What is weaning and why is it important?

Weaning is the process of gradually introducing solid foods into your baby's diet until he or she is eating the same food as the rest of the family. It is not a scientific exercise based on precise rules and weaning should be guided by the individual infant. Parent or carer and parental attitudes are hugely important in establishing good eating patterns in children.

As your baby grows and develops, a diet only of breast milk or formula milk is not enough because breast milk or formula milk does not contain enough iron and other nutrients that your baby needs. Weaning allows your baby's diet to expand to meet their increasing nutritional requirements. Weaning also helps in the development of chewing and speech development and aids developmental and social skills.

The Department of health provides advice on weaning babies (2005 guidance )