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By Rachel Lawler

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has launched a new campaign explaining how families can safely introduce their child to solid food.

Research from OHID found that 40% of first-time parents introduced their babies to solid food before they were five months old but official NHS advice suggests that children should only be introduced to solid foods gradually from around six months.

Three in five parents (59%) said that they had found the decision on when to start weaning "confusing".

Two thirds (64%) said they had received conflicting advice on what age to start weaning their children and 74% agreed that there should be one official source for weaning advice.

Ready for solids?
The guidance says that babies are ready for weaning when they show three signs:

• staying in a sitting position, holding their head steady
• coordinating their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth
• swallowing food rather than pushing it back out

The NHS says that by around six months, babies are usually developmentally ready to accept foods other than breast milk or infant formula.

Introducing babies to solid foods or infant formula before six months can reduce the amount of breast milk they consume, which is associated with greater risk of infectious illness. It can also reduce milk intake without increasing total energy intake or increasing weight gain.

Solid foundations
Maria Caulfield, health minister, commented: 鈥淭he first 1,001 days are crucial for development and impact a child鈥檚 health for the rest of their life.

鈥淓very child should have a solid foundation on which to build their health and I am determined to level up the opportunities and support for all children, no matter their background or where they grow up.

"This campaign will ensure parents have the support and confidence to introduce their babies to solid food and ensure they have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential.鈥