If you’re starting solids soon (or you’ve just started and your kitchen already looks like a crime scene)… hi 👋 welcome!

Weaning is such a lovely milestone, but honestly? It can also feel messy, confusing, and slightly overwhelming — especially when every baby seems to do it differently.

So I’ve put together the most common weaning mistakes new mums might make (I made most of them!) plus the easy fixes that make the whole experience feel calmer.

This is the kind of stuff other weaning blogs always mention because it genuinely works and it saves your time, money, and sanity.

First things first: Goal of Weaning

Weaning is simply when your baby starts learning to eat solid food alongside milk feeds.

It’s not just about “getting calories in”  it’s about exploring textures, learning to chew and swallow, building confidence, learning independence and yes… it’s about mess too 😅

Baby-led weaning vs purées (what’s the difference?)

You’ll hear these terms ALL the time, so here’s the simple version:

Traditional weaning (purées/spoon-feeding)

This usually starts with smooth purées and gradually moves to lumpier textures.

Baby-led weaning (BLW)

This focuses on offering safe finger foods so baby can feed themselves from the beginning.

Real mum truth: most of us end up doing a mix of both, depending on the day, your baby’s mood, and how much energy you have.

8 Weaning Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make (and the easy fixes)

1) Making it harder than it needs to be

A lot of mums feel like they need to cook a full “baby meal” from scratch every day. But when you’re tired (and you will be), this becomes impossible to keep up with.

The fix: batch prep like a pro

If you’re doing purées, the BEST hack is:

Make small batches → freeze into cubes → store in labelled zip lock bags.

That way you’re not constantly cooking, blending, washing up, and starting again every single day.

What helps:

*A silicone ice cube tray (perfect portion sizes)
*Zip lock bags for storing cubes
**Just defrost what you need

This one change can make weaning feel so much more manageable.

2) Not having the right feeding set (so everything ends up on the floor)

This is such a common one because babies LOVE to grab bowls, tip plates, fling food and of course smash spoons down like tiny cave people!

The fix: suction bowls + plates

A suction weaning set really helps keep food where it belongs long enough for baby to practise.

Great UK option:
Bamboo Bamboo Baby Weaning Set
https://bamboobamboo.com/collections/baby-weaning-set

Why it’s recommended so often: suction bases reduce spills, make self-feeding easier, and help baby learn independence.

3) Using a bib that does absolutely nothing

The cute fabric bibs are adorable… but during weaning they usually just soak through, stain and let food fall straight into baby’s lap anyway!!

The fix: silicone bibs (with a pocket!)

Silicone bibs are a game changer because they wipe clean and the pocket catches a shocking amount of food.

Two options (depending on your preference):

👉 PandaEar Silicone Bib (Amazon UK)

OR

👉 Bibado Coverall Weaning Bib (long sleeves)

Why we recommend silicone bibs: they’re easy to clean, more hygienic than fabric, and save you outfit changes.

4) Skipping a proper cup (and ending up drenched)

It’s amazing how much liquid can end up on a baby, a highchair, and the floor in about 6 seconds flat!

The fix: a spill-proof cup you actually trust

A good cup makes a huge difference — especially when you’re doing meals out and about too.

Munchkin Silicone Training Cup (Amazon UK)

Why it’s recommended: it helps reduce spills while baby learns to drink more independently.

5) Expecting your baby to eat “properly” straight away

This is a BIG weaning mistake because it creates stress fast. In the beginning, baby might lick food, squish it, hold it, drop it, throw it, eat 2 mouthfuls and be done! Well, that is completely normal.

The fix: think “learning” not “finishing”

Weaning is practice. The eating will come.

6) Not using self-feeding spoons early enough

Even if you’re doing purées, babies love being involved.

The fix: pre-spoons / early self-feeding spoons

These are brilliant because baby can dip and bring food to their mouth more easily.

NumNum Pre-Spoon GOOtensils (Amazon UK)

Why they’re recommended: they support independence and help babies practise coordination without needing “perfect spoon skills” yet.

7) Not having enough snack/food storage for out and about

Weaning isn’t just at home — you’ll want options for days out, nursery bags, pram snacks, emergency hunger meltdowns!

The fix: reusable food pouches (and fill them yourself)

These are fab for yoghurts, smoothies, purées, and fruit blends. 

ChooMee Reusable Food Pouches (Amazon UK)

Why they’re recommended: reusable = cheaper long term, less waste, and super handy for busy mums.

8) Leaving the mess until AFTER it’s happened (aka the regret)

Get a Splat/Splash mat! Once you’ve weaned for a week you’ll understand why mums rave about it 😅

The fix: protect your floors and make cleanup quicker

A simple mat under the highchair makes mealtimes feel so much less stressful, because you’re not scrubbing the floor after every bite.

Made by Paatch splash mats are designed for exactly this stage: messy meals, daily wiping, less chaos. All the better that you can just throw this into a wash unlike other mats which are wipe clean only. 

Shop Splash Mat: MADE BY PAATCH 

Where to get weaning recipe inspiration (UK mums LOVE these)

If you’re feeling stuck on what to serve, these are brilliant for ideas:

Annabel Karmel (classic UK weaning recipes + meal ideas)
She’s amazing for age-stage guidance and quick inspiration.

Also popular for ideas is Charlotte Stirling-Reed (weaning tips & BLW guidance) and Solid Starts (finger food ideas & BLW confidence)

Final thoughts...

If weaning feels chaotic and messy… you’re not alone.

You don’t need a perfect routine.
You don’t need fancy meals every day.
You just need a few tools that make things easier and permission to laugh when the broccoli goes flying across!

Save this post for later, and take it one meal at a time.