Eating disorder recovery can often be thought of as a return — back to a former self, to how things used to be. And while reflecting on a former or younger self can be helpful, for many it’s not a return at all. It’s something entirely new.

A journey of exploration and self-discovery. A process of re-learning to nourish ourselves entirely with compassion, care, and of course nutrition. It’s reintroducing food all over again, often with uncertainty, initially with a lot of fear and, if we’re lucky, with time, a little joy.

In many ways, this process mirrors something wonderfully human: how we all learned to eat for the first time — how babies learn to eat.

Starting the journey onwards from milk to real foods is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming (even for a qualified nutritionist). From baby-led weaning (BLW) and choking risks to allergens and salt limits, there’s a lot to take in. This guide brings together clear, evidence-based answers to some of the most common weaning questions and certainly the ones I had.

And just like that, it seems I no longer have a teeny tiny newborn but a real life baby! As we move into our 3-6 month era, I thought I’d take a moment to reflect on 6 things I wish I’d known as a first time Mum.

I am excited, grateful, and a little hesitant to share that I am pregnant! My husband and I are expecting a baby boy at the end of March.