The government is launching a campaign to help parents wean them – introducing solid foods to babies.
These include a new advice website and local family centers in England after a survey found more than half of parents in the country were confused about how much to feed their baby.
The campaign shows how to know when a baby is ready to be weaned.
Neil O’Brien, Secretary of State for Primary Care, said: “The first 1,001 days are crucial to a child’s development.”
He added: “Weaning can affect a baby’s eating habits and health later in life.
“This campaign will ensure parents have the confidence to introduce their babies to solid foods at the right time and provide practical advice and a resource to ensure their diet includes a wide variety of foods.”
Mr O’Brien added that more than £300m of government money would be invested in 75 family centers across England to support parents and carers.
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A survey of 2,000 parents of children aged three to 18 months found that almost half of adults did not know when it was right to wean their baby. The same number had incorrect behaviors, such as looking at or reaching for food to signify the baby was ready to eat solid food.
Almost half of those surveyed felt the weaning process should start at around five months or earlier – but NHS guidelines show that solid foods should be introduced alongside breast milk or formula from around six months.
A baby is ready for their first solid food when they can
- Stay in a seated position and keep your head still
- coordinate eyes, hands, and mouth so they can look at, pick up, and put their food in their mouths
- Swallow food instead of spitting it out
With data from the latest National Child Measurement Program showing that a quarter of all children who are overweight attend school, the government hopes this new campaign will help parents promote healthy eating at home.
The campaign was supported by child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling Reed, who as a parent herself said that “weaning from breastfeeding can be very confusing and overwhelming”.
She added that parents can “start with individual vegetables and fruits that are pureed or blended,” and “preparing food from scratch is the easiest and cheapest way to make healthier meals for my kids.”
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