Feeding Your Baby in France
Ask the paediatrician about starting solids, bottles and formula, and handle well-meant advice from the family.
French health guidelines recommend starting solid food, called la diversification, between four and six months, one food at a time and without added salt or sugar before one year. Infant formula (lait infantile) is sold in pharmacies and supermarkets, with a « 2e âge » formula from six months. Baby-led weaning is known in France as la DME (diversification menée par l'enfant) and is increasingly common.
- 1
Quand est-ce que je dois commencer la diversification ?
When should I start solids?
- 2
Entre quatre et six mois.
Between four and six months.
Tip: French guidelines say not before four months and not after six.
- 3
Est-ce que je continue à allaiter en même temps ?
Should I keep breastfeeding as well?
- 4
Introduisez un aliment à la fois.
Introduce one food at a time.
- 5
Attendez quelques jours au cas où il y aurait une réaction.
Wait a few days in case there's a reaction.
- 6
Il recrache tout.
He spits everything out.
- 7
Il ne prend pas assez de poids.
He's not putting on enough weight.
- 8
Il doit prendre combien de biberons par jour ?
How many bottles a day should he have?
- 9
Ne le forcez pas à finir son biberon.
Don't force him to finish his bottle.
- 10
Vous avez essayé la DME ?
Have you tried baby-led weaning?
Tip: It means letting the baby feed himself soft pieces instead of purées.
- 11
J'ai peur qu'il s'étouffe.
I'm scared he'll choke.
- 12
Le réflexe nauséeux, c'est normal, ce n'est pas un étouffement.
Gagging is normal, it isn't choking.
- 13
Pas de sel ni de sucre avant un an.
No salt or sugar before one year.
- 14
Il est allergique à quelque chose ?
Is he allergic to anything?
- 15
Pas moyen de lui faire manger des légumes.
There's no way to get him to eat vegetables.
- 16
De mon temps, on leur donnait tout en purée.
In my day, we gave them everything mashed.
- 17
Les choses ont beaucoup changé depuis.
Things have changed a lot since then.
- 18
Donnez-lui de l'eau dans un petit verre.
Give him water in a little cup.
- 19
Quel lait infantile vous me conseillez ?
Which formula do you recommend?
- 20
Maintenant, il mange super bien.
Now he eats really well.