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Introducing Solid Food

( May also be referred to as weaning)

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This information has been co-produced

This information has been co-produced with the Children's Public Health Team and 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service.

If you have any comments, compliments or queries please contact the 0-19 service at 0-19healthteam@barnsley.gov.uk

Introducing solid foods

Most babies can start their first food from about six months old.
Our 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service and Family Hub teams can give you information about weaning, and advice on what to safely start your little ones off with, from first tastes to first dinners. 

You can speak to a Health Visitor on 01226 774411 lines are open Monday - Friday 8:45am - 4pm.

Email: 0-19healthteam@barnsley.gov.uk or message Barnsley 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service on Facebook here.


If you just want some great tips online, take a look at these links and videos:

Weaning tips like avoiding salty and sugary foods and why children under 12 months should not eat honey.

Easy, healthy recipes for the whole family.

Top tips for fussy eaters.

What we eat and how we eat it - helping our children grow into healthy eaters.

What they can have and which cups they should use.

Baby Led Weaning

Baby-led weaning means giving your baby only finger foods and letting them feed themselves from the start instead of feeding them puréed or mashed food on a spoon.

Some parents prefer baby-led weaning to spoon-feeding, while others do a combination of both.

There's no right or wrong way. The most important thing is that your baby eats a wide variety of food and gets all the nutrients they need.

There's no more risk of choking when a baby feeds themselves than when they're fed with a spoon.

Ring your health visitor on 01226 774411 to talk about baby-led weaning.

Healthy Start Vitamins & Vouchers

The national Healthy Start scheme supports eligible families to access free vitamins for pregnant or breastfeeding women (until their child’s first birthday) and free vitamins for children (until their fourth birthday). Under 18s who are pregnant automatically qualify for the national Healthy Start scheme, until their baby is born.

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk, through the Healthy Start scheme.

All pregnant women should take vitamins during pregnancy and continue these whilst they are breastfeeding. It is also recommended that breastfed babies have healthy start vitamins from birth. If babies are combination feeding, they will need healthy start vitamins if they are having less than 500mls formula milk. 

All children will need vitamins from 6 months old. Healthy Start Children's vitamin drops contain three essential vitamins (Vitamins A, C and D). The vitamins contribute to the maintenance of normal vision, the normal function of the immune system and to the maintenance of normal bones.

A new process now makes it easier for families to apply online for the national Healthy Start scheme and, if eligible, they will receive a pre-paid Healthy Start Mastercard, which replaces the previously used paper vouchers.


Watch Family Hub Engagement Practitioner Mel talk you through the scheme: 



Click here to find out if you are eligible and to apply.

The local Healthy Start vitamin offer in Barnsley

Our public health team in Barnsley fund Healthy Start vitamins for all families at specific milestones, regardless of whether they are eligible for the scheme and have a Healthy Start Mastercard:
  • One free bottle of maternal vitamin tablets given at the antenatal booking appointment.​
  • One free bottle of infant vitamin drops given for breastfed babies at birth​ on discharge from hospital (or after a home birth).
  • Three free bottles of infant vitamin drops for all babies from six months of age

These can be collected from:

  • Central Family Hub, Overdale Avenue, Worsbrough Dale, Barnsley,S70 4BD, 8.30 – 4.30 Mon to Thurs and 8.30 till 4 Fridays
  • North Family Hub (Formerly known as Athersley Family Centre) Lindhurst Rd, Barnsley, S71 3NB, 8.30 – 4.30 Mon to Thurs and 8.30 till 4 Fridays
  • North East Family Hub (Formerly known as Grimethorpe Family Centre) c/o Milefield Primary School, Grimethorpe, S72 7BH, 8.30 – 4.30 Mon to Thurs and 8.30 till 4 Fridays
  • Dearne Family Hub (Formerly know as Thurnscoe Family Centre) Station Road, Thurnscoe, S63 0JR, 8.30 – 4.30 Mon to Thurs and 8.30 till 4 Fridays
  • Penistone Family HubHigh Street Penistone, S36 6BR, Open Monday afternoon 12.30 – 4pm, Tuesday Morning 9 – 12, Friday morning Drop in session 9 – 12
  • South (Formerly known as Wombwell Family Centre) Family Hub, c/o Wombwell IKIC Hub, Barnsley Road, Wombwell, Barnsley, S73 8HT, 8:30 to 5pm Mon to Thursday 8:30 to 4pm Friday
  • Darfield Nursery (Formerly known as Darfield Family Centre) 2 Shroggs Head Close, Darfield, Barnsley S73 9EW, 8:30 to 4:40 Mon to Thurs and 8:30 to 4 Friday.
  • Bolton on Dearne Nursery (Formerly known as Dearne Family Centre) Billingley View, Bolton Upon Dearne, Barnsley, Rotherham,S63 8ES, 8.30 – 4.30 Mon to Thurs and 8.30 till 4 Fridays
 Families will be reminded to collect these via automated text messages from Barnsley’s 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service. 
Families not eligible for the Healthy Start scheme after receiving the above free vitamins can continue to purchase both women’s and children’s Healthy Start vitamins from a number of locations. Women’s vitamins are around £1 and children’s vitamins are around £2.
Eligible families can continue to collect free Healthy Start vitamins using their Healthy Start Mastercard.
Women’s vitamins are available at:
  • Barnsley Maternity Services reception
  • Barnsley Family Hubs and nurseries above ​


Children’s vitamins are available at: ​

  • Barnsley Family Hubs and nurseries above ​


Register a birth

You need to register your baby to get a birth certificate.


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