(PRWEB UK) 19 November 2014

To celebrate the launch of their new 5 Step Weaning Plan, Cow & Gate recently teamed up with Tots 100 – the UK’s largest community of mummy and daddy bloggers – to host their first ever #5StepWeaning Twitter party.

The easy-to-follow 5 Step Weaning Plan is designed to guide mums and dads through this challenging and exciting time in their baby’s development, with a sensible, step-by-step approach to weaning.

Parents can create a personalised weaning plan for their baby and track their food likes and dislikes with fun “eaticons”, as well as benefitting from expert nutritional advice and a range of money-off coupons for Cow & Gate products.

In keeping with the plan’s spirit of fun and adventure, the Twitter party invited new and experienced parents alike to share their best weaning stories, photos and tips via the social media channel, along with the hashtag #5StepWeaning.

Over 120 mummy and daddy bloggers participated in the event, which also featured professional advice from Cow & Gate’s own expert nutritionist, plus prizes for the best photos, tips and stories shared online.

Many bloggers were delighted with the chance to engage with fellow parents and share their tips and experiences of weaning, demonstrating how social media communities can provide information and support for people navigating the challenges of parenthood.

Some of the themes that emerged from the online discussion (which encompassed over 900 tweets) included the importance of relaxing and having fun with weaning, as well as taking the opportunity to establish healthy family eating habits from the start.

Rice and bananas were frequently cited as the most popular first weaning foods, with carrots and porridge also strong contenders.

The Twitter party was followed by a ‘First Tastes’ Instagram competition in which parents were encouraged to film the reaction of their little ones as they tried a new food for the first time.

The competition attracted a total of 212 entries via Instagram and the competition page, with a brand new iPhone 6 awaiting one random lucky winner. Several £25 Mothercare vouchers were also given away to some of the best weekly entries, including categories such as ‘cheekiest smile’ and ‘best tantrum.’

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Notes to editors

Cow & Gate have been feeding the nation’s babies for over 100 years. From humble beginnings as a family grocery shop, to widespread recognition as experts in baby and toddler nutrition, Cow & Gate have always been committed to providing high-quality food for little ones, with the right nutrition to fuel their curiosity as they explore the world.

Cow & Gate have recently re-launched their baby club to provide dedicated advice and support for mums throughout all stages of pregnancy and parenthood, and continue to support healthcare professionals in the science of baby feeding.