A guide to weaning - Health Promotion Agency

Stage 1: From 4 to 6 months 

A guide to weaning 

All the nourishment infants need during the first four to six months comes from either 

breast milk or infant formula milk. Between four and six months infants should begin 

taking a wider variety of foods to allow them to grow and develop - this process is called 

weaning. 

Weaning before four to six months is not recommended as most infants’ digestive 

systems and kidneys are not fully developed. Weaning too soon may cause problems, 

such as food allergies, in the future. 

The tables on the following pages outline current recommendations for the three stages 

of weaning, ie from four to six months, from six to nine months and from nine to twelve 

months. 

Texture Suitable foods Foods to Notes 

avoid 

First foods 

should be 

smooth and 

runny. 

First weaning foods 

• baby rice; 

• puréed potato, carrot, parsnip, 

turnip, cauliflower; 

• puréed banana, stewed fruits, 

eg apple, pear, apricots; 

• unsweetened custard (made 

using custard powder); 

• plain/natural yogurt; 

• suitable commercial baby foods 

labelled from 4 months (these 

should be free from wheat, 

eggs, sugar and salt). 

As infants get used to spoon 

feeds 

• puréed beef, pork, lamb, 

chicken; 

• puréed peas, green beans, 

lentils; 

• puréed broccoli, Brussels 

sprouts, spinach. 

The following foods 

should be avoided at 

this stage: 

• rusks and other foods 

made from wheat, eg 

bread, spaghetti and 

other pasta, breakfast 

cereals, eg Weetabix, 

Shreddies, Ready 

Brek; 

• eggs; 

• fish and shellfish; 

• nuts and seeds, 

including peanut 

butter. 

Cook vegetables or fruit 

(without added salt or sugar) 

until they are soft, then purée. 

Breast milk or infant formula 

milk can be used to mix with 

cereals, potatoes etc to give a 

smooth consistency. 

At this stage the infant will 

continue to receive at least 

600 mls (20 fl oz) of expressed 

breast milk or infant formula 

milk each day. This should be 

provided in accordance with 

the parents’ guidance. 

Cooled boiled water can be 

offered between feeds if the 

infant seems thirsty. 

Cow’s milk and follow-on 

formula are not suitable as 

drinks at this stage, but some 

products made from cow’s 

milk may be used, eg 

plain/natural yogurt, 

unsweetened custard, cheese 

sauce.


Texture Suitable Foods to Notes Menu ideas 

foods avoid 

Between 6 and 9 

months infants 

will gradually 

move on from 

puréed foods to 

mashed foods. 

From about 7 

months the food 

does not have to 

be so smooth - 

just mash the 

food with a fork 

leaving some soft 

lumps. This will 

encourage the 

infant to learn 

how to chew. 

Foods that can 

be added from 6 

months: 

• foods made 

from wheat, eg 

bread, pasta, 

semolina, 

breakfast 

cereals such 

as plain Ready 

Brek, Weetabix, 

porridge; 

• well-cooked 

egg (the white 

and yolk should 

be solid); 

• fish, eg cod 

(with bones 

removed), tuna, 

tinned sardines 

(well mashed). 

It is recommended 

that peanuts and 

products 

containing them, 

eg peanut butter, 

are not provided in 

the childcare 

setting. This is to 

protect children 

who may be at risk 

of peanut allergy. 

All young children 

are at risk of 

choking on nuts. 

During this time offer 

the infant a wider 

range of tastes and 

textures. At this 

stage the infant will 

continue to receive 

500-600mls 

(16-20 fl oz) of 

expressed breast 

milk or infant formula 

milk. 

Introduce a cup for 

drinks of infant 

formula milk or 

water. 

Whole cow’s milk 

can be used to mix 

into foods such as 

mashed potato and 

breakfast cereal, but 

should not be given 

as a main drink until 

after 1 year. 

Encourage infants to 

hold spoons. 

Begin to offer finger 

foods (refer to page 

14). 

Main meal ideas: 

• mashed hard 

boiled egg or 

mashed baked 

beans with fingers 

of toast; 

• tuna and pasta 

bake with broccoli; 

• macaroni cheese 

with peas; 

• shepherd’s pie 

with carrots; 

• minced chicken 

with mashed 

potato and 

Brussels sprouts; 

• corned beef hash 

with sliced green 

beans; 

• meat or lentil stew 

with mashed 

potato. 

