Weaning truths and myths

Which foods should you avoid giving babies?

Nuts

Children under the age of five shouldn't be given whole nuts because of the risk of choking although peanut butter and finely ground nuts can be given from eight months where there is no family history of allergy.

Salt

Sugar

Honey

Eggs

Gluten

Annabel Karmel's top 10 tips:

1. If your child has an allergy or intolerance, make sure you tell everyone who looks after your child about it.
2. If you are short of time, there are plenty of instant no-cook, fresh baby foods like mashed banana, mashed papaya or combinations like banana and peach.
3. If your baby is not keen on certain foods, try mixing them with familiar tastes, like some baby rice and milk or some pureed potato or sweet potato to make a gentler introduction.
4. Don't delay introducing meat, fish and chicken. These are important foods for your baby from six months.
5. Water is the best alternative drink to milk, but fully breastfed babies don't need any water until they start eating solid food. Boiled, cooled tap water is best.
6. Fruit juices like orange juice are a good source of vitamin C, but giving your baby juices and other drinks will reduce his appetite for milk. Fruit juice is acidic and also contains natural sugars which can cause tooth decay. All fruit juices should be diluted five parts water to one part juice. To protect teeth and gums it's best to only give juice at meal times.
7. If you freeze food in ice-cube trays, you can defrost two individual flavours and mix them together to make combinations like apple and pear or sweet potato and parsnip.
8. Never re-freeze meals that have already been frozen. The exception to this is that raw frozen food can be returned to the freezer once it is cooked. For example cooked frozen peas can be re-frozen.
9. Do not re-heat food more than once and do not save your baby's half-eaten food as bacteria-carrying saliva from the spoon will have been introduced.
10. There is no need to sterilise spoons and bowls.

Annabel has launched an exciting new range of food preparation and food products called 'Make Your Own' at Boots.

The range includes weaning equipment and delicious food products which can be combined with fresh foods to make easy meals for your baby and toddler. For more information and recipes visit www.annabelkarmel.com

Get cooking! Tasty recipes by Annabel Karmel