Q. Does food need to be warmed?
Good food hygiene is essential during weaning. If you decide to warm up food, it is important that you begin by heating it through thoroughly to kill off any bacteria and then allow it to cool down. You should also sterilise all feeding equipment until your baby is at least six months old.
Q. What should I give my baby to drink?
Milk feeds (formula or breast milk) will remain a very important part of your baby's diet, although cool boiled water should also be introduced when weaning. This will help your baby to digest the solid food more easily and help to prevent constipation. Cows' milk should not be given before 12 months old and when it is introduced it should be full-cream; semi-skimmed milk should not be given before two years old and skimmed not before five.
Q. My baby will only take sweet foods and spits out any savoury foods.
In a way, this is not surprising. Babies are programmed to enjoy breast milk which is, after all, sweet in taste. Having said that, it is important that you introduce your baby to other tastes in order to achieve a balanced diet later on. One of the ways to encourage your baby to try out new tastes is to gradually introduce them into foods that they already enjoy and then over a few days change the balance of the mixture.
Q. I have heard that I should not give my baby boiled eggs.
Advice as to what babies and toddlers should be given has changed considerably in the past few years as a result of research. It is now known, for example, that salt can damage babies' and young children's kidneys, while early exposure to peanuts may create later allergies. Other foods that are currently not recommended for babies include liver, honey, nuts and unpasteurised dairy products.
The Department of Health advises parents not to give eggs to babies before six months. Hard-cooked eggs - where the yolk and whites are solid - can be introduced at six to nine months old. The eggs must be hard-cooked to prevent the risk of salmonella, which can cause food poisoning.
Q. Is it possible for my baby to follow a vegetarian diet?
Yes, it is possible, but you will need to talk to your health visitor about the types of foods that will allow your child to take in high levels of nutrients. A healthy diet for babies and toddlers does vary from that of adults. Babies and toddlers have high protein and energy requirements but relatively small stomachs, which rules out diets that rely heavily on high fibre foods such as lentils and pulses.
Q. Why have I been told to introduce foods one at a time?
Some babies may be allergic to certain foods. By introducing one new food at a time in the early days, it is possible to work out the source of any reaction. This is extremely important because some food allergies, such as those to gluten, can be quite severe. Look out for skin reactions as well as difficulties in digesting foods, and if you are concerned contact your health visitor or GP.
Q. Is it better to buy prepared baby foods?
To a large extent this is a matter of personal preference, with cost and convenience often being the two major factors in parents' decisions. While commercial baby foods are subject to regulations governing salt content, it is worth considering that sooner or later you will want your baby to enjoy eating most of the same foods as you. Pureeing food that you are cooking anyway can therefore be a useful introduction, although it is important to remember not to use salt in the cooking process.
