Weaning is the hardest part of parenting, according to research

A poll of 1,000 parents with kids aged six months to four years, found more than half (53%) named this the biggest challenge with half only having a ‘vague idea’ of when they should start the process. And two thirds were worried their child would be allergic to something.

But 36% managed this by introducing one allergen at a time, and more than a quarter (26%) were sure to follow official guidelines. Furthermore, 36% were afraid their child would choke, with other concerns including ensuring they had a balanced diet and got all the nutrients they needed.

With all this in mind, the most effective weaning foods are yogurt, smashed banana and mashed sweet potato – after 77% felt confident they knew what to introduce first. And, 44% of babies enjoyed their first experience of solid food, after a few tries.

Family food author Rebecca Wilson is working with Yeo Valley Organic, which commissioned the study and put together a guide of the top tips for weaning. She said: “Weaning can be a tough process but it’s lovely to see parents felt confident and had a plan in place.

“It’s encouraging to see so many are aware of nutrients their children need and yogurt banana and sweet potato are perfect for the introduction of weaning.

“The importance of limiting babies’ intake of free-from sugar is very important to not only maintain strong dental health, but also ensure children do not get used to highly sweet flavours, thus enabling enjoyment of a varied nutritious diet including non-sugary flavours like bitter greens and acidic vegetables.

“By mixing real fruit with no added sugar into a bulk ingredient like yogurt, rather than solely offering puréed fruits on their own which contain a very high amount of free-from sugar, you’re able to expose babies to a varied flavourful diet without exposing them to an unhealthy high sugar level.”

The research went on to find other worries weaners had included concerns that they would reject the food (31%) and managing mess and food waste (21%). With 17% spending more than five hours a week cleaning up after messy mealtimes. While 23% wanted to avoid too much salt or sugar and the same amount were anxious about getting portion sizes right.

As a result, a quarter found the whole period of their lives more stressful than they expected it to be. But looking back, 47% wish they’d known that weaning is different for every baby, and that it’s normal for babies to reject foods at first (39%) – and it doesn’t mean they won’t learn to enjoy them. And 75 % did feel supported during the process by the people around them, according to the OnePoll stats.

Yeo Valley Organic’s nutritionist, Alice Mayor, added: “It’s easy to feel discouraged if your baby isn’t taking to solids straight away, but persistence and patience are key.

“As the research shows, yogurt is a great option to introduce more solids and textures into a diet as well as mashing up banana and blending veggies. Some babies dive right in, while others need more time to explore.

“Mealtimes should be a fun and relaxed experience, not a battle and there may be mess, but this is often a sign your child is enjoying themselves. Trust that your baby will get there at their own pace and try to enjoy the messy and funny moments along the way.”