Stage 1 Menu Planner

• Starts to be interested in food
• Begins to sit with support
• Recognises faces
• May push up from belly
• Plays with feet
• Starts to smile

• Breast milk (or formula milk):

What?

Breast milk, on demand. If introducing formula milk, please follow the advice of your health care professional and the on-pack feeding and preparation instructions.

Why?

Breast milk or formula milk is still the main source of nutrients for your weaning baby.

• Infant cereals (50g):

What?

Your baby will need around 50g or 3 tablespoons of iron fortified infant cereal a day.

Why?

Each serving of infant cereal is packed with important nutrients and provides complex carbohydrates that are easy to digest. This makes them an ideal food for babies who still only have little tummies, and will help him feel fuller for longer.

• Fruits (10g):

What?

Your baby might enjoy about 2 teaspoons of pureed fruit a day.

Why?

Fruit contains vitamins and minerals. It also contains antioxidants, which help keep cells healthy, and gentle dietary fibre, which supports digestion.

• Vegetables (10g):

What?

Your baby might enjoy about 2 teaspoons of puréed vegetable a day.

Why?

Vegetables contain vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants (which help keep cells healthy) and gentle dietary fibre (which supports digestion).

• Opens mouth for spoon: Try introducing a new flavour by mixing infant cereal, fruit or vegetable purée with the familiar taste of breast milk or baby’s usual formula.
• Starts to swallow purée: Begin with the velvety smooth textures of infant cereals, fruit and vegetable purées.
• Starts to show interest in food: Encourage this by getting him to taste a tiny bit and then enthusiastically eating some yourself.

Your baby can help you understand how much food he needs. You just have to learn his cues.

Your baby might have had enough if he:

• Slows down sucking food off the spoon.
• Turns head away from spoon
• Spits out familiar or favourite foods
• Gets distracted easily

Full up – suggestions

Listen to your baby’s cues. If he is full, don’t try to force him to eat more. Try not to worry; it’s normal for the amount your baby eats to change from meal to meal, as well as day to day.

Your baby may still be hungry if he:

• Opens mouth and turns towards you

Still hungry – suggestions

After the meal, offer 1-2 teaspoons of infant cereals, fruit or vegetables. You can try to gradually increase the number of teaspoons of infant cereals, fruit and vegetables at the next mealtime by 1 or 2.

Breast milk is just right to meet all of your baby’s nutritional needs for the first 6 months. If you decide to use formula, it is designed to contain all the essential nutrients your baby needs.

• Cereals:

Rice (gluten free) contains complex carbohydrates and added vitamins and minerals such as iron to help support normal cognitive development. Infant cereals are a great source of nutrients and energy (which he’ll need for all that growing) and are easy for your baby to digest. Nestlé infant cereals are gentle on your baby’s tummy and packed with goodness to help him grow healthily.

• Vegetables:

Peas, pumpkin, yam, and carrot are easy to digest and are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and gentle dietary fibre. Make sure they are steam cooked, as they are too hard for your baby to digest raw. Then purée them to a smooth consistency so it is easy to swallow. Adding a little good quality vegetable oil will help your baby to better absorb certain vitamins.

• Fruits:

Peach, banana, apple, pear, quince and papaya are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and gentle dietary fibre. They will provide new exciting tastes and textures for your baby to enjoy. Steam cook, then purée to a smooth consistency so they are easy to swallow.