A survey of 1,000 parents with children aged six months to four years revealed that over half (53 per cent) consider weaning their biggest challenge, with many only having a ‘vague idea’ of the right time to start.
Additionally, two-thirds are concerned about potential allergies in their children. To manage this, 36 per cent introduced allergens one at a time, while over a quarter (26 per cent) adhered to official guidelines.
Moreover, 36 per cent feared their child might choke, and other worries included providing a balanced diet and ensuring all necessary nutrients were met.
Yogurt, smashed banana, and mashed sweet potato emerged as the most effective weaning foods, with 77 per cent of parents feeling confident about what to introduce first. After several attempts, 44 per cent of infants relished their initial taste of solid food.
Rebecca Wilson, a family food author collaborating with Yeo Valley Organic—which sponsored the research and compiled a weaning guide—commented: “Weaning can be a tough process but it’s lovely to see parents felt confident and had a plan in place.”
(Image: SWNS)
She added: “It’s encouraging to see so many are aware of nutrients their children need and yogurt banana and sweet potato are perfect for the introduction of weaning.
“The importance of limiting babies’ intake of free-from sugar is very important to not only maintain strong dental health, but also ensure children do not get used to highly sweet flavours, thus enabling enjoyment of a varied nutritious diet including non-sugary flavours like bitter greens and acidic vegetables.
“By mixing real fruit with no added sugar into a bulk ingredient like yogurt, rather than solely offering puréed fruits on their own which contain a very high amount of free-from sugar, you’re able to expose babies to a varied flavourful diet without exposing them to an unhealthy high sugar level.”
The study further revealed other concerns weaners had, including fears that they would reject the food (31 per cent) and managing mess and food waste (21 per cent). With 17 per cent spending more than five hours a week cleaning up after messy mealtimes.
While 23 per cent wanted to avoid too much salt or sugar and the same amount were anxious about getting portion sizes right. As a result, a quarter found the whole period of their lives more stressful than they expected it to be.
But looking back, 47 per cent wish they’d known that weaning is different for every baby, and that it’s normal for babies to reject foods at first (39 per cent) – and it doesn’t mean they won’t learn to enjoy them. And 75 per cent did feel supported during the process by the people around them, according to the OnePoll stats.
Yeo Valley Organic’s nutritionist, Alice Mayor, has offered reassurance to parents, saying: “It’s easy to feel discouraged if your baby isn’t taking to solids straight away, but persistence and patience are key.”
She further advised that “as the research shows, yoghurt is a great option to introduce more solids and textures into a diet as well as mashing up banana and blending veggies.” Mayor observed that “Some babies dive right in, while others need more time to explore.”
She said “mealtimes should be a fun and relaxed experience, not a battle and there may be mess, but this is often a sign your child is enjoying themselves.” Finally, she encouraged parents with the words: “Trust that your baby will get there at their own pace and try to enjoy the messy and funny moments along the way.”
TOP 10 WEANING WORRIES:
- Choking hazards
- Making sure baby gets enough nutrients
- Baby rejecting food
- Ensuring a balanced diet
- Fear of baby not eating enough
- Knowing how to handle gagging vs choking
- Allergic reactions
- Avoiding too much salt or sugar
- Dealing with constipation or upset stomach
- Understanding portion sizes