How to best introduce solids to your baby? Learn the timing, recipes and food order for baby-led weaning, with a BLW guide included!

As parents, caring for a baby’s health is undoubtedly the most important task. When a baby reaches six months old, solid foods should be introduced to provide a wider range of nutrients. But what should a baby eat when starting solids? How should a baby’s meal plan be arranged? In this article, 10Life will provide parents with a detailed introduction to the weaning timetable, recipes and food order for babies, along with a practical guide to BLW (Baby-Led Weaning), helping parents to guide their baby into this new stage.

In simple terms, BB weaning refers to the process whereby a baby gradually begins to try solid foods, having previously relied solely on breast milk or formula milk. Around the age of 6 months, a baby's iron requirements increase significantly, and breast milk alone can no longer meet their nutritional needs¹, so solid foods should be introduced gradually at this stage. Weaning not only helps develop the muscles in the mouth, but also allows babies to experience a wider range of flavours and textures through tasting different foods, supporting the overall development of their senses.

According to the World Health Organization’s recommendations, solid foods should be gradually introduced when a baby is around 6 months old, so that they can receive a more varied range of nutrients. Adjusting the types and portions of complementary foods according to the baby’s different growth stages helps support healthy development. Want to handle every stage of weaning with ease? You may refer to the following weaning timetable for babies^1,２: 

6 to 8 months

When babies first begin weaning, start with puréed foods and gradually introduce vegetables and fruit to reduce the risk of allergies. Parents may choose vegetables and fruit that are easy to blend into a thin purée, such as winter melon, pumpkin, carrots and spinach, or add strained congee or infant rice cereal. During preparation, keep the cooking environment clean and thoroughly wash hands and utensils to ensure hygiene.

9 to 11 months

At 9 months old, babies can begin eating soft vegetables and minced meat, which can be served with congee, soft rice or finely cut noodles.

12 months or above

When babies turn 1, their diet should include all five major food groups: grains, fish, meat, eggs and legumes, vegetables, fruit, and milk and dairy products (360 to 480 ml per day). For children aged 2 and above, calcium-fortified soy milk or low-fat milk is recommended, and small amounts of nuts and seeds may also be added. Parents may refer to the "Healthy Eating Pyramid" when choosing suitable foods for children in this age group. However, it is important to note that young children should avoid fish with higher mercury content, such as shark, swordfish, marlin, tuna, king mackerel, alfonsino, red snapper, lizardfish and similar species. 

In recent years, an increasing number of parents have adopted Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) to introduce solid foods to their babies. BLW emphasises a baby’s autonomy. Unlike traditional weaning methods such as feeding rice cereal, porridge, vegetable purée or fruit purée, BLW encourages babies to feed themselves from the outset when they start eating solid foods, rather than being spoon-fed by their parents. Parents only need to cut food into strips so that babies can easily pick it up with their hands and enjoy a variety of foods to meet their different nutritional needs.

Can help avoid excessive weight gain

Because BLW allows babies to control their own food intake, it can help them develop a better understanding of fullness, thereby reducing the risk of obesity in later life. The principle is the same as breastfeeding. In fact, studies have shown⁵ that babies weaned using BLW have a lower BMI and a lower incidence of obesity than babies fed traditionally by spoon.

May reduce the risk of fussiness and eating disorders

Because babies can control their own eating, they are more willing to try new foods, thereby reducing the risk of fussiness or eating disorders.

Easier to feed

When introducing solid foods using BLW, parents do not need to spoon-feed every meal themselves. In addition, babies can enjoy the same food as adults, making mealtimes together more relaxed.

Improves dietary variety

If solid foods are introduced using BLW, the range of foods is more varied. Babies can try different foods and flavours, which can enhance the variety in their diet.

Develops hand-eye coordination

Self-feeding can effectively strengthen babies' muscle strength and improve hand-eye coordination.

Builds independent eating skills

Introducing solid foods using BLW allows babies to take part in the eating process from an early age, helping to build their independence. It also enables them to explore freely and learn to identify different textures and tastes.
 

It is generally recommended to start BLW when the baby is 6 months old, as by then the baby’s digestive system has started to mature and can accept solid foods. Before starting BLW, parents need to ensure that the baby is able to sit independently, has good control of the head and neck, while the tongue-thrust reflex has disappeared, and that the baby can grasp food independently.

During the implementation of BLW, parents should closely observe their baby’s feeding responses and adjust food choices and sizes according to their needs and abilities to ensure the baby’s safety. They should also maintain an open attitude, allowing the baby to explore food independently.

Food Size and Shape

To make it easier for the baby to grasp and chew, food should be cut into suitable sizes and shapes, while avoiding foods that may pose a choking risk.

