Weaning Meal Planner

Want to start weaning but need inspiration and ideas for what to feed your baby? From first tastes to introducing more complex flavors and textures, our day-by-day meal planner will help you get started.

Weaning gets easier with practice and patience. Our simple day-by-day guide to planning weaning meals and easy-to-follow weaning recipes for babies will help you from the first day.

Before we get into meal planning and recipes, it’s important to highlight what kind of first weaning foods your baby should be eating. Here are the food groups that need to be included, and excluded, from your baby’s diet in the up-and-coming weeks.

Offering your baby a varied diet is a great way to ensure he’s getting all the vitamins and nutrients he needs to grow and develop. Every spoonful you feed him should be packed with nutrients.

Keep an eye out for whether your baby exhibits any signs of being allergic to any of this new food, such as skin rashes, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or swelling of the lips or tongue. If so, it is strongly recommended to consult your doctor immediately.

What foods should I include in a good diet for my baby?

Starchy foods, like baby rice and other baby cereals, bread products, grains (including cereals, pasta and oats) and potatoes provide your baby energy, which he needs to play and grow. Offer your baby a portion with each meal and at some snack times.

Fruit and vegetables, fresh and frozen, contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals which are important for your baby’s development. Try to offer some at each and every meal, including snacks.

Protein is also essential at this stage, especially as it supports growth and development.Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, pulses and legumes are excellent sources of protein.

Dairy foods, like pasteurised plain yoghurts and cheeses, contain calcium – an important mineral that keeps bones and teeth strong.

Fat plays a vital role in your baby’s diet to help the brain and nervous system develop normally.Stick to foods, like avocados, virgin olive oil, sunflower and flaxseed oil, which contain good fats (Omega 3, 6 and 9) for your baby and avoid giving him meals high in saturated fats, like fried foods, fatty meats or cheeses.

Omega 3 is a good fat and can help with your baby’s brain and nerve tissue development. The best source of Omega 3 is your breastmilk, so it’s important to keep breastfeeding on the daily menu. The following foods are also good sources of Omega 3: salmon, sardines, mackerel, fresh tuna, yogurt, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, berries and fortified egg.

1.STARCHY FOODS:

  • Baby rice and other baby fortified cereals, oats and oatmeal
  • Potato, rice, pasta
  • Bread made from whole grain and whole wheat
  • Foods made from cornmeal, bulgur & quinoa
 2.PROTEIN:

  • Lean meat, poultry and fish – well-cooked, remove all bones
  • Eggs – well-cooked, e.g. scrambled
  • Dhal, lentils, hummus, chick peas and other legumes
3.FRUIT & VEGETABLES:

  • All vegetables
  • All fruit
 4.DAIRY PRODUCTS:

  • Plain yoghurt
  • Pasteurized cheese

Foods you shouldn’t feed your baby:

  1. Salt, which is not good for your baby’s kidneys.
  2. Sugar, which can cause tooth decay and studies have shown that sugar intake during infancy can even reduce concentration levels in early childhood.
  3. Egg white, as this can trigger allergies.
  4. Honey, until he’s at least 1, it can contain a type of bacteria that can be toxic to a baby’s intestines.
  5. Cow’s milk doesn’t meet an infant’s nutritional needs — it isn’t a good source of iron — and can increase the risk of iron deficiency.
  6. Saturated fat, found in crisps, chips, burgers and cakes
  7. Shellfish should be avoided, and some fish, like shark and swordfish can contain mercury

Foods that your baby can choke on:

You should avoid giving your baby you following foods in the early stages of weaning:

Whole grapes, popcorn, hot dogs, dry cereal, apple chunks or slices, potato chips, raw carrot sticks or slices, berries (whole or unseeded), cookies, hard candy, peanut butter, whole nuts or seeds, whole beans, cherries with pits, raisins, dates and other dried fruits, large chunks of cheese or meat (especially tough meats), pickles, whole olives, gel or gummy candies, jelly beans, caramels, and chewing gum.

