12 of the best baby weaning books and apps 2024
WHAT IS A WEANING BOOK/APP?
When you start to wean a baby on to food at around six months old, it can be difficult to know how to do it and what food to give your child at each stage. Weaning books and apps can provide you with a wealth of information, advice, tips and recipes.
Do I need to buy a baby weaning book or app?
Baby weaning books or apps are not essential. There is plenty of information on the internet about what kind of weaning to do and how to start as well as a variety of recipes. There are also excellent Instagram accounts you can follow for tips and recipes.
But a book will give you everything you need to know in one place and some have family recipes that can be used for years.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR WHEN CHOOSING A WEANING BOOK OR APP?
Weaning method: There are three different types of weaning.
The traditional method, which involves spoon-feeding your baby purées.
The more recent baby-led weaning, where you give your baby finger foods for them to explore themselves.
A combination of spoon-feeding and baby-led weaning. This is a very popular approach.
If you’ve already decided what method to use, choose a book that covers it. Otherwise, pick a book that will help you decide which is best for you.
Some books also have the ethos that you shouldn’t be cooking a separate meal for a baby or toddler and suggest meals for the whole family that can easily be adapted.
How long the book can be used for: Does it just cover the first six months of purées and/or finger foods or does it have recipes for toddlers and/or all the family?
Useful content like:
How to actually start weaning and what foods to offer first. Some give you a suggested day-by-day meal planner for the first six months.
How to combine milk feeds with the first six months of weaning.
How to wean a vegetarian or vegan baby.
Information on allergies and dairy or egg-free recipes.
Nutritional guidance.
Easy-to-follow recipes that let you know if the end product is freezable.
What’s better: a weaning book or an app?
Apps have the benefit of often being constantly updated with new guidance and recipes. They are often cheaper or even free. They have added interactive features like the ability to create a shopping list and weekly meal planners. They may have video content for the recipes which some might prefer.
But books are still hugely popular and most will have more information about the practicalities of weaning as well as recipes.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED FOR WEANING?
You can find every possible weaning product in order of necessity here.
THE BEST WEANING BOOKS AND APPS
This list has been narrowed down to the very best with thorough research and the following considered:
Consumer reviews
Best-seller lists
Recommendations from industry experts
Award-winning products
Personal experience and the products loved by other parents.
The list is updated annually. It was last updated on January 5th 2024.
If you buy through a link, we may earn a small affiliate commission. 5% of profits are donated to UK Baby Banks to help parents in need of essentials.
1. WEANING MADE EASY BY ANNABEL KARMEL
Why get this book?
Annabel Karmel is known as the ‘Queen of Wean’ and has had multiple weaning books published books since her first, ‘The Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner’ in 1991. This went on to sell 6 million copies and become the second best-selling non-fiction hardback of all time. She really is an expert when it comes to weaning.
Key features
This book, Weaning Made Simple, is her most recent and covers when to start, what to start with, nutrition and allergies.
It covers both baby-led weaning and the more traditional purées and includes recipes and meal plans.
Other very popular Annabel Karmel books are ‘Annabel Karmel’s The New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner’ and ‘Top 100 Baby Purées’.
2. WHAT MUMMY MAKES BY REBECCA WILSON
Why get this book?
It’s an award-winning bestseller by the very popular Instagrammer @rebeccawilsonfood. The idea behind this book is that you shouldn’t have to be making multiple meals a day for all the family. You cook one meal for everyone and adapt it, if necessary, for babies.
Key features
It’s suitable to use from six months old.
There are over 130 recipes, all of which can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
Perfect if you want to do fuss-free baby-led weaning.
3. YOUNG GUMS: BABY FOOD WITH ATTITUDE BY BETH BENTLEY
Why get this book?
This is by an award-winning food blogger which focuses on one meal for everyone that can be adapted for a baby. Many can also be made using one hand and one pan.
Key features
It covers both baby-led weaning and purées.
Healthy family meals approved by a nutritionist.
There are over 60 recipes covering breakfast, lunch and dinner that can be easily cooked.
Includes baby weaning FAQs, a timeline of when and how to start the weaning process and what the weaning store cupboard and equipment essentials are.
4. WEAN IN 15 BY JOE WICKS
Why get this book?
It is by Joe Wicks, the ‘Bodycoach’, who is known for helping adults and children with their diet and fitness, Joe Wicks now has a weaning book. He has used his experience of weaning his daughter and combined it with that of leading registered nutritionist, Charlotte Stirling-Read.
Key features
Contains information on when and how to start weaning, allergies, gagging and choking, nutrition, batch cooking and portion size.
