Starting with purée: our journey into weaning
Bianka, a designer and mum of two who lives with her family in Cologne, shares her weaning story with her first child.
After weeks of intensive breastfeeding—which, at the beginning, was far from easy—we had finally managed to settle into a calm routine. And just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, along came a new (and quite a challenge) phase: weaning.
Whether you choose a more modern approach like “baby-led weaning” (where the child feeds themselves with solid foods rather than purées), or the classic route with spoon-fed meals, sooner or later every child starts eating. And now it was our turn.
We wanted to be well prepared: our midwife came to visit us to check that our baby, about six months old, was ready to start solids. Signs to look out for include the ability to sit with a little support for a few minutes, hold their head up steadily, and no longer have a strong tongue-thrust reflex.
Once we got the green light, we decided to begin after the holidays: at home, in our familiar environment, with a calm routine and everything we needed close at hand—it simply felt easier.
The fear of those first spoonfuls
To begin weaning, in Germany we were advised to start with a classic: steamed vegetables with a drizzle of oil (although approaches vary widely around the world). Carrot purée is almost a rite of passage! Everyone told us to start with vegetables and delay fruit, to avoid the baby getting used to sweet flavours too early.
So, we bought high-quality carrots, peeled them, steamed them, and blended them. Throughout the whole process, I was as nervous as if I were defusing a bomb! I spent so long blending the carrots that at one point someone behind me asked, “How much longer do you think you’ll keep going?”
Just to be safe, I even strained everything through a very fine sieve (you never know). I really struggled to imagine how a baby could go from milk to something more substantial overnight. I’ll admit it: I had a completely irrational fear that our son might choke on carrot purée.
The first spoonfuls
When we finally sat down with that inviting bright orange purée, our son was sitting on my husband’s lap. One last check: bib? Got it! Soft spoon? Ready! Nervous parents? Absolutely—times two!
I had the honour of offering the first spoonful. We’ll never forget our baby’s reaction: with a grimace, he spat everything out! And no, he didn’t even give us the chance to try a second time. We put everything in the freezer, hoping for better luck the next day. Unfortunately, the following attempts went much the same way. We were nowhere near the recommended amounts.
Looking back, I would have kept the freezer a bit more organised. Between small portions, different experiments, and countless containers, it was total chaos! It’s in moments like these that practical solutions like portioning and freezing containers can be really helpful.
After several attempts that went more or less like the first (with parsnips, potatoes and broccoli all rejected), we decided—despite warnings that our baby would then only want sweet foods—to try fruit, avocado, and spreads like peanut butter. And finally, a small victory: mashed avocado with banana was a real hit!
Small steps towards new tastes
Step by step, we found our rhythm in this new routine. Completely replacing milk was still a distant goal, but our son had started to enjoy discovering new flavours and textures. And in the beginning, that’s what really matters.
When we were out and about, though, there were other challenges: would we find food of the same quality as at home? What if there wasn’t a supermarket nearby? Not to mention the lack of his favourite highchair, table, and familiar surroundings.
Staying at home for every meal wasn’t an option. So we started bringing fruit and vegetable purées with us, making it easier to feed him a spoonful at a time or help him feed himself.
Thanks to this, our son could enjoy his usual meals even while we were out exploring new places.
Eating independently
Once he was able to sit up on his own in the highchair and eat small lentil patties or pieces of pancake with his hands, our little one really began to have fun! And, to be honest, that’s when I started to feel much more relaxed too.
Along the way, anything that made mealtimes easier was a huge help, especially products designed to simplify feeding and reduce mess. They made the whole experience more practical (and portable, too).
I learned that children are capable of much more than we imagine. If our little one put too large a piece of food in his mouth or found something unfamiliar, his gag reflex would immediately kick in. Watching him become more independent and curious at the table each day was incredibly rewarding.
Different countries, different approaches
I was really struck by how much weaning approaches vary from country to country. While in Germany there’s often a fairly structured path, in Sweden—my husband’s home country—it’s common to start as early as four months with small tastes. For example, babies might be allowed to lick a piece of apple or a stick of celery. The guidelines are far less rigid.
Even in Germany, recommendations have changed over time. Many current medical guidelines suggest starting weaning at around six months, but there’s a growing move away from overly strict rules. In the end, the most important thing is to observe your child and follow their pace.
Starting again with baby number two
Today we’re in the middle of weaning our second child. He seemed ready earlier than his older brother—more stable and incredibly curious whenever we all sit down at the table together.
His older brother quickly became a big source of inspiration for him. He loves trying new things, even if he doesn’t always like them (carrots and sweet potatoes are now among his favourites), he clearly expresses what he wants, and he enjoys mealtimes.
With him too, we started with carrot purée (which, surprisingly, was met with great enthusiasm), but this time we’re much more relaxed.
Our motto is “less perfection, more experimentation”, because in the end, weaning isn’t just about nutrition—it’s a shared journey of discovery, taken one step at a time, following your own rhythm.
P.S. You can find other useful products to support you on the incredible journey of weaning here!