Breast feed your baby throughout his first year of life

Q: Most mothers are keen to introduce solids when their infants reach six months. If you asked me, I would encourage you to wait.

While the World Health Organisation recommends weaning from six months, this is just a guideline. There are other development milestones that are required before giving your baby solids, and most babies are developmentally ready for solid food between six and eight months

So, what are the signs that say your baby is ready for solids?

 He can sit up well without support.

 He has lost the tongue-thrust reflex.

 He is ready and willing to chew.

 He can pick objects between thumb and forefinger.

 He tries to grab food and put it in his mouth.

One of the reasons that health professionals encourage the introduction of solids has to do with iron. The idea is that the iron stores the baby inherited from his mother run out by six months and therefore need replenishing.

What is not said is that the iron in breast milk is better absorbed than that from other sources. Also note that while the rate of iron absorption is 50-70 per cent for breast milk, it is much lower in formula, between 3-12 per cent.

When you start to give your baby solids, remember that they should not replace breast milk, in fact, feed your child about an hour after breast feeding.

This way, the transition to solids will be slow enough to maintain your milk supply. Also, the nutrients in breast milk are better absorbed when the tummy is empty.

So, how many meals should you be giving your infant? From six to seven months, one meal a day, from seven to nine months, a maximum of two meals a day, and as he approaches one year, increase the meals. However, at this stage, you should still be breast feeding more than you offer food.

* Throughout this article I have talked about breast milk (the superior option), but similar rules apply if you are feeding your infant with formula.

When to introduce different foods:

6 months: butternut squash, sweet potato, carrots, parsnips, courgettes, avocado, brown rice broccoli, swede, green beans, peas, spinach, papaya, apples, pears, peaches, plums, mango, melon, millet

8 months: chicken, turkey, white fish, red lentils, mushrooms, buckwheat

10 months:  oily fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines), lean red meat, black eye beans, brown lentils, pinto beans, chickpeas, mung beans, prunes, dried apricots, coconut

12 months:  rye, corn, barley, bananas, potatoes, peppers, cucumber, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, berries, kiwis, grapes, lychees, figs, dates, yoghurt, oats

15 months:  citrus fruits, shellfish, eggs (make sure they are cooked), peanut butter, nuts and seeds (should be ground to avoid risk of choking), wheat, cheese, butter, tomatoes.