Why Starting Solids Matters

How and when babies eat their first solid foods is a source of anxiety for modern parents. It can be hard to make sense of conflicting advice from friends and family and health professionals, and the scientific evidence is often poorly understood. Yet this period of a child’s development can have long-term consequences for their health, so good information is important.

The decision about when to start solids is just the first of many choices: purees or finger-foods? How much milk - breast or formula - and when? What about healthy snacks? What foods should my baby be eating? What is safe for them to eat? What about jars and pouches, rusks and cereal? Do babies need vitamin supplements?

Why Baby-Led Weaning Matters aims to help readers find answers to these questions, and many more. Starting a baby on solid foods is a great time to learn more about the role nutrition plays in health, and much of the information is just as relevant for older children and the rest of the family too.