Weaning in Britain: practice, policy and problems.

The first ‘age of man’ is the suckling who receives a single food, either breast milk (preferably) or a modern infant formula. The weanling continues with the suckling’s food but other foods have been introduced. These other foods are often referred to as ‘solid foods’, although initially they may be a mixture of powdered foods such as flours, sugar and dried milk or are a soft mush of mashed, minced and/or strained adult-style foods. Other papers in the present symposium describe aspects of weaning in developing countries and in children of immigrants to Britain. The present review, therefore, deals mainly with indigenous British weanlings but draws on some messages from other communities. The review considers current practice, policy and problems.