Hi there,

I would like to start weaning my six-month old baby, but am not sure how much food to give him. I've read about starting him on baby rice and small quantities of fruit and veg, but have no idea how much he should eat.

Thanks,

Chloe

Our Parenting Team reply:

Hi Chloe,

Congratulations! You're on the threshold of an exciting time - teaching your baby how fun food can be! At this age, he'll be getting everything he needs from his milk, so try not to worry too much about how much he's eating.

Starting him off on baby rice is a good idea as you can mix this with his usual milk and it will taste familiar. Once he's got the hang of this, you can mix other foods such as vegetable and fruit purees with the rice to give it extra flavour. We've got lots more tips on weaning and first foods to try, so check out Open Wide! and Tuck In! for some pointers.

There aren't any real guidelines on how much your son should be eating but generally start with just one or two teaspoons and increase gradually according to his needs. Just be guided by the amount he wants - if you feel that he'll eat more then offer it to him.

Good luck!

The Parenting Team.

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