Dessert ideas: 

• pieces of fresh soft 

fruit, eg pear, 

banana, melon; 

• stewed fruit, eg 

apples, apricots, 

prunes (with 

stones removed); 

• tinned soft fruit in 

its own juice, eg 

strawberries, 

peaches, pears; 

• milk pudding, 

yogurt or fromage 

frais (do not use 

‘diet’ varieties).


Texture Suitable Foods to Notes Menu ideas 

foods avoid 

During this 

stage infants 

will move on 

from mashed 

to chopped 

foods. 

All family 

foods can 

be offered 

at this 

stage. 

It is recommended 

that peanuts and 

products 

containing them, 

eg peanut butter, 

are not provided in 

the childcare 

setting. This is to 

protect children 

who may be at risk 

of peanut allergy. 

All young children 

are at risk of 

choking on nuts. 

At this stage 

infants will continue 

to receive about 

500-600mls 

(16-20 fl oz) of 

expressed breast 

milk or infant 

formula milk each 

day. 

Water or very 

dilute pure fruit 

juice can be given 

as a drink at 

mealtimes. By now, 

most drinks should 

be given from a 

cup. 

From 12 months, 

the use of a bottle 

should be 

discouraged. 

Encourage infants 

to eat a wide 

variety of foods. 

For suitable snacks 

and drinks refer to 

pages 14 and 15. 

Some meal ideas to try 

Breakfast: 

• unsweetened breakfast cereal 

with whole cow’s milk; 

• toast with well-cooked egg - 

scrambled, poached or 

boiled. 

Lunch: 

• baked beans on toast; 

• sandwiches filled with tuna or 

chopped chicken 

• soup with a sandwich; 

• pasta shapes in tomato sauce 

with grated cheese; 

• pizza with chopped fresh 

tomato. 

Dinner: 

• minced or chopped meat, 

mashed potatoes and carrots; 

• fish fingers, peas and 

mashed potatoes; 

• chicken casserole and rice; 

• lasagne with broccoli; 

• vegetable risotto with grated 

cheese; 

• beef or lentil burgers, 

courgettes, sliced tomato and 

boiled potatoes; 

• cauliflower cheese, boiled 

potatoes and green beans.

Finger foods: 

• soft fresh fruit, eg banana, melon, peeled pear; 

• pieces of cooked vegetables, eg green beans, cauliflower, carrot; 

• fingers of toast, unsalted breadsticks, pitta bread; 

• fingers of hard cheese; 

• low-sugar rusks (these should only be used occasionally, as even low-sugar varieties 

still contain a lot of sugar). 

Snacks for older infants aged 9 to 12 months 

Snacks that contain a little or no sugar can be given freely. These include: 

• chopped fruit and vegetables, eg peeled apple, pear, peach, banana, orange, carrot, 

cucumber; 

• bread, toast, breadsticks, scones, pancakes; 

• plain yogurt, plain fromage frais; 

• cheese. 

If on occasions, sweet foods are to be given to infants, they should be given at 

mealtimes when they are less damaging to teeth.

Drinks for infants up to 12 months old 

Breast milk or infant formula milk 

This should be the main drink during the first year. 

Follow-on formula 

This is unsuitable for infants under six months. It may be used after six months but has 

no advantage over breast milk or ordinary infant formula milk. 

Cow’s milk 

Whole cow’s milk should not be used as the main drink until after one year. Between 

one and five years it is recommended that whole cow’s milk should be used routinely in 

the childcare setting as it contains more calories and vitamins A and D. 

Other drinks 

A little cooled boiled tap water can be given if an infant seems very thirsty (after six 

months, water straight from the mains tap is suitable). Very dilute fruit juice (one part 

pure orange juice to eight parts water) from a cup may be given occasionally with meals. 

Drinks that are not recommended 

• Baby juices and herbal drinks contain sugar and can damage developing teeth if they 

are used frequently or given from a bottle. 

• Sugary diluting squashes contain sugar and can damage developing teeth. If used, 

they should be very well diluted (one part squash to eight parts water) and given 

from a cup at main meals. 

