Introduction to Solid Foods | Vitafriends Explorers Club

What is weaning?

Weaning is the time when a baby is introduced to solid foods and starts to decrease the amount of breast milk or standard infant formula they are taking.

When do I start introducing solids?

When you feel that your baby is showing signs that they are ready to take food from a spoon, such as:

sitting well when supported and being able to hold up their head.
being curious and interested when others around them are eating.
opening their mouth when you offer them food on a spoon.
reaching out for food.

This all usually occurs around 6 months of age. Your dietitian will advise you on the when and how.

This information provided is intended for use alongside the advice given by your dietitian and the PKU Handbook (ASIEM).

Starting solids in your baby’s diet is a fun, exciting (and messy!) time.

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Introducing solids to a baby with PKU

Introducing solids to a baby with PKU is the same as introducing solids to a baby that does not have PKU, with a few additional considerations:

Consumption of protein-free foods will generally be encouraged more for a baby with PKU.
A second stage formula (a new protein substitute) will be introduced before your baby is 12 months of age. Babies without PKU do not always need a new formula/milk, when they do, it will be introduced after 12 months of age.
Protein containing foods, which will be introduced gradually for a baby with PKU, need to be protein counted. However, they can be included freely in the diet of a baby without PKU.

General Guidance for Weaning Infants	Additional Considerations for Infants with PKU
From approx. 4*- 6 months
Start once a day, when the infant is most receptive Start with pureed vegetables/fruit Increase frequency and variety of foods offered	Encourage protein-free foods
From approx. 6 months
Introduce a sipper cup to help reduce reliance on bottle feeding Introduce different textures Introduce a spoon for self-feeding Offer finger foods to promote self-feeding around 9 months	Introduce a second stage protein substitute Introduce measured amounts of protein containing foods (count as grams of protein) to gradually replace the protein from breast milk or standard infant formula

^{*Introduction of solids should not commence before 17 weeks of age unless instructed otherwise.}

^{Speak to your dietitian if you have any questions or concerns.}

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How do I start introducing solids?

It is usual to start solids by offering “tastes” of protein-free food after a breast or bottle feed. Initially, a “taste” is ONE protein-free food, such as pure carrot or pure sweet potato. The food will be pureed and offered from a spoon. Initially, a food will be offered once a day, this allows baby to get used to the spoon in their mouth, and the taste of the food.

It’s best to choose a time when your baby is most receptive; often breakfast or lunch time work well. Later in the day babies tend to tire and may not be as eager. When a baby first starts solid food, they will be taking only very small amounts and so the volume of breast milk/formulae, will remain the same.

You will gradually increase the amount and frequency of protein-free food. If you are giving protein-free food once a day, slowly increase the quantity and variety of protein free food offered, then offer solids twice a day. This will be a gradual process and your baby will dictate how quickly this happens.

Your dietitian will advise you on suitable fruits and vegetables to introduce.

Over the age of 6 months, your baby’s protein free formula will be gradually decreased, this encourages an appetite for solid food. The second stage protein substitute is also introduced so your baby does not miss out on important nutrition.

For further information refer to the PKU Handbook (ASIEM).

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Why should I encourage a variety of protein-free food?

Introducing protein-free food to your baby, while they are very young, allows them to get used to the many foods they can enjoy in their diet.

When babies are introduced to a wide variety of protein-free food/s, they are more likely to accept them over the longer term. Babies may refuse a new food, when first offered. It can take several attempts of offering a new food before a baby will accept the new taste, this is normal. As protein-free foods are not restricted in the PKU diet, encouraging their acceptance will help baby to have lots of variety in the diet, which helps them to meet their daily nutrient needs. Your baby may only take a small spoonful to start with, but with repeated offerings and practice, the amount should increase

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When should I introduce protein containing foods?

There are no set rules as to when protein containing foods should be introduced to a baby with PKU. Factors including; appetite, intake of solid food and formula, nutritional needs, growth, and phe levels, must all be considered. Your dietitian will guide you on when is the best time for your baby to introduce protein from solid food.

How will my baby progress with solid food?

Every baby is different and will progress with solids at their own pace. The information below is given as a guide and is the same for all babies. For babies with PKU, the foods offered will differ, but when and how they are introduced, will be the same as for those babies without PKU.

Around 6 months

Initially babies will take smooth puréed food. Some babies take a while to learn to take food off a spoon, others take to it quickly. Start by offering only one food at a time. This is so your baby can practice taking food from a spoon and learn about the taste and texture of each new food.

From 6 months

As your baby gets better at taking pureed food, the quantity taken, variety offered, and the texture can increase. Your baby may take solids twice per day and, be taking a different food on each occasion. For increased texture, start to offer mashed food with very soft lumps; soft enough to allow them to learn to squash the lumps on the roof of their mouth before swallowing. Increasing the variety of food, the amount, and the consistency, encourages baby’s acceptance of new tastes and textures.

Around 8 months

Babies now generally move onto mashed and chopped food, lumps increase in size to encourage chewing, and soft finger foods help to encourage self-feeding. Continue to offer a variety of foods as well as these new textures. Encourage solids as 2-3 small meals over the day.

From 10 months

By now you will introduce different food combinations and flavours and your baby will gradually move towards eating the same meals as the rest of the family, just chopped up. Around this age also encourage your baby to eat some soft (or slightly harder) finger foods as well as starting to use a spoon to self-feed. Most babies are having 3 meals a day and are less reliant on breast milk/ standard formula at this age.

Your baby’s intake changes dramatically over 6 months. They start off being reliant on fluid only; protein substitute and breast milk/formula fed, to taking a diet which includes 3 small meals, 1-2 snacks, protein substitute, and little (if any) breast milk/standard formula, daily.

Every baby is unique and will progress at their own pace.

If you have any questions in relation to introducing foods and textures, speak with your dietitian.

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