using the method of ‘baby-led weaning’. (Top Tip- if you are more comfortable using the puree method then the less time you spend on super smooth purees the better. It is advisable to head straight for lumpy foods to encourage their gag reflex to develop and to reduce your baby refusing all foods with lumps).
- Baby’s over six months of age can have full fat cows milk in food (such as porridge, mashed potato and custard) but not to drink until they are 12 months old.
- It is recommended to start brushing your Baby’s teeth as soon as they start to appear. To do this use branded baby toothpaste. It is especially important when you have started weaning to ensure the natural sugars from food are not left on their little gums!
- Be mindful of the sugar and salt content in Baby foods (Did you know..a petit filous yogurt has 3 teaspoons of sugar in each little pot!! A farley rusk has the same amount of sugar in as a chocolate digestive). Jars and pouches have a time and a place but home cooking is preferable when possible- at least with home cooking you are aware of what is in the dish!
- Babies have to try something more than 10 times before deciding whether they like a food or not. So if they spit it out and pull a funny face it doesn’t mean that they do not like it! It is definitely worth offering your baby a variety of foods frequently to encourage them to try new flavours and textures, and to avoid the risk of them becoming fussy eaters.
If weaning is something that you would like support with or think you would like to have more of a chat, then please do get in touch with Lucy at NEST.