Lucy is Pots for Tots resident dietitian and has been providing practical nutritional advice and support for babies, children and their families for over 10 years. "I’m a registered Specialist Paediatric Dietitian and I love it! I’m really proud to work with Pots for Tots to help parents feed their children nutritious food – even when they're short on time."
3
Minutes readHow to start weaning your baby
Pots for Tots’ dietician Lucy answers your top questions on weaning.
Author Pots for Tots
Categories
Parenting
Weaning is a big milestone for every parent; it’s exciting, messy, and, for most, filled with questions.
Whether you’re just starting out or have some food under your belt, it’s normal to have queries or worries along the way. Pots for Tots in-house dietitian Lucy Upton is here to help ease some of the overwhelm, sharing five of the most common weaning questions and what you really need to know about them.
“As a children’s dietitian, I’ve spoken with hundreds of parents, and I can promise you, you’re not alone in what’s on your mind during weaning.”
For 20% off your first order, use the code SC20 at checkout.
What’s the best approach to weaning – spoon-fed/traditional or Baby Led Weaning?
I’ll be honest, starting solids is something that has become increasingly discussed across parent forums and social media, and with this often comes a narrative that certain approaches to weaning may be better or worse than others. I’m here to say that either approach (or combining both) can support your baby in learning how to eat, experiencing different foods, and having a positive weaning journey. As I always remind parents, the ultimate goal is the same – to have a healthy, happy eater who can manage a range of family foods, feed themselves, and enjoy mealtimes. The best approach will always be one where both baby and parent feel comfortable and confident with the process. Whether that means starting with purées on a spoon, offering soft finger foods from the beginning, or a mix of both, what matters most is that your baby is safe, included at mealtimes, and given opportunities to learn how to eat a range of foods and textures.
Which are the best foods to offer first?
Spoiler alert – there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this! It’s totally normal to focus on those all-important ‘first foods’, but the reality is that all the foods your baby is offered during weaning matter. Not just what they eat on day one, but across the whole journey. Many parents in the UK choose a vegetable-led approach, starting with more bitter-tasting vegetables like broccoli, courgettes, spinach, or green beans. This can be a great way to contrast the naturally sweet flavour babies are already familiar with from milk, and there’s some evidence that introducing vegetables early may help with ongoing acceptance for older babies and young children.
But here’s the key thing: it doesn’t have to be veg-only at the start. Whether it’s fruit, grains, lentils, eggs, or meat, these can all be great first foods too. What matters most is that your baby is exposed to a variety of tastes, textures and nutrients over time. So yes, early veg exposure is great, but don’t stress if your baby’s first bite isn’t broccoli. It’s all part of the bigger picture.
How do I know my baby is getting enough?
The most important thing to understand about this question is that the best judge of your baby’s appetite will always be them. Babies are born with an in-built mechanism to recognise hunger and fullness, and they can respond to this and communicate it with you (mainly through their behaviour).
How much a baby should eat is often a concern for parents, and I completely understand why – you want to ensure they’re getting the nutrition they need. However, the reality is that your baby is only just learning how to eat, developing the necessary oral and motor skills, and gradually adjusting to the taste and texture of food. It takes time - often several months – for babies to meet their full nutritional needs through food alone, which is why breast milk and/or formula continues to play an important role throughout the first year.
Your baby will be great at letting you know when they want more food – or when they’ve had enough (yes, even if it’s after just one bite!). Look out for cues:
- “I’m still hungry” = leaning forward, reaching for the spoon, opening their mouth, grabbing food.
- “I’ve had enough” = turning their head away, closing their mouth, fussing, pushing food or the spoon away, or becoming distracted.
Learning to trust and respond to these cues can help build a positive and relaxed mealtime experience for both of you.
I’m terrified of introducing food allergens. How can I do it safely?
Worrying about food allergies is completely natural, especially if you have a history of food allergies in the family or have just heard more online or in the news about allergic reactions or increasing rates of food allergies. Firstly, I always reassure parents that it’s much more likely your baby won’t be allergic to a food than they will. Secondly, the reason why the proactive introduction of food allergens like eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame (and more) is now recommended during weaning is to help prevent food allergies. Research has helped us recognise this is a great time to ‘tell’ the immune system these foods are safe and tolerated. Think of introducing allergens as closing the door on food allergy risk for that food. Finally, you can do it safely without having to sit in a hospital car park. My top tips are to start with small amounts (a tip of a teaspoon, if needed), build up gradually, and become familiar with what to look out for in terms of reactions. Check out the NHS website for more information, and remember that the risk of a very severe reaction is extremely low.
My baby just doesn’t seem interested. When should I worry?
If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard this! And then, a few weeks later, I’ll hear from the same family to say something has finally ‘clicked’. Progress during weaning is never linear. A seeming disinterest in food, or only managing a few mouthfuls, can occur for many reasons – illness, teething, tiredness, a growth spurt, or simply because their energy and focus are being directed towards developing another skill (hello, crawling!). It’s also easy to forget that for babies, learning to eat doesn’t always look like eating. It can mean touching, squashing, smearing, licking, spitting out, or even launching food across the room. All of this counts as progress. They’re building familiarity, exploring textures, and developing confidence at their own pace. That said, if your baby is over 10 months, still rejecting most foods, isn’t exploring with their hands, or you’re noticing issues with growth, weight, or hydration, it’s absolutely worth speaking to your health visitor or GP.
At Pots for Tots, we make mealtimes easy. Our meals and snacks are made with real ingredients, tailored for babies and children from 9 months+, and frozen for maximum freshness and convenience. Whether you’re trying first tastes or building up to more textured meals, our range is designed to take the pressure off and help you serve up nutritious food your little one will love. No stress, no prep – just real food, ready in minutes.
For 20% off your first order, use the code SC20 at checkout.
Explore our weaning-friendly meals and snacks at potsfortots.co.uk, and you can pick up a copy of Lucy Upton’s new book The Ultimate Guide to Children’s Nutrition here.
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Pots for Tots