100 recipes divided into when they can be used, from six months to 12 months onwards.
It covers both baby-led weaning and spoon-feeding.
5. BABY-LED WEANING: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE BY GILL RAPLEY AND TRACEY MURKETT
Why get this book?
If you are planning to do baby-led weaning this is one of the most popular books that focuses solely on this method and how best to do it. The author Gill Rapley was the first to coin the phrase ‘baby-led weaning’.
Key features
It explores the benefits, how it works, concerns about choking, what foods to introduce first, allergies and healthy eating.
This is not a recipe book but rather a guide to this method of weaning.
6. ELLA’S KITCHEN: THE FIRST FOODS BOOK
Why get this book?
This is a weaning recipe book from the hugely popular baby food brand with a lot of additional information and advice.
Key features
It includes a guide to what to offer and when for babies aged 6 - 12 months.
There are more than 130 recipes for spoon-feeding and baby-led weaning.
Contains weekly meal planners and has a pull-out chart for easy, quick reference.
Packed full of tips and advice from nutritionists, baby experts and parents.
Includes information on how to start weaning, store cupboard and equipment essentials, what foods to avoid and baby food hygiene and safety.
7. HOW TO WEAN YOUR BABY BY CHARLOTTE STIRLING-READ
Why get this book?
This is a Sunday Times bestseller by leading baby and child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed. She is the expert behind Joe Wicks’ ‘Wean in 15’ and her book is endorsed by Jools Oliver and Deliciously Ella.
Key features
This book is all about encouraging your child to develop healthy eating habits and starts with a vegetable-led approach, which combines baby-led weaning and spoon-feeding.
It guides you through the first 30 days of weaning and then provides you with a variety of recipes.
There is also information about allergies, example shopping lists and meal plans, dealing with food refusal and how much breastmilk or formula milk to continue giving while weaning.
8. LITTLE VEGGIE EATS BY RACHEL BOYETT
Why get this book?
This is a weaning book for vegetarian and vegan families.
Key features
It takes the approach that it’s better to cook just one meal for all the family to enjoy. It is described as sitting in the middle between baby-led weaning and spoon-feeding.
Written alongside the registered nutritionist Jodie Abrahams, it includes help on ensuring your baby gets a nutritionally complete diet with enough protein and iron.
Contains over 60 recipes for meals and snacks that are free from refined sugar. The recipes also include tips on what freezes well and what you can use for substitutions.
Follow Rachel on Instagram @littleveggieeats
9. BABY-LED WEANING RECIPES APP
Why get this app?
If you want to try baby-led weaning this provides many meal suggestions and also support.
Key features
250 recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. All are suitable from six months old.
Includes monthly guides and example routines.
Free baby-led weaning support from the creator Natalie Peall or her online support group.
Regular updates and improvements to the app.
What the reviews say
Excellent recipes and a well-designed app.
10. ANNABEL KARMEL BABY AND TODDLER RECIPE APP
Why get this app?
Annabel Karmel is a well-known weaning and baby and child food expert and best-selling author.
Key features
Contains over 650 recipes as well as meal planners, an allergy tracker, a finger food guide and expert advice.
New recipes are added each week.
Includes recipes for purées and finger foods for weaning babies as well as meals for toddlers and all the family.
What the reviews say
They love the recipes but there are a few complaints about the usability of the app.
11. MADEFORMUMS BABY WEANING AND RECIPE APP
Why get this app?
This app is completely free and has weaning advice and recipes.
Key features
193 recipes for purées, finger foods and family meals. Vegetarian meals are included.
182 daily meal plans for babies from 6 to 12 months old.
106 expert articles on weaning.
Click to add recipe ingredients into a shopping list and also create your own meal planners.
A free app with no in-app purchases.
What the reviews say
Very informative with a good variety of recipes. The recipes are slightly more geared towards purées rather than baby-led weaning.
12. SOLID STARTS APP
Why buy this app?
This is the world’s first searchable food database for babies. It’s an amazing resource for baby-led weaning.
Key features
Find over 200 foods along with when they can be introduced, if they are a common allergen, a nutrition rating, pictures of how to serve depending on the child’s age, recipes and what flavours work well together.
Free but if you want to personalise the app and use it as a tracker you can subscribe for £1.79 a month or £8.99 a year.
What the reviews say
This app gets rave reviews and is called a lifesaver and a must-have.
MORE OF THE BEST:
High chairs • Weaning bibs • Baby bowls/plates • Weaning spoons • Sippy cups • Baby food maker • Baby food storage pots • Freezer trays