When purée is on the table – Useful information about weaning food

Babies should start weaning food between the start of their 5th month and the start of their 7th month. The recommended time period for introducing weaning food is based on babies’ increasing nutritional needs, individual differences in development of motor skills and aspects of sensory tolerance and allergy prevention. Babies should continue to be breastfed even after being introduced to weaning food.¹

The following signs indicate that a baby is ready for weaning food:¹

• they can sit up straight with support
• their tongue thrust reflex occurs less and less
• they show an interest in food
• milk alone is not enough for them anymore²

Parents have an important role to play by setting an example and can help their baby develop healthy eating habits. Having meals together in a relaxed atmosphere, where they are with the baby as they eat and pay attention to the signals the baby is sending, can have a positive impact on establishing healthy dietary habits. Smartphones, TV and other digital distractions should be avoided.¹

The ideal way to introduce weaning food is to gradually replace individual milk feeds with puréed food. A purée made from vegetables, potatoes and meat is the best way to start – it is rich in easily digestible iron, which is a key nutrient for a baby’s growth and healthy development. Then, around four weeks later, another milk feed can be replaced with a purée containing milk and grain to provide valuable protein and calcium.

After another four weeks, a grain and vegetable purée can be introduced to enhance the baby’s diet with important vitamins and fibres. The baby should still be breastfed or given infant milk at other feeding times.²

Note: The key factor is not at what time of day the baby is given which purée. What matters is that all three types of purée form a regular part of their diet at between six and 12 months of age.²

The baby will need additional liquids when introducing the third purée. The most suitable drinks are water or unsweetened tea. A cup or mug is the ideal way to offer them something to drink.¹

Varying the foods a baby is given will make them more receptive to new flavours. It will help them become familiar with new foods and tolerate them better. The ingredients used in weaning food should be as varied as possible: a wide range of fruit and vegetables should be offered, as well as meat and fish on a regular basis (ideally, fish should be part of their meals once or twice a week).¹

Experts primarily recommend a balanced and varied diet that includes meals with meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. If parents decide on a vegetarian or vegan diet for their baby, there are a few things they should bear in mind:

Vegetarian:

• It is possible for a baby to have a balanced vegetarian diet.
• The purée made from vegetables, potatoes and meat should be replaced by a purée containing vegetables, potatoes and grain. Supplementing this with vitamin C at the same time can increase the bioavailability of iron from plant-based sources.
• Milk, yogurt, cheese and eggs should also be part of the baby’s diet.

Vegan:

• An exclusively vegan diet is not recommended for babies.
• However, if parents decide on a vegan diet for their baby, enriched foods or nutritional supplements with vitamin B12 (and potentially other critical nutrients such as iodine and iron) must be given to the baby over a long-term period.
• Specialist medical consultation and care from a qualified nutritional expert should be sought.

In both cases, parents should have in-depth knowledge about foods and their composition and should plan their baby’s diet appropriately.¹

References: 
¹ Koletzko, B., Bauer, CP., Cierpka, M. et al. Ernährung und Bewegung von Säuglingen und stillenden Frauen. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 164, 771–798 (2016). ² Forschungsdepartment Kinderernährung. Empfehlungen für die Ernährung von Säuglingen. 2019.