Find out how to recognise when it is a good time to start weaning.
Guidelines on weaning designed for healthy term babies can be confusing for parents of babies born prematurely.
Parents can be unsure when their baby will be ready, and often tell us that they are worried about how to recognise when is a good time to start. This will also be different for every baby.
Trust your instinct. You'll know when your baby is ready to be weaned. Follow their lead.
Research is divided as to when exactly is best to wean a premature baby. Many of the studies into weaning premature babies agree that it is very hard to choose a single age at which all premature babies should be weaned, because their situations will all be very different.
"A key way that your baby can show you they are ready is through their facial expressions and body language. Are they holding out their arms, reaching for other people’s food or watching others eat? This can really help to show when they might be interested in their next foods. It can also be helpful to look at how well your baby is feeding and sleeping and if they are settled into a pattern.
"It's important to note that needing more milk may not mean your baby is ready to wean – this may just mean they are going through a growth spurt."
From Caroline King
The most important thing is that your baby is ready. Find out more about the signs to look for.
