Weaning is one of the big milestones in your baby's first year. It can seem a fiddly, messy, drawn-out business, but let your baby dictate the pace and enjoy it.

Handy Hint

Weaning tip - go for basic designs when choosing feeding equipment. Introduce a training beaker at around 6 months but stick to one style or your baby will get confused. Go for flattish spoons and bowls that are sloped at the sides so it's easy to get food out. Aim for your baby to be using normal equipment by a year.

When Should I Start
The best time to introduce solids is between four and six months. Don't give your baby solids any sooner than this (unless your health visitor has advised you to), and don't be persuaded to do so by well-meaning older relatives, since your baby's immature digestive system won't be able to cope and you risk triggering an allergic reaction.

You'll know when your baby is ready for her first solids because she'll no longer seem satisfied with her milk. If she's been sleeping through the night she may suddenly start waking again for a feed. The first time you try giving your baby solids, offer her a little milk to take the edge off her hunger. Then offer her a teaspoon of something bland, milky and sloppy - baby rice is ideal. If she's not interested, or gets upset, stop and try again a few days later.

It may take several attempts before your baby learns how to work the food to the back of her mouth and swallow it. Once she's worked out what to do and seems happy to eat solids, you can start introducing new tastes.

Good first foods include baby cereals, and puréed vegetables and fruit. By around seven months you can mash food rather than purée it, so she'll get used to different textures. It's fine to give home made meals if they're prepared with fresh ingredients and you haven't added sugar or salt. Your baby's body can't cope with salt and a buildup could cause severe illness and even death.

What Can My Baby Drink?
Breast or formula milk should be your baby's main drink until she's over a year old (don't give cow's milk as a main drink in the first year). She'll need around 800ml (1 pint) per day but if she won't drink this much, give her dairy products, such as yoghurt and cheese (after six months) and sneak milk into her daily diet by using it to make up milky custards and packet baby food. Offer your baby water too - before six months, this should be boiled and then cooled.

What's Off the Menu?
In the first year avoid:

• Soft-boiled eggs, as they can carry salmonella.
  
• Hot, spicy foods, as they can upset little tummies.
  
• Pâté, and mould ripened or blue veined cheeses.
  
• Salt and sugar
  
• Ready made convenience food, such as packet or canned soups and sauces, as these contain salt.
  
• Under six months, avoid wheat as it contains gluten, which is hard to digest.
  
• Cow's milk.