TWO Hampshire mums have set up a business delivering freshly prepared meals for babies moving from milk to solids.

Southampton-based Dotty & Roo was named after the two babies who inspired it.

Hayley Murphy and Katherine Bell had recently been through weaning with their babies Dorothy and Rupert when they hit on the idea of delivering nutritionally balanced meals.

They created their range of products with the help of local nutritionist Janine Mcgee, to support mothers at any stage of the weaning journey.

Products are delivered directly to any customers’ doors with delivery currently available to any address in the SO postcode area.

Katherine Bell, from Southampton, said: “‘It was just before I went back to work from maternity leave that I was speaking with Hayley about how bad I felt for not preparing all homemade meals for Dorothy, like I had done for my eldest.

“I was feeling lots of mummy guilt, but there just wasn’t enough time in the day or pots in my cupboard.

“We knew there was a better way and that’s when Dotty and Roo was born. After talking to other mums, we knew there was a market there.”

Dotty & Roo products are available in three stages – for four to six months, seven months plus and 10 months plus. They include a range of purees, dips, soups and risottos.

All the ingredients used are organic and locally sourced and make the most of seasonally available produce.

Items are transported in eco-friendly, temperature-controlled packaging.

Hayley Murphy, from Eastleigh, said: “In the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life, nutrition is the most important factor in their development.

“Creating healthy, balanced meals from scratch is the best thing you can do, but as parents ourselves we know juggling work, older children and a multitude of other commitments can mean time is often in short supply.

“We have turned our passion for good food into a solution for busy parents, by providing freshly-made and nutritionally-balanced meals that are delivered directly to their door.

“It has taken a lot of hard work and late nights over the last six months to get to this point and it is an amazing moment finally getting the website live and starting to take orders! The response and feedback we have already received has been fantastic.”