noun
weaning
WEE-ning
Weaning (noun) means the process of moving a baby or young animal off milk and on to solid food. Example: “We started weaning at six months with mashed banana.”
noun
1
The process of moving a baby or young animal off milk and on to solid food.
"We started weaning at six months with mashed banana."
"Baby-led weaning skips purées and lets the child handle the food."
verb
1
Present participle of wean: gradually getting someone off a habit, drug or dependence they have relied on.
"She is weaning herself off caffeine a cup at a time."
"The clinic is weaning him off the painkillers slowly."
How to use weaning
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSlowly moving a baby from milk to food, or someone off something they depend on.
When to use it
In British usage weaning means starting solids; in some American and veterinary usage it means stopping milk altogether, which is why advice can seem contradictory. The habit sense almost always takes "off".
Memory tip
There is no such word as "weening" in this sense — the spelling is weaning, from wean.
Common pairings
baby-led weaning
weaning off
start weaning
weaning food
weaning age
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We started _____ at six months with mashed banana.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for weaning
See all rhymes for weaning →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weaning and baby-led weaning?
Weaning is the whole process of introducing solid food. Baby-led weaning is one method of doing it, offering soft finger foods the baby feeds themselves rather than spoon-feeding purées.
What is the difference between weaning and waning?
Weaning is moving off milk or off a dependence. Waning means getting smaller or weaker, as with a waning moon or waning enthusiasm. They sound similar but are unrelated.
When should weaning start?
Health services in the UK and the WHO advise around six months, when a baby can sit up, hold their head steady and bring food to their mouth. Ask a health visitor or doctor about your own child rather than going by age alone.
What is the meaning of weaning?
"weaning" (noun) means the process of moving a baby or young animal off milk and on to solid food.
