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Weaning

What changes when weaning?

27 replies

BooMeowson · 25/09/2013 09:04

Our boy has turned 5 months and we feel we would like to start a mix of BLW and TW pretty soon. I was just wondering what we can expect when we do this? I've heard of nappy changes etc but what else can we expect?

Will he sleep better because he is fuller?
Or worse because his digestive system is working harder?


What changes did you notice with your baby when weaning? (Also trying to time the start of it, before our hol or after!)

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ab00 · 25/09/2013 10:21

Nappies were the only noticeable change with ds1 tbh. It really depends on your lo as to what, if anything will change. Just introduce 1 new thing at a time so if they do have a reaction to it is easy to know what caused it!

Personally if you can hold off until you come back off holiday I would - milk is much easier!

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tywysogesgymraeg · 25/09/2013 10:25

Nappies, and the amount of clothes you have to wash! Be prepared for food everywhere!

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ab00 · 25/09/2013 10:54

Ooh yes the clothes! And the state of your floor, wall & anything else in hurling distance! Grin

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thing1andthing2 · 25/09/2013 12:33

My little boy got terrible wind and sore tummies at the beginning so I would say he slept worse (if that were humanely possible) rather than better.
Don't expect him to eat loads straightaway. Some babies take to it brilliantly, but with my ds it was two steps forward, one step back. We went through periods when he ate well and periods when he hardly ate anything, up till about 9 months when he was actually eat a good quantity finally and started dropping milk feeds.

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thing1andthing2 · 25/09/2013 12:33

Humanly not humanely!

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YoniBottsBumgina · 25/09/2013 12:37

I didn't notice any changes in sleep etc - the nappies change! That's a fun game! Shock And the washing as people have said...

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worsestershiresauce · 25/09/2013 12:48

Constipation is a pretty common problem, so get into the habit of giving water in a bottle or sippy cup with meals and include prunes in purées if you need to.

Be prepared for a total lack of interest. Some babies love food, but mine is still unenthusiastic at nearly 7 months. It can be a bit disheartening.

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Zara1984 · 25/09/2013 15:14

The nappies!! Stink-o-rama!

I found my DS was a bit less pukey when he was having more solids than milk. So that was a good thing. But had just as much washing from the mess!

I did a combination of TW and BLW and it worked very well.

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BooMeowson · 25/09/2013 16:18

Thanks everyone!!

Baby is BF and only poos once every 5 days or so, I don't know how I will know if he's constipated!

(And I know I'm going to miss this infrequent pooing!!)

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 25/09/2013 19:08

OP, what's a mix of blw and tw?

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lilystem · 25/09/2013 20:14

Boo, you will know.

Mine is 7.5 months now and when I first introduced food he went from pooing once every 4-5 days to nearly every day.

I couldn't miss it, he'd go really red, strain and push and look at me as if to say "Mum, what's this weird sensation!"

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IdaClair · 25/09/2013 20:21

Not much. It's nice to get to eat your own dinner without interruptions and having to hold a baby, as they are usually busy eating theirs. More messy clothes, but the rest of the mess pretty much takes care of itself if you've the right set up. It's much easier as someone else can have your LO for a while and give them a sandwich if they are hungry so you can be freer in that way. Nice and easy when you're out as you can just hand them a snack to keep them busy (though it does get on your clothes) And it's so nice to eat out with a baby, they get so much fuss!

For the food itself, I don't think there's a right or wrong, babies are just playing with it all before about 1 year (or whenever their interest really 'switches on', I think) Eating a lot doesn't mean eating well and eating a little doesn't mean eating badly - it's nice to watch how some days my DD wants lots of protein or some days lots of vegetables - or even lots of one specific food - so funny to think she knows what she needs.

No tummy troubles or constipation with either of mine. No difference in sleep (one slept the other didn't!) I don't think there was a difference in frequency of feeding really, but I've never timed or measured milk really so I find it hard to tell on that score.

Have fun!

