Weaning and milk

We have been weaning Eliza for about 2 months now, and it is going really well. She has taken to food like a duck to water, and there is nothing she isn’t happy to try. Her current favourites are spaghetti bolognese, roast dinner, hot cross buns and banana.

Here you can  know better why a baby should eat solid foods and everything about weaning.

As she has been eating more and more, the amount of milk she is taking has reduced quite a lot – at the moment she is only having a bottle first thing in the morning and another before bed. I checked this with the health visitor a couple of weeks ago, as I was worried that she wouldn’t be getting enough milk in her diet, but she reassured me that as long as she was having a balanced diet with plenty of milk products we should be fine. Eliza probably has more milk than I think, as she does have it in cereal and sauces, and she eats plenty of cheese and yogurt. 

We recently switched Eliza over to HiPP Organic follow on milk – this provides essential ingredients she needs, including iron for cognitive development, vitamins A, C and D for the immune system and PRÆBIOTIK®. I know a lot of people don’t use them, but after receiving the following advice from HiPP nutritionist Helen, we felt it was the right decision for us:

“Follow on milks are designed to complement the weaning diet while your baby is getting used to a variety of different tastes and textures. They are higher in iron and vitamin D than standard infant formulas which can really be a help if baby is not eating many iron-containing foods and is therefore at greater risk of iron deficiency, and to help protect baby against becoming vitamin D deficient.”

I do try and get iron rich foods into Eliza’s diet, such as red meat and leafy green vegetables, but I am happier knowing that she is also getting a back up source from the milk she drinks, along with other nutrients she needs. I am also really loving the new HiPP reusable milk storage pot – it keeps the formula fresh and free from bacteria, and even comes with a scoop holder in the lid and a built in scoop leveller – no more fishing about for the scoop or trying to find a clean knife to level it off!

I actually really enjoy giving Eliza her 2 bottles of milk a day – it is our quiet time, our time for bonding and pretty much the only time she sits still these days! The evening feed has also become a time for all of us to sit down together as a family, either to watch something on TV or to chat about our days. It is a lovely quiet time before bed and it helps us all come together after manic days of running in all different directions. The children enjoy helping to feed Eliza too, and will often argue about whose turn it is to hold the bottle. 

Eliza is growing into a happy, healthy little girl and we are enjoying every minute with her. It’s such a privilege to watch her grow and develop. 

* The Department of Health recommends that you breastfeed your baby exclusively for the first six months of their life; at around six months you can start to wean them on to solids and start to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding. HiPP Organic understands that all babies are different and some mums might want to transfer to bottle feeding earlier than others. HiPP Organic would always advise that you speak to your midwife or health visitor before changing your feeding method. For more information on milks, please visit the HiPP Organic Website *

As your child grows, you may want to consider a toddler formula. Diapers.com has a great guide on their website, helping you to choose the right toddler formula for you and your baby.