Weaning meal planner ( 6 – 8 Months)

Here is how we suggest you may start solid feeding for your baby.

  • If you follow this schedule, we suggest introducing solids gradually, start with one at a time. Offer your baby a new food during morning or lunch over the course of three to five days before trying another new food. This way you’ll be able to tell if your baby has an allergic reaction to something.
  • Give only 1-2 teaspoons of the new food and increase it gradually. Remember that this is only to get the baby used to solid texture and nutrition needs are still fulfilled by breastmilk or formula.

6 MONTHS – WEEK 1

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Lunch Baby rice Carrot puree squash puree Apple puree Sweet potato puree Pear puree Banana and apple puree

6 MONTHS – WEEK 2

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Apple and peach puree Apple puree Banana and apple puree Baby rice Pear puree Fruit mix puree Fruit salad puree
Lunch Zucchini puree Broccoli and sweet potato puree Avocado and green beans puree Spinach and roasted carrot puree Potato and pea puree Squash puree Potato and spinach puree

6 MONTHS – WEEK 3

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Fruit salad puree Avocado and pear puree Pear and baby rice puree Papaya fruit puree Apple and baby rice puree Sweet potato puree Pear and baby rice puree
Lunch Carrot & cauliflower with rice puree Sweet potato puree Mixed vegetable puree Squash and apricot puree Milk, Broccoli & sweet potato puree Zucchini and pea puree Squash and carrot mash

6 MONTHS – WEEK 4

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Banana puree Apple and peach puree Apple and baby rice puree Pear and baby rice puree Fruit mix puree Apple and baby rice puree Fruit puree
Lunch Vegetable puree Zucchini and cauliflower with rice Sweet potato and pear puree Carrot and cauliflower with rice pure Chicken with sweet potato & carrot puree Avocado puree Milk, Sweet potato puree
Dinner Baby rice Sweet potato puree Fruit salad puree Avocado puree Apple and baby rice puree Squash puree Peach pudding

7 MONTHS – WEEK 1

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Berry puree, yoghurt Banana and apple puree Sweet potato and pear puree Pear and cinnamon porridge Apple puree and baby rice Apple and cinnamon porridge Apple and baby rice pure
Lunch Sweet potato and sweetcorn puree Chicken and pasta puree Pasta with red meat puree Chicken and green leafy vegetables puree Milk, sweet potato mash Milk, Chicken with veggies puree Milk, pea and kale puree
Dinner Squash and apricot puree Carrot and potato puree Avocado and pear puree Apricot and baby rice puree Pea and kale puree Sweet potato and pear puree Fruit puree

7 MONTHS – WEEK 2

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Fruit salad puree, Baby oat cereal Pear and cinnamon porridge Blueberry, apple and peach puree, Baby wheat cereal Apple, pear and apricot puree, Baby oat cereal Egg yolk puree Porridge and berry puree Apple puree, baby wheat cereal
Lunch Sweet potato with egg yolk puree Chicken with veggies puree Rice with chicken puree Red meat and vegetables puree Chicken and couscous puree Lentil, sweet potato and sweetcorn puree Lentil soup puree
Dinner Pea puree Avocado and mint puree Squash and apricot puree Carrot and cauliflower puree Spinach and roasted carrot puree Squash and carrot mash Avocado puree

7 MONTHS – WEEK 3

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Apple puree, yoghurt Apple and cinnamon porridge and baby rice puree Banana porridge Fruit and baby rice pure Apple, pear and apricot puree, baby oat cereal Baby wheat oats Pear and cinnamon porridge
Lunch Chicken with mixed vegetable puree Chicken and vegetable mash Sweet potato and sweetcorn Milk, peas, beans & zucchini puree Squash & chicken puree Salmon, tomato and pepper couscous Chicken rice and vegetable mash
Dinner Squash and apricot puree Avocado and pear puree Sweet potato and chicken puree Avocado puree Broccoli and sweet potato puree Carrot and potato puree Thinly sliced fruit