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MiconiumHappens · 25/09/2013 20:28

For us nappies and sleep.

Nappies in a bad way sleep in a good Grin

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cleoowen · 25/09/2013 20:40

Refusing food and throwing it around. Lots of mess. Plus,less eager to drink their milk.

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marzipananimal · 25/09/2013 20:48

I switched to bio washing powder as all his clothes were getting stained. Banana is surprisingly bad for stains!
BLW is more a philosophy than just 'finger foods'

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Astr0naut · 25/09/2013 21:39

random allergic reactions. I think I started a thread at once point cos I was convinced dc2 was allergic to milk. I think she used to get blotchy with cheese.

strawberries made her turn red.

Nursery commented on the sheer amount of broccoli she could put away.

She's almost 2 now and has no allergic reactions to anything. She no longer eats broccoli though, so not all good.

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IfAtFirstUDontSucceed · 25/09/2013 22:00

Watching with interest. DS is a few days short of 6mo and we're on day two of solids. Yesterday was some sweet potato and today was cauliflower.

Plenty of mess, lots of laughs but two peaceful meals for DH and I as DS wasn't bored while we ate. It was great seeing the intrigued looks on his face as he smushed his food in his hands, high chair and face!

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Weemee · 26/09/2013 11:18

Started blw a month ago when did was 6 months. I am amazed! I was ready to do tw until I read the book and then I was sceptical. Well.....she will eat anything and everything! A lot of mess and smushing but she tries everything! She won't let us spoon feed her those so yoghurt etc is on pre-loaded spoons and messy but the nappies...........peeeeeeeeeyeeeeeeew! Don't remember it being quite as bad with dd1. I second the prunes suggestion- loves them mixed with yoghurt! Get some cheapie facecloths for wiping baby after eating saves a fortune on wipes and stops trail of food from high chair to bath!

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Pipistrellina · 26/09/2013 12:48

We're just about to do this too and I've just discovered the mumsnet guide to starting solids, it's fantastic, covers all the key points in brief, debunks a few myths and explains the different approaches:

www.mumsnet.com/babies/weaning

Good luck!

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AintNobodyGotTimeFurThat · 26/09/2013 15:14

DD has been on solids for a little bit but only puréed so far until yesterday. She is 6 months Saturday.

She used to poo every 5 days now it's say poos on Sarurday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They do smell stronger!

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melliebobs · 26/09/2013 15:34

Definitely less vomit. I have a really bad refluxy dd. and solids helped a great deal

Sleep was still crap

My carpet and walls have changed colour.

Oh and I think my dogs put on a few pounds!

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ButteryJam · 26/09/2013 16:57

Very interesting - I'm watching this thread with interest. Hoping there will be lots of votes for it improves sleep Smile

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Astr0naut · 26/09/2013 21:14

someone suggested porridge fingers when I weaned dd and she was a spoon refuser. Basically, put enough milk on the porridge so it soaks, microwave it till it's hard, let cool and voila: crap flap Jack! dd loved it.

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itsonlysubterfuge · 27/09/2013 08:29

Boo, my daughter also use to be an infrequent pooer until she started eating then she went to once a day.

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minipie · 27/09/2013 08:43

More things to fit into the day - as you now have up to 3 meals as well as all the milk feeds. So we were at home a bit more for the first week or two until I reckoned she was safe to be fed in public!

But, more flexibility in a different way - as they are fed more often, they're not so desperate for milk, so a milk feed which used to have to be the moment they woke from their nap can now be say 20 mins later and they don't mind.

better naps and night sleep - BUT not until on 3 meals a day, fairly large portions and protein etc. So 7/8 months rather than 6.

taking less milk - so if you are BFing, you need to cut down what you're eating (I didn't and put on a fair bit of weight)

dd was constipated at the start, banana was really bad for causing that. puree some prunes or dried apricots and give them a bit if the poos start to get too solid.

more laundry! I suggest a muslin tied around the neck, with a rubber bib on top, to minimise neck soakage.

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