Food Texture

Soft or well-cooked foods, such as bananas or avocados, should be chosen to avoid difficulty in chewing or causing oral injuries. However, they should not be too soft or mushy, so that the baby can grasp them.

Nutritional Value of Food

A wide variety of nutritious foods should be provided, such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans and meat, to ensure that the baby’s weaning period can support balanced nutrition while trying new foods.

Avoid Adding Salt and Sugar

Too much salt and sugar is not beneficial to the baby’s health. Therefore, when preparing food, salt and sugar should be kept to a minimum to preserve the food’s natural flavour.

Food Allergies

When introducing new foods, only one food should be added at a time, and the baby should be closely observed for any allergic reactions, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting or skin rashes.
 

Worried about how to introduce solid foods for your baby? Take a look at the following solid food recipes for inspiration:

6 to 8 months — Avocado Sticks

Ingredients:    

• 1 ripe avocado

Method:
1.    Cut the avocado in half and remove the stone.
2.    Scoop out the flesh with a spoon and cut it into sticks suitable for your baby to grasp.
3.    Place the sliced avocado sticks on a clean plate and serve to your baby.

9 months and above — Broccoli, Chicken and Potato Sticks⁸

Ingredients:

• 75 g broccoli
• 60 g chicken breast
• 25 g Parmesan cheese
• 110 g mashed potato
• 40 g breadcrumbs
• 1 egg

Method:
1.    Steam or boil the broccoli for 4 to 6 minutes, until soft. Leave to cool, then chop finely.
2.    In a bowl, mix the mashed potato, broccoli, cheese, chicken and half of the beaten egg.
3.    Shape the mixture into 8 sticks. Coat with the remaining egg, then coat with breadcrumbs and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4.    Heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan and fry until golden and heated through, then leave to cool.

12 months and above — Sugar-free Oat, Yoghurt and Blueberry Pancakes⁹

Ingredients:  

•  180 g oats
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 250 ml Greek yoghurt
• 125 ml milk
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 300 g blueberries
• A little olive oil

Method:
1.    Lightly crush the blueberries and set aside.
2.    Place the oats and baking powder in a blender and blend until they become flour-like, then pour into a mixing bowl and make a small well in the centre.
3.    Mix the Greek yoghurt, milk, egg and maple syrup until well combined.
4.    Slowly pour the mixture into the flour, stirring until a smooth batter forms, then gently fold in the blueberries.
5.    Add olive oil to a frying pan and heat over a medium heat.
6.    Spoon the batter into small portions and place in the pan.
7.    When the batter starts to bubble, flip and fry until golden on both sides, then leave to cool.

Want your baby to grow up healthy and happy? In addition to day-to-day care, medical insurance can provide comprehensive protection. Children have weaker immune systems and are more prone to illness, and may sometimes even need hospitalisation. As such, buying medical insurance can help them access suitable treatment more flexibly. Parents who care about their children’s health may wish to consider choosing a medical insurance plan that meets their children’s needs as early as possible. If needed, you may refer to 10Life’s earlier article comparing premiums and deductibles of different Voluntary Health Insurance for children, or have a preliminary look at 10Life’s Insurance Decoder.

Related reading:
How much milk should a baby drink each day to be considered normal? How can you tell how much milk a newborn needs?
[Baby vaccination guide] A complete look at the vaccination schedule for infants and children, plus private clinic vaccination fees
[Toddler insurance] What medical insurance should parents buy for kindergarten children?

Notes:

1.    Department of Health, Family Health Service. Healthy eating for infants and toddlers aged 6 to 24 months (1) Getting started
2.    Department of Health, Family Health Service. 6–24 month infants and toddlers — a 7-day eating guide
3.    World Health Organization. Complementary feeding
4.    https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/weaning/what-to-feed-your-baby/from-around-6-months/#anchor-tabs 
5.    Huckleberry. Baby-led weaning (BLW): A complete guide to first foods
6.    Daniels, L., Heath, AL.M., Williams, S.M. et al. Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) study: a randomised controlled trial of a baby-led approach to complementary feeding. BMC Pediatr. https://bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-015-0491-8
7.    OT&P Healthcare. BLW recipe starter guide: A handy guide to your baby’s transition to solid food
8.    https://www.goodto.com/recipes/annabel-karmel-broccoli-chicken-potato
9.    Badyledfeeding. Blueberry Oat Pancakes with Greek Yogurt 

This article was compiled by 10Life using market information gathered from various sources and is for general reference only. It does not take into account any individual needs or suitability, and should not be regarded as sales advice. Before taking out a policy, please discuss an insurance solution suitable for you with a licensed insurance adviser, and refer to the information provided by the insurer.

Last updated on: 20 September 2024

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.