7 MONTHS – WEEK 4

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Peach pudding, Baby wheat cereal Banana and apple puree, yoghurt Blueberry, apple and peach puree, baby wheat cereal Fruit puree, Porridge Banana and baby oat cereal Apple and cinnamon porridge and baby rice Apple, pear and apricot puree, Yoghurt
Lunch Meat and green beans puree Salmon, peas and broccoli puree Chicken and whole wheat rice puree with yogurt Egg yolk and potato puree Simple salmon pasta puree Salmon and broccoli mash Chicken and vegetable mash
Dinner Pasteurized cheese and pea mash puree Soft fruit puree Sweet potato puree Vanilla rice pudding,
homemade		 Squash and carrot mash Yogurt with banana puree Spinach and roasted carrot puree

8 MONTHS – WEEK 1

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Mashed banana & apple puree, baby wheat cereal Mashed banana and apple porridge Berry fruit yoghurt puree Toast fingers with mashed banana Mashed fruit with semolina Blueberry, apple and peach puree, yoghurt Berry porridge
Lunch Meat and pea rice Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Pasta Tasty Mince with tomato puree Chicken and sweetcorn Lentil with rice, carrot and tomato Milk, salmon, peas and broccoli Mashed chicken with wheat and vegetables
Dinner Kiwi and avocado Apple puree, baby wheat cereal Squash and chickpea mash, yoghurt Peach pudding 1 egg yolk with 1 slice of bread Rice pudding with fruit 1 slice of cheese sandwich with cucumber

8 MONTHS – WEEK 2

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Whole wheat biscuit cereal and fruit Egg yolk and bread fingers Rice pudding Fruit salad puree, yoghurt Fruit puree, baby wheat biscuit Berry porridge Egg yolk with mashed potatoes and carrots
Lunch Mashed pasta and chicken with vegetables Salmon with vegetables and rice Beef and vegetable Roast vegetables, chicken with rice Milk, chicken and mango mash with veggies Chickpeas with coriander and chicken Chicken and sweet potato mash
Dinner Pureed melon with banana puree Fruit salad mix Bread-stick with cheese spread or hummus Peach pudding Sweet potato baked wedges Scrambled egg yolk with baked sweet potato Rice pudding with mashed apple

8 MONTHS – WEEK 3

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast 1 slice of bread with slice of cheese and 1 small cucumber Banana and apple puree, Porridge Pear, kiwi and banana puree, thin strip of brown bread Fruit puree, Baby wheat cereal Fruit salad puree, baby oat biscuit Apple, pear and apricot puree, Porridge Slice of cheese and slice of bread with tomato
Lunch Lamb rice casserole Mediterranean fish stew and rice Chicken and pea risotto with pasta Vegetable and chicken casserole Mashed lamb with vegetables Lamb and sweet potato puree Vegetable ragout (eggplant, zucchini, carrots) with meat and rice
Dinner Mango and apricot puree Cooked legumes like beans, lentils or peas Vegetable soup Cheese with bread sticks Pear and avocado Vegetable soup Unsweetened yogurt with mango

8 MONTHS – WEEK 4

At this stage, your baby should have either breast milk or formula milk when waking, at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and at bedtime.

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
Breakfast Apple puree and yoghurt Pear and cinnamon porridge Apple, pear and apricot puree, yoghurt Blueberry, apple and peach puree, Baby oat cereal Egg yolk with slice of bread Apple and cinnamon porridge Mashed fruit salad with baby cereals
Lunch Milk, Vegetarian lentil cottage pie Chickpea and red pepper couscous Beans with rice and meat Chicken and pesto pasta Pasta and with asparagus and chicken Beans with rice and meat Green bean ragout with meat and rice
Dinner Cheese with sweet potato and Fruit 1 egg yolk with 1 slice of bread Steamed vegetables Vegetable soup Watermelon and Pears Cucumber sticks with 2 tbsp labneh Mango, kiwi, banana puree

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