Weaning essentials

When your baby is ready to begin trying out solid foods, there are some essential items that will take away some of the fuss involved in weaning

What you'll need a hand blender such as the Braun MultiQuick Fresh System a good highchair a set of weaning spoons a couple of weaning bowls a plastic bib ice-cube trays, for freezing tiny portions of fresh babyfood

Features to look out for
Highchairs One which has different height and tilt-back positions is an excellent choice as it 'grows' with your baby and can be used at armchair height at first.

Spoons Some weaning spoons have heat sensors which change colour when the food is safe to eat (check out Tommee Tippee's range of heat-sensitive bowls and spoons); others are ergonomically shaped to suit a young baby's mouth. It's worth investing in a couple of different types to see which your baby prefers.

Bowls Again, you can buy colour-change, heat-sensitive types, as well as those which have a rubber suction base which prevents slipping. Look, too, for bowls that come with lids, as these are great for when you're out and about at mealtimes. Lastly, make sure that the bowls are compatible with your microwave, fridge, freezer, steriliser and dishwasher. This is where Braun MultiQuick Fresh System comes into its own: because the bowls are made from Pyrex, you have the choice of taking them straight from the fridge or freezer to the conventional oven or microwave.

Bib It's good to be able to wipe your baby's face over with a towelling bib, but even more useful to choose a 'food catcher' type (plastic, with an upturned bottom edge to catch dropped food morsels) and use baby wipes or a muslin with it.

Try Matt Roberts' recipes for babies over six months old and babies over eight months old

For more information visit the Braun MultiQuick Fresh System website

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