Drinks that should not be given 

• Colas, lemonades and fizzy drinks including ‘diet’ drinks are acidic and can cause 

damage to teeth. ‘Diet’ drinks are also high in artificial sweeteners which are 

unsuitable for babies under one year. 

• Tea and coffee may reduce the absorption of iron. 

• Bottled mineral waters, both still and sparkling, may contain high levels of minerals 

which make them unsuitable for babies under one year. 

• Goat’s and sheep’s milk lack essential vitamins and minerals needed for babies’ 

growth and development.

Menu planning 

The following points will be helpful when planning menus. 

• Children need to eat regularly and it is recommended that they are offered something 

to eat at least every three hours. 

• All children need a breakfast. This could either be at home or in childcare if available. 

• Children in full day care will receive most of their food while in childcare. It is 

recommended that they receive one hot meal (lunch) and two snacks (mid-morning and 

mid-afternoon). It is assumed that the evening meal will be taken in the child’s own home. 

• Children in half-day care should receive one meal and at least one snack. 

• Sessional care does not normally include a main meal. Children who attend for a 

morning or afternoon session should receive at least one snack. 

• Some children may eat slowly. It is important to ensure that all children have enough 

time to eat. 

• The menu cycle should be for a minimum of three weeks, with a range of dishes used. 

• A variety of foods from the four main food groups should be served throughout the 

menu cycle in meals and snacks. 

• Copies of the menu should be displayed in a prominent position and/or made 

available to the parents/guardians. It is recommended that parents/guardians are 

given the opportunity to contribute ideas to the menu. 

• A main meal must include a food from the following food groups: 

- bread, other cereals and potatoes; 

- fruit and vegetables; 

- meat, fish and alternatives (see information on food groups, pages 7-9). 

• Choose combinations of colours to make the food attractive. Three or four defined 

areas of colour look good on a plate. 

• A combination of different textures increases appeal. Children will appreciate crisp, 

crunchy, chewy, smooth and soft foods. 

• Taste should be varied but meals containing too many different new flavours may not 

be acceptable to children. 

• Some finger foods, as well as foods which require cutlery, allow variation at mealtimes.

Children following a vegetarian diet 

People who follow vegetarian diets may differ in the types of food they eat or exclude. It is 

important therefore to find out the type of food that the vegetarian child can eat. For 

example some children may eat chicken, fish, eggs, milk and dairy products such as 

cheese or yogurt, whereas strict vegans exclude all foods of animal origin. 

A vegetarian diet is a healthy diet providing that a wide variety of foods are eaten. When 

meat and animal products are excluded from meals it is important that the nutrients they 

provide are gained from other foods. 

Vegetarian sources of protein should be 

provided at each meal. Refer to the notes 

on Meat, fish and alternatives, page 9 for 

main meal ideas. 

To ensure an adequate intake of all the 

essential amino acids, a vegetable 

source of protein (pulses, nuts) should 

be eaten with a cereal food (bread, rice, 

pasta), for example chickpea casserole 

with pasta, lentil stew with rice, beans 

on toast. 

Children from ethnic 

communities following a 

traditional diet 

When planning food provision and 

menus, childcare providers must 

accommodate the traditions and 

customs of ethnic communities. Details 

of the foods traditionally avoided by particular groups are shown below: 

• Hindus and Sikhs are strict vegetarians and do not eat meat, fish, eggs or anything 

made with them. 

• Muslims eat meat provided it has been killed by the halal method. They exclude all 

pork and pork products. Other foods may also be avoided if there is uncertainty 

about the content, eg pastries and puddings which may contain pig fat. Many 

savoury baby products contain meat which has not been killed by the halal method, 

and these products are unacceptable to Muslims. 

• Jewish people eat meat provided it is kosher. They exclude all pork and pork 

products. They eat those fish which have fins and scales, but exclude all shellfish and 

eels. Products from animals that have not been prepared by the kosher method are 

also avoided, eg gelatine, animal fats. They do not eat meat and milk or milk products 

at the same meal. They should not be offered cheese that contains rennet or biscuits 

that contain animal fat. 

