First things first, you need to be sure your baby is ready for weaning. Once you’re sure they’re ready, pick a time when they’re not too tired or full and start with single veggies – soft-cooked carrot sticks, broccoli florets or cauliflower florets make perfect first finger foods and are great starter foods for baby led weaning.

Just make sure the veggie pieces are:

• Cooked until they’re soft
• The right size for little hands to hold (the size of an average chip is about right)
• Cool enough for your baby to hold.

What happens next is up to your baby! They may play with it, squish it, or even throw it on the floor. In time, some will eventually end up in their mouth. Whatever happens, try to relax and let your little one take things at their own pace. Once they’ve got the hang of things there’ll be no stopping them. The key to happy weaning is to keep it relaxed and fun.

Always trust your little one to know when they’re full – they may squirm, lose interest in eating, start to spit food out, or even hold food in their mouth. The important thing is to let them do it in their own time and not force your baby to eat more than they want to.

It's only natural to worry about your baby choking or gagging on a lump of squishy carrot. But we promise, there’s no need to stress. As long as you’ve prepared the food safely, our little one’s natural gag reflex will help protect them from choking. And regardless of how you choose to wean your baby – with purées or soft finger foods – it’s normal for them to cough and splutter a little. It’s all part of the learning process.  Just make sure they’re sitting upright and never leave them alone when they’re eating or drinking.