Mumsnet Talk

Starting solids soon, nearly 6 months old, born 35 weeks (don't know if this makes a difference). Any advice would be very much appreciated i.e. how much to give, bottle then solids or solids then bottle or half way through. Obviously starting once per day but when would i move onto twice then three times? I know every baby is different but just would like a rough guide and some tips from all you experts before I start

Thank you.

Annabel Karmel books are always a good starting point. Best to buy the latest edition to reflect current guidelines etc. I would suggest not worrying about using separate bowls/spoons etc. I juggled two lots of everything for months before realising that twins always catch each others lurgies! One bowl, one spoon and shovel it in in turn! Good luck!

We used the (horror of horrors) GF weaning book. Followed one months worth of plan then gave them what we eat blended down. We don't add salt to anything and don't have any food allergies. Can't comment on AK as when I flicked through it seemed to be about making silly faces out of things.
We used to do solids first then bottle so they didn't fill up too quickly before trying the solids.
Anyway, one spoon, one bowl, children in seats makes it easier taking it in turns.

We've 'done' Baby Led Weaning. Messy but I get to eat at the same time as them. They started on lunch at 6 months and moved on to 3 meals by about 7 months. We are now on 2 snacks as well at 9.5 months. Its worked really well for us but I know it's not everybody's choice. The Gill Rapley cookbook is good for ideas and a summary of how to go about it.

Forgot to say, BLW guidelines are milk up to one hour before food. This can be difficult to fit in but we have managed to make it work so that milk is still the main source of food.

The prematurity thing doesn't make too much difference on weaning as I think the logic is that their digestive systems have been working since birth, so you don't need to adjust their age to work out when they're ready.

I started mine on a tiny bit of baby rice mixed with formula, given about 10.30am (time of a mid-morning milk feed). I put them in bouncy chairs rather than high chairs for the first several weeks while they got used to the idea. They really HATED the whole thing to start with - I think they found baby rice weird because it tasted of milk but didn't feel like it in their mouths. I did try giving half their milk first but found they just complained so bitterly about the bottle being taken away that it made the solids difficult to give, so then just did solids first followed by milk.

Within a couple of days I gave puréed pear at "lunchtime" and moved the baby rice to tea time (5-6pm) with a bit of puréed carrot. They got much more on board with it when it actually tasted of something. The amounts were really tiny - a teaspoon or two - but every couple of days you give a little more and introduce a new flavour, and try to push lunch to be later and give less milk/more water with it to drink, so there is lots of tweaking required as you go along.

After a couple of weeks I introduced breakfast after their first milk of the day.

All the food for the first month was just rice, veg, fruit and cereals really After about a month I started to introduce protein in the form of pulses, chicken, fish etc. This is all basically as per the Gina Ford book, which worked well for us. Oh, and I still use separate bowls and spoons only because it helps me judge who's eaten how much.

Good luck!

Thanks for all you're advice feel a bit more ready now, well as ready as I'll ever be!!

My friend gave me the AK book so I'll have a wee look through that for some recipes etc but guess it will just be some baby rice and then a touch of pureed fruit or veg at first.

Some people say just give a few mouthfuls as they will keep eating and eating even though not hungry and some say keep going until they show signs that they don't want anymore as they will stop when full.....just need to go with the flow I guess.

Here goes......messy messy lol.

Thanks again.

I'm doing BLW with mine. I can't begin to imagine the faff of spoonfeeding two, not to mention the mountains of mush I'd have to make.

They're 6 1/2 months now and are doing fine. DTD is getting really stuck in, DTS is less keen but is getting there.

It suits my lazy relaxed style of parenting Check it out, it's perfect for twins imho.

I used AK but TBH was probably capable of coming up with ideas for purée by myself... Unlike others, I did two bowls, two spoons- used to put them side by side on the dining room table in bumbos and had one spoon in each hand- I got quite good at it! I did solids first, then milk. Are you a member of a twins group? I found that invaluable for picking up tips

Another vote for how. Made food for dp, ds1, and me. small portion on dts high chairs and let them get on with it. Don't know where we'd have found time to puree and spoon feed. My best advice on weaning though is not to stress. Babies vary in their appetites and readiness to wean. Go with their instincts.

Vote for how? Vote for BLW. Stupid phone

Thanks guys. How do I join twins group??

Your HV or GP surgery ought to know if there's one in your area, or try the TAMBA website.

And another vote for BLW - started off on purees which was ok but everything slotted in to place when we moved on to BLW. It is messy but fun and you all get to sit down and eat together as a family. Although my cream curtains will never be the same again