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Getting to know
your baby
Hello,
Even though you won't necessarily notice changes day to day, you'll be amazed by 6 months at how much your little one has developed. The amount of change that's happening under the surface is incredible. Studies show that new born babies' brains are about a third the size of an adult's at birth, and that they rapidly grow to just over half the size of an adult's within three months. This is why it's so important that your little one gets the right nutrition to support their growth and development.
Getting ready for weaning
When to start weaning
It's not recommended to introduce solids until around 6 months, but all babies are different, so check with your health visitor or public health nurse. Signs to look for include:
Good eye, hand and mouth co-ordination enabling them to pick up food on their own
Showing an interest in what you're eating and reaching out to grab it
Staying in a sitting position and holding their head steady.
Having a baby with a healthy appetite is great, but it can sometimes feel like all your baby does is feed. That's okay, it's perfectly natural. However you can give yourself a bit of a break by expressing your breast milk. That way, dad, aunt or a willing best friend can take a turn at feeding your baby while you take a well-earned nap.
If you have any questions or concerns about weaning you can talk to our brilliant team of expert mums on Careline, our live webchat line, or by phone, or by email. Remember, we're always on hand to help.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The best way to feed a baby is to breastfeed, as breast milk provides the ideal balanced diet and protection against illness for your baby and also many non-nutritional benefits for both baby and mother. We recommend that you speak to your healthcare professional when deciding on your choice of feeding your baby. Professional guidance should also be sought on the preparation for and maintenance of breastfeeding. If you do choose to breastfeed, it's important to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Infant formula is intended to replace breast milk when mothers choose not to breastfeed or if for some reason they are unable to do so. A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, will reduce the supply of breast milk. If for any reason you choose not to breastfeed, do remember that such a decision can be difficult to reverse. Using infant formula also has social and financial implications which must be considered. Infant formula should always be prepared, used and stored as instructed on the label, in order to avoid risks to a baby's health.
