Are you starting solids too early, or too late? Should you make your own purees, or are shop bought jars fine? After they’ve been happily guzzling milk for the first few months of their life, weaning your baby, especially if you’re a first time parent, can seem like a pretty daunting experience. But it needn’t be stressful, says Annabel Karmel, award-winning kids’ food and nutrition expert and author of 17 books on the subject. ‘There’s so much advice out there, and the more there is, the more confused parents get,’ she explains.

There is no hard and fast rule for deciding when to add solids to your babies diet, advises Annabel – while the recommended UK guidelines say weaning should start at around six months of age, she says there is no harm in introducing simple solids from around 17 weeks. There are a number of signs to look out for to see if your baby is ready to try solid foods: the baby may still seem unsatisfied after its usual breastfeed or bottle; they may wake in the night whereas once they slept through; and they may start taking an interest in the food on your own plate. ‘A mother’s intuition is always best,’ says Annabel.

Start with naturally sweet foods, such as root vegetables, Annabel suggests, as babies are born with a sweet tooth because breastmilk is sweet. With just a bit of thought, making a nutritious and tasty meal is nearly as simple as popping the lid off a jar, Annabel says. Some of the easiest baby foods can be made using raw ingredients that are nutrient dense, such as mashing banana and avocado together, or pureeing mango, papaya or pears, none of which need to be cooked. Root vegetables can be steamed or baked in the oven to bring out their natural sweetness, then pureed until smooth.

Orchard Fruits with Blueberry

Makes 2-3 portions
Prep time: 3 mins
Suitable for freezing

Ingredients
1 eating apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 ripe pear, peeled, cored and chopped
40g/ 1½ oz blueberries
1 tbsp baby rice or ½ crumbled rusk (optional)

Preparation:
• Put all the fruit in a heavy-based saucepan.
• Cover and cook over a low heat for about five minutes.
• Puree in a blender and stir in the baby rice or crumbled rusk (if using).
For more of Annabel’s recipes, check out Annabelkarmel.com, and her books are available through Amazon.com. She also has a downloadable iPhone app, which is packed full of tips and advice on feeding your baby or toddler.