It's important to give your baby certain foods so they get the nutrients they need while weaning. This will help your baby grow and develop.
Parents normally begin weaning their baby at around 6 months.
Iron
Iron is important to help your baby grow and develop. It is an important part of a protein in red blood cells called haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries oxygen and prevents iron deficiency anaemia.
Your baby needs to get iron from solid foods from about 6 months old. This is because the stores of iron they were born with have been used up.
Good food sources of iron
Iron from meat is easily absorbed.
The best sources are:
- beef
- pork
- lamb
Iron in non-meat sources is not as easily absorbed. Foods with vitamin C can help the body to absorb iron.
Non-meat sources include:
- eggs
- baked beans, lentils, peas
- dark green leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, spinach
- cereals with added iron
- dried fruits, such as raisins, sultanas, apricots
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron from non-meat sources.
Good food sources of vitamin C include:
- oranges or mandarins
- plums
- berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- kiwi fruit
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- peppers
Offer vitamin C foods along with non-meat iron foods. For example, add chopped berries to cereals with added iron.
Vitamin D
Give your baby 5 micrograms of vitamin D3 as a supplement every day from birth to 12 months if they are:
- breastfed
- taking less than 300ml of infant formula a day
Omega 3
Omega 3 is important for brain and eye development.
Good sources of omega 3 are oily fish such as:
- salmon
- trout
- mackerel
- sardines
These can be:
- tinned
- fresh
- frozen
Include 2 portions of oily fish a week from around 7 months. A portion is 1oz or 25g.