4. My baby is five months old and I think she is ready for weaning. How do I do this?

In much the same way that you would any other baby but you may need to be careful to offer a wide range of foods and offer (and keep offering!) different textures as time goes by. Because of the problem of low muscle tone babies often prefer smoother textures and feel safer with familiar flavours. Sometimes their low muscle tone means that the children 'tongue thrust' and the food comes back out. Don't interpret this as the child not liking or not wanting the food, it simply mean they are having trouble keeping the food in their mouth and moving it to the back of their mouth. Try placing the food in the side of their mouth and keep going. Change textures very slowly but surely and resist the temptation to return to what can become old favourites, such as smooth chocolate pudding! Perseverance is the key here as your baby needs practice. Don't be afraid to use packets and jars, its not so hurtful when they spit it out! Some children have some specific sensory difficulties which affect their ability to tolerate certain textures. If your child continues to have problems ask to see a speech and language therapist with expertise in feeding disorders.