Ds had 1st taste of baby rice now what??

[notascooby007]

Ds is 23 weeks I gave him his 1st taste of baby rice today he loved it so I made some more a little bit thicker which he was fine with swallowed it no problem and kicked happy for more then I gave him the rest of the bottle. What happens now? How long do I keep offering baby rice? Do I add other things to it or do I go straight to other smooth things like mash etc?

I have decided to go down the mix feeding route with purees and harder foods for him to chew suck on. I've given him soft toast he sucked it a bit then spat it out I don't think he actually swallowed any is this normal?

I have done this twice before but baby brain is kicking in I can't remember what I did. At what point is ok to introduce eggs yogurts etc?

Sorry for all the questions my mind is like mush at the moment

[MrsHathaway]

Chuck the rest of the box and mash some real vegetables (preferably something you're cooking already). In a few weeks add wheat, dairy, meat and fish.

Don't bother with baby food. It's an expensive con and can make weaning harder if they get too used to it.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

Rather than baby rice id give puréed fruit/veg (if you want to offer smooth foods). Much tastier (baby rice is like wallpaper paste!). And offer finger foods alongside it. They can have anything from 6 months, apart from honey and things like whole nuts which are a choking hazard.

[notascooby007]

I never bothered so much with baby food with the older 2 only if we was going out would I use a jar. Would you add the formula milk to the vegs at 1st to thin it out a bit for these initial stages? Best dig out my ice cube trays

[Julieb85]

My son would only eat baby rice or porridge - so I used to mix in veg of fruit purée and each time just give him less and less of the baby food until he was eating just fruit/veg. He's hasnt touched a punch/jar of food yet instead preferred mince and potatoes/avocado/blended home cooked meals instead which was much cheaper!!

[luckiestgirlintheworld]

I stopped reading at 23 weeks.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

Helpful post luckiest

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

I didn't add anything but I know others who have. I only offered purées for the very first tastes but DD wasn't really interested so moved straight on to finger foods which she liked much better.

[Strokethefurrywall]

What's the issue with 23 weeks luckiest???

[luckiestgirlintheworld]

I was making a (yes, unhelpful) point about writing babies ages in weeks instead of months. Ignore me.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

When weaning there's a big difference between just 5 months and nearly 6 months. Added to the fact that all weaning guidance is given in weeks, it makes sense that OP put his age in weeks.

[luckiestgirlintheworld]

Gotcha.

[notascooby007]

I've pureed some cauliflower and carrots and put in ice cube trays. Should I give it him straight or add it too a bit of baby rice 1st to make it a bit more bland til he's used to the tastes?
Also at this stage what finger foods would you offer and sorry if I'm being a bit thick here bit how would I cut and cook them? I'm also a bit worried about giving him finger foods so young with choking not that I'm paranoid or anything

[Fluffy24]

Actually DS (6.3 months ) still has rice but I use it to thicken otherwise slightly sloppy things so they are thick enough for him to pick up and feed himself.

I didn't puree anything, just overcooked veg, roughly mush up with a fork and add to rice as a base (I was a bit over-worried about adding very much gluten until 6 months so only did small quantities of bread/oats/pasta and tried to stick to rice or sweet potato as a base) - we did things like cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, parsnip, avocados, baked beans, butternut squash, Philadelphia - trying to do as many different combinations, flavours and textures as possible. Sticking with rice I also did some proper risotto (using actual risotto rice) using no salt veg stock cubes, mushrooms, onions, and a bit of parmesan! After 6 months we've done finely minced meat, lots of cheeses, mini macaroni, porridge based 'oatsotto' etc.

[Julieb85]

I'd try it straight and see what reaction u get!! If it's a go-er then ditch the rice, if not add it in. I would offer things like boiled carrot sticks, banana and progress to flaked cooked fish and scrambled eggs when u think the little one is ready.

[Fluffy24]

You could add a little powdered rice to the puree/mooshy veg, ie just soaking up some of the natural juices rather than adding any milk - if you make it very stiff and dollop onto clean high chair tray they can have a go at eating themselves without the worry about choking - mine liked sucking it off his fingers. Also once it's a thick paste you can smear it onto a baby spoon and let them have a go at holding the spoon and sucking at it - ricey veg is sufficiently stodgy to stick to the spoon quite well I found.

[Fluffy24]

Fish fingers are good but I pick off the crust as this seems to be where the salt etc is.

Lumps of sweet potato (microwave whole for about 5 minutes like a baked potato then peel and cut into portions) were a big hit here - when you give it a mix with the spoon it naturally goes mushy without being watery.

[crazytyke]

Fish fingers with the crust picked off??

why not just bake a piece of fish....?

[minipie]

"gave him the rest of the bottle"

OP sorry if I have misread but if you are giving baby rice (or any other food) in a bottle please don't as it's not safe - choking risk. Baby rice should be spoon fed not drunk from a bottle.

I used to mix the puréed veg with a bit of a milk at first, (formula if he's not yet 6 months) makes it sweeter. Mix up different veg and fruit combinations, the sweeter veg are often more popular so you can mix those with the less sweet but very healthy green veg eg sweet potato mixed with broccoli. You can then start to include puréed meat if very soft eg slow cook a veg and chicken casserole then purée it all.

I didn't bother with baby rice it's basically wallpaper paste!

At 6 months you can add in dairy ie cheese yoghurt and cow's milk, and wheat/gluten, I wouldn't before then though. Not sure about eggs but safest to wait till 6 months.

remember milk is more nutritious than the veg purees so make sure he's still mostly having milk

[MrsHathaway]

Fish fingers with the crust picked off?? why not just bake a piece of fish....?

If I'm reading right, she already has two DC and so is likely to have a box of fish fingers in the freezer. Buying raw fish from the fishmonger is better, but peeling a fish finger is realistic!

[notascooby007]

mini I should've been more specific I made up his usual 7oz bottle then used some if the milk to make up a bit of baby rice in a bowl then after he'd had that gave him the rest of the milk remaining

mrshathaway your absolutely right there's always a box of fish fingers lurking somewhere so I'll try that next time the older ones are having fish fingers

[notascooby007]

And also he's not likely at this stage to be eating a whole fillet of fish so 1 or 2 peeled fish fingers will be ideal.

Another probably daft question - what do you clean your highchair tray with when they eat straight off it? Washing up liquid n hot water like you'd do a normal plate or anti bac spray /wipes?

Sorry for all the dumb questions I'm a great mum really

[MrsHathaway]

Water and kitchen roll generally, and antibac wipes once a day - IIRC the Dettol ones are no-taint, no-rinse.

[minipie]

Ah got it sorry.

I just used a kitchen sponge and/or baby wipes for the high chair.

[Allthatnonsense]

Do whatever works for your family.

For us, we are totally flexible about weaning.

Some rice, some home made, some pouches, a bit of baby led throwing food all over.

I did find that mashed avocado was wonderful for weaning.

[Fluffy24]

I use hot soapy water.