The process of introducing a baby to solid foods is known as complementary feeding. If your baby was born at term but sick, you might also find the information in this section helpful. Always consult with your healthcare professional for personalised advice, as your baby's care will depend on specific conditions and their current health status.

In this context, weaning means gradually introducing your baby to solid foods while they continue to have milk. It does not mean suddenly stopping milk feeds, but rather adding solids alongside milk as your baby grows.

Parents might worry about how their baby will handle weaning after a challenging start in life, especially parents of preterm babies often find it hard to know when to begin weaning. This is because preterm babies may develop more slowly than full-term babies, so they might for example sit up later. The recommendations below will help you know when your baby may be ready to start weaning, taking their development into account.

Tips for successful weaning 

All babies reach a point where they are ready to try solid foods along with their milk. Your baby will slowly learn how to hold and explore the food they are given by touching, tasting, and smelling it. As time goes on, you will notice that your baby will need less help to sit up and will start bringing food and toys to their mouth on their own. They will push food out with their tongue less often and learn to bite and chew. With practice, they will also learn to drink from a cup, beaker, or straw.

Your baby will pick up eating skills by watching you eat. Mealtimes are a great opportunity for this because they are fun and social. Eating together as a family helps both, you and your baby learn about weaning. Follow your baby’s pace and do not worry if progress seems to be slow. Stay with your baby during meals, encourage them to touch and explore food, and stop offering food if they show signs of disinterest or lack of hunger. Forcing your baby to eat can cause distress and food refusal.

You may be thinking about adding solids to your baby’s bottle or feeding pureed food from a pouch to make the transition easier. However, this is not recommended and does not help them learn essential eating skills. If you have concerns about your baby’s weaning progress, discuss them with your healthcare provider.

Signs your baby is ready for weaning

Look for these signs that your baby is ready to start weaning:

• they can sit up with minimal support,
• hold their head upright while sitting,
• explore objects with their fingers, hands, and mouth,
• begin to bite and chew on toys,
• start showing interest and curiosity in various foods,
• and reach for food or open their mouth when food is offered.

It is important not to mistake other behaviours for readiness to wean. Increased milk consumption might indicate a growth spurt rather than a need for solids. Waking up more at night can also be due to growth or developmental changes. There is no specific weight your baby needs to reach to start weaning, and the presence of teeth does not necessarily mean they are ready for solid food.

Read more about “corrected age” and “uncorrected age”. 

Recommended weaning timeline for preterm babies

Start weaning when your baby shows feeding signs, usually around six months corrected age, but avoid starting before five months corrected age. Aim to introduce mashed or softly textured foods by about seven months corrected age. If your baby is not showing signs of being ready for solid foods by seven months corrected age, be patient and seek a second opinion from your healthcare provider.

Which foods to choose for weaning?

There are no special first foods that are better for preterm babies. 

If you are considering a vegetarian or vegan diet for your baby, seek advice from your healthcare provider. Avoid salty or sugary foods, and do not add salt, sugar, or honey to your baby’s meals. Be aware that this also means to avoid adding salt to any cooking water.

Some initial foods to consider include:

• Baby rice made with your baby’s usual milk
• Well-cooked mashed/pureed vegetables like potato or carrot
• Cooked or raw mashed/pureed soft fruits such as apple or banana
• Cooked, mashed lentils
• Scrambled or mashed boiled eggs
• Cooked, pureed meat or flaked fish

As your baby progresses with weaning try these finger foods:

• Ripe peeled soft fruits, such as pear, banana or peach
• Cooked soft vegetables, such as carrot, sweet potato, courgette or parsnip
• Well-cooked shredded meat
• Fingers of toast or pita bread
• Well-cooked pasta, and small pieces of cheese (not too often as it usually contains a lot of salt)

Never leave your baby unattended while they are eating.

Some preterm babies might appear to have digestion⍰ problems, making faces or being noisy during meals. As long as their poo is soft, there is usually no need to worry. If you are worried about constipation, loose stools, or any other bowel issues during weaning, talk to your healthcare provider.

Cow’s milk as a drink is not recommended for babies under one year old, but you can use it in cooking and cow’s milk-based foods such as cheese and yoghurt. For preterm babies, if they are eating a varied diet, you can start using cow’s milk as a drink when they reach their corrected age of one year. However, if they are not yet eating a variety of solid foods, it is better to continue using formula⍰ rather than cow’s milk to ensure adequate vitamin and mineral intake. Additionally, it is important to start giving your baby drinks from a cup and stop using bottles by 12-18 months old, corrected age for preterm babies.