Baby Weaning Advice

It is recommended to begin weaning your child on to solid food from age 6 months. By this age your child’s digestive tract will be sufficiently developed to process solid foods.
Allergy Ireland recommend that you begin to introduce nuts from 6 months of age and before age one if possible. This can significantly reduce the risk of developing a nut allergy.
In the beginning introduce one new food at a time. Foods may then be combined several weeks in to weaning.
Begin by introducing simple root vegetables such as sweet potato or carrot. Introduce one ‘bitter vegetable’ every day for one week and then repeat this the following week e.g. broccoli, parsnip, asparagus, beetroot, kale. The addition of chickpeas and lentils is especially important if you are breastfeeding as they are rich in iron. Ensure that all vegetables are well cooked and pureed sufficiently. Serve food at room temperature or lukewarm.
Avoid adding sugar or salt to the vegetables.
Avoid honey until age one.
Try to avoid introducing a new food while your child is unwell or suffering an eczema flare (particularly around the mouth and hands) as this may increase the risk of food allergy. This is especially important in the case of allergenic foods such as nuts, fish, shellfish and egg.