Weaning is the gradual process of introducing solid food to a baby who has relied entirely on breast or formula milk. It's an important and rewarding stage in your baby's development, but can also be a frustrating and confusing time: when it comes to feeding babies, the world seems to be full of people giving conflicting advice on what, when and how!
In this book you'll find plenty of help to guide you through the next 12 months or so, from those first few spoonfuls to the point when your child will be joining in family meals. Your baby's progress will be gradual, starting with baby rice with a consistency only slightly thicker than milk, moving on to thin, smooth purées. As your baby grows, you will find you no longer need to purée the food and can mash it with a fork, then later simply chop it into small pieces. The chapters reflect this and are divided into the different stages of weaning, so you can take it step by step. Most of the recipes are quick and simple to prepare and can be made in larger quantities so that several portions can be frozen for future use.
Cooking for a baby can be fun, as well as being a healthier and cost-effective alternative to bland, processed meals from jars or packets. By serving a wide range of fresh, home-made food, you can help develop your baby's tastebuds to appreciate a variety of foods, flavours and textures throughout childhood and beyond. Remember that first impressions are lasting and that applies to first foods too!
Throughout the book you will find I have referred to the baby as 'she' - simply because all the recipes have been tried and tested over the years by my daughters, Harriet and Liz.