• Chinese people generally exclude dairy produce. The Chinese community also 

believes that good health depends on a balance of two opposite elements in the 

body: yin (referred to as ‘cold’) and yan (referred to as ‘hot’). Infant formula milk is 

regarded as ‘very hot’. Where a mother has chosen to bottle feed her baby, she may 

want to give her baby ‘cooling’ drinks such as cooled boiled water.

Children with special dietary needs 

Providing special diets 

Special diets such as gluten-free (coeliac), diabetic, milk-free or nut-free, can be quite 

complex. Parents should be able to provide a diet sheet about their child’s specific 

dietary needs which has been prepared by a State Registered Dietitian. 

Food allergy 

Many parents believe that their child is sensitive to certain foods. However the true 

incidence of food allergy is likely to be much lower than reported. Parents requesting 

special diets for their children because of food allergy should be encouraged to seek 

medical advice. It is unwise to restrict food choice among young children without 

professional help and advice. 

Peanut allergy 

Peanut allergy is usually severe - sensitive individuals may even react to peanut dust. All 

nuts and nut products must be avoided, including peanut butter. 

Care should also be taken to prevent accidental consumption of food containing nuts or 

nut products or food that has come into contact with them. 

Children with peanut allergy are advised to carry identification and may require a pre-filled 

syringe of adrenaline (eg epipen, anopen) which can be administered if they have a reaction. 

The Department of Health Expert Panel recommends that children with a family history 

of asthma, eczema, hay fever or food allergy should avoid peanuts and peanut products 

until the age of three years. 

So as a precautionary measure, it is recommended that childcare facilities should not 

provide peanuts or foods containing them, eg peanut butter, to any children in their care.

SAMPLE MENU - WEEK 1 

Sample menus 

Meal Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 

Lunch 

Midmorning 

and midafternoon 

snacks 

Homemade 

beefburgers 

(grilled or oven 

baked), 

cabbage and 

mashed potatoes 

(as champ) 

Milk jelly with 

tinned fruit 

To drink: milk, water 

Pork pieces 

casseroled with 

pineapple and 

peppers, with 

boiled rice 

Madeira cake 

with banana 

slices 

Savoury mince 

with baked 

potatoes, 

frozen peas and 

sweetcorn 

Semolina with 

tinned peaches 

For snack suggestions, refer to snack list, page 10. 

Roast chicken 

with 

carrots/parsnips 

and roast 

potatoes 

Apple crumble 

and custard 

Grilled fish 

fingers with 

baked beans 

and boiled 


Kiwi fruit with 

natural yogurt or 

fromage frais 

A more substantial snack could be provided for children staying later, eg sandwiches with meat 

or alternative filling; beans, cheese or sardines on toast. 



Lunch 

Midmorning 


snacks 

Beef casserole 

with carrots and 

turnip, with 

boiled potatoes 

Fresh fruit salad 

with yogurt 


Liquidised lentil 

soup with bread 

rolls/baps 

Bread and 

butter pudding 

with custard 

Tuna, 

sweetcorn and 

pasta bake with 

sliced tomatoes 

Peach or 

banana custard 


Chicken portions 

casseroled with 

carrots and 

leeks, with 

mashed potatoes 

Apple pie with 

custard 

Bolognese 

mince and 

spaghetti with 

green beans 

Fruit jelly with 

ice cream 


or alternative filling; beans, cheese or sardines on toast.



Lunch 

Midmorning 


snacks 

Shepherd’s pie 

with cauliflower/ 

broccoli and 

wheaten/soft 

grain white bread 

Milk-based 

instant dessert 

with banana or 

kiwi fruit 


Boiled ham with 

cabbage/carrots 

and boiled 


Rice pudding with 

peaches, tinned in 

fruit juice 

Irish stew 

Sponge topped 

with puréed fruit 

and fromage frais 


Fish in white 

sauce or ovenbaked 

fish in 

breadcrumbs with 

mashed potato and 

mixed frozen 

vegetables 

Fruit sponge 

(Eve’s pudding) 

and custard 

Roast pork or 

oven-baked 

pork steaks and 

gravy with roast 

potatoes and 

green beans 

Ice cream with 

fresh or tinned 

fruit 


or alternative filling; beans, cheese or sardines on toast.

A guide to weaning - Health Promotion Agency

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