Ready, Set... Spoon! A Parent’s Guide to Starting Weaning with Confidence
on July 10, 2025

Ready, Set... Spoon! A Parent’s Guide to Starting Weaning with Confidence

Weaning is a big milestone — and yes, it’s messy, fun, and totally worth celebrating.

Whether you’re feeling excited, nervous, or not quite sure where to start, you’re not alone. Weaning is about more than food — it’s about discovery, learning, and shared moments. And with a little prep (and a great feeding bib), you’ll be ready for every adorable bite, splash, and squish.


🍓 When to Start Weaning

The NHS recommends starting weaning around 6 months, when your baby:

  • Can sit up well with support

  • Has good head and neck control

  • Can pick up and put things in their mouth

  • Shows interest in what you’re eating

If you're unsure, always check with your health visitor or GP.

 


🥄 First Weaning Tips Every Parent Should Know

  1. Start Slowly

    • Begin with just 1–2 teaspoons once a day, after a milk feed (not when baby is too hungry).

    • Let your baby touch, taste and explore — it’s more about the experience than how much they eat.

  2. Choose a Calm Time of Day

    • Avoid rushed or overstimulating moments. A quiet afternoon or mid-morning is ideal for relaxed first tries.

  3. Expect Mess — It’s Part of Learning

    • Messy play is how babies learn about texture, temperature and taste. Embrace it (we’ll help you contain it — more below!).

  4. Offer One New Food at a Time

    • This helps you monitor for any reactions or allergies and get to know your baby’s preferences.


🥑 Easy First Foods to Make at Home

Keep it simple. You don’t need anything fancy — just whole, soft, fresh foods.

Here are some gentle, nutritious ideas for first tastes:

Food How to Prepare
🥕 Carrot Steam and mash or blend
🥔 Sweet potato Roast or steam, mash until soft
🥭 Ripe mango Mash or offer soft chunks (BLW)
🥒 Avocado Mash or slice into grippable wedges
🍌 Banana Mash or hand to baby in pieces
🥦 Broccoli florets Steam until soft and cool slightly
🍎 Apple or pear Steam until tender and purée
🥣 Baby porridge Mix with breast milk/formula

Top tip: Add a splash of your baby's usual milk to purées to make them more familiar in taste.


👕 Let’s Talk Bibs (Because Weaning = Messy mealtimes!)

From mashed banana on their sleeves to sweet potato behind their ears, feeding time gets creative. That’s why our long sleeve waterproof feeding bibs are a must-have for weaning days.

They feature:

  • Full sleeve coverage (yes, even those sneaky wrists)

  • Waterproof fabric with crumb catcher pocket

  • Adjustable poppers for a comfy, growing fit

  • Easy wipe and machine wash fabric

Whether you’re spoon-feeding, trying baby-led weaning or a mix of both, our bibs keep clothes clean so you can focus on the fun — not the outfit change.

🛍️ Explore our Long Sleeve Feeding Bibs here


💡 Best Practices for Successful Weaning

  • Offer a variety of colours and flavours to build a healthy relationship with food

  • Don’t worry if baby spits it out — it takes time to learn new tastes and textures and usually several exposures before they make a final decision

  • Make it a social experience — eat together when you can!

  • Stay calm around mess and rejection — they’re all part of the process

  • Keep offering milk feeds as your baby gradually increases solid food intake


👶 Final Thought: Trust Yourself

There’s no “perfect” way to wean. Every baby is different, and so is every journey. Go at your baby’s pace, have fun, and snap all those cute messy-face memories.

And remember — we’re here to make parenting that bit easier (and cleaner).

 

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