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The Best Way to Wean Your Baby
Written by Naresh Lane, Health Visitor
Spaghetti bolognaise or shepherd’s pie would be a great first meal when practising Baby Led Weaning
When and how to wean baby is a commonly debated topic with all new parents. As with so many parenting topics, advice will come from all sides, whether it is wanted or not – and often the advice will be conflicting. I recommend parents use Baby Led Weaning, and in this article I will explain why I do so – and also explain how you can get started yourself.
When to start weaning
Your baby will start to show signs of being ready to start weaning at about the age of 6 months. Around this age your baby’s digestive system and kidneys are mature enough to cope with food other than milk. Signs that your baby is ready to start weaning are that they are able to sit upright with little or no support, and that they are able to reach out and put things in their mouth.
Because this is baby-led weaning, progress alongside your baby’s development. There is no nutritional benefit to starting weaning early. In fact, baby’s who are weaned early are more likely to develop infections or allergies.
When NOT to start weaning
There are several common reasons that parents start weaning their baby too early. The False signs that your baby is ready to start weaning are:

- Waking up at night after sleeping through
- Poor weight gain, or dropping on the weight centile chart
- Showing an interest in family food at meal times
- Baby is big (a big baby doesn’t need to start weaning earlier)
- Baby is small (a baby on the lower centile doesn’t need to wean early)