Weaning made easy - tips and tricks for transitioning your baby to solid foods
Weaning your baby is a significant step in their development, as they begin to explore new textures, flavours, and nutrients beyond breast milk or formula. Here’s a guide on how to start weaning, along with essential products to help ease the transition—many available at fantastic discounts during the latest little baby event at Dunnes Stores.
When to start weaning
The recommended age to begin introducing solid foods is around 6 months, but it’s important to watch for signs of readiness, such as:
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Baby can sit up with minimal support.
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They show interest in food (e.g., reaching for your food).
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They can move food to the back of their mouth and swallow.
How to go about it
Start slowly – begin by offering small amounts of single-ingredient purees, like carrots or apples, once a day. Try Ella's Kitchen First Tastes 70g Pouches for convenient, healthy options—available at Dunnes at just €1.25 each or you can Mix & Match any five for four (cheapest item free). These are perfect for introducing new flavours gradually. You can also pick up Heinz Pouches (130g range) at Dunnes Stores, they’re available in a wide variety of flavours for just €1.85 each, or you can Mix & Match any three for €5. The more variety you offer early on, the more likely your baby will develop a diverse palate.
Finger foods and snacks – you can introduce soft finger foods like baby wafers such as Kiddylicious Blueberry / Banana 40g Wafers, which are a perfect first snack, and currently available at Dunnes Stores, reduced to €2.80 each. These snacks encourage self-feeding and improve coordination.
Encourage self-feeding with weaning tools
If you don’t have food containers, you can pick up lots of different ones in the shops, and currently the Tommee Tippee Pop Up Weaning Pots are reduced at Dunnes Stores from €6.99 to €5.24. These make storing and serving food easy. You could also try the Tommee Tippee First Tastes Weaning Starter Kit which has everything you need to get started – reduced at Dunnes Stores from €19.98 to only €13.37. There’s also selected Munchkin Accessories at Dunnes stores, reduced from €6.85 – €12.99, to €5.14 – €9.74 each. These weaning accessories, from spill-proof snack containers to easy-grip spoons, are designed to make feeding smoother.
Protect from mess
Weaning can be messy, so protect your baby’s clothes with absorbent bibs, the Tommee Tippee Milk Feeding Bib is reduced at Dunnes Stores from €6.99 to just €4.67. This will make clean-up much easier!
As your baby adjusts, introduce meals that combine flavours and textures. The Heinz Hipp Jars range offer nutritious, organic options that are perfect for older babies, available at Dunnes Stores with prices from €1.39 to €1.85, or you can Mix & Match Buy 3 for 2 (the cheapest item free).
Take advantage of these special offers at the baby event, and enjoy this fun new chapter in your baby’s growth!
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Discover better value and fantastic savings all under one roof at the Dunnes Stores Little baby event which runs from 17th September to 7th October 2024