Nursery World - New guidance on weaning to help 'confused' parents

New guidance on how to safely introduce children to solid food has been launched by the Government’s Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

The new guidance aims to make weaning more straight forward for parents

It comes after research shows that parents are receiving conflicting advice about when to start weaning their child, leaving many feeling confused about what to do.

The survey of 1,000 parents with children aged three- to- 18 months found:

Three in five first-time parents found the decision to start weaning confusing.
Almost two-thirds have received conflicting advice on what age to start introducing solid food.
40 per cent of first-time mums introduced solid food by the time their baby was five months old, despite advice from the NHS that you should not start weaning until a child is six months.
More than 70 per cent agreed there should be one official source for weaning advice.

The new campaign, which is backed by TV’s Dr Zoe Williams and nutritionist Charlotte Stirling Reed, aims to better support parents to safely introduce their children to solid food through an online Start for Life Weaning Hub. The hub features tips, advice, NHS guidelines and over 120 healthy and easy to prepare recipes and meal ideas.

Health minister Maria Caulfield said, ‘The first 1,001 days are crucial for development and impact a child’s health for the rest of their life.

‘Every child should have a solid foundation on which to build their health and I am determined to level up the opportunities and support for all children, no matter their background or where they grow up.

‘This campaign will ensure parents have the support and confidence to introduce their babies to solid food and ensure they have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential.’

Dr Zoe Williams, GP and TV doctor, added, ‘The research confirms that with so much conflicting advice available, weaning can be a very confusing time for parents. That’s why it’s so important to have all the information and NHS advice in one place. For most healthy babies, the easiest way to cut through the confusion is to wait until your baby is around six months old – this gives them time to develop properly, so they can cope with solid foods.’