Help me figure out weaning again?

[WeGotThere]

Hi I have a 22 week old DS and a 2.5 yr old DD.

I think my son will be ready for weaning in about 3/4 weeks. With my daughter we did a mix of finger food and some spoon feeding of porridge etc... She usually ate (and still does obv) with us and more or less what we ate, she enjoys a wide range of food and feeds herself. We were VERY lucky in that it was all quite easy and straight forward and would like to think that if we do the same again it will be just as easy?!?!

BUT how do I combine her/our meal times with his rhythm? Can you have a look and let me know what you think?

DS: (all times very approx - he is 5 months and therefore very changeable!)
Wake 7ish
Milk: 7.30
Sleep: 9ish - 10
Milk 11
Sleep 12-2
Milk 2.30
Sleep 5pm for 20 mins
Milk 6.30
Sleep 7.15
Milk 10.00 Then sleeps all night (hope I haven't jinxed this little miracle)

DD ( times virtually set in stone or she loses the plot)
Wake 6.30
Breakfast 7
Lunch 12
Sleep 12.45- 2
Dinner 5
Bed 7.30

So he seems to be asleep or sleepy at most meal times and if I remember correctly I think that he should have his milk about an hour before trying to eat. I know a lot can change in a few weeks but would appreciate any ideas or suggestions?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I'd just offer something once a day at first and you don't even have to offer something every day.

Could you give him his 11am milk a little earlier then give both DC lunch around 11.30-12ish?

[WeGotThere]

Thank you. Yes you are right I don't need to figure the whole day out yet! I am most probably over thinking it too!

I was so organised last time and my DD was grabbing food from 23 weeks so it took off very quickly. My son is very different though, very laid back and still only swiping and picking things up 'accidentally' iykwim. It was just because I was looking at pics the other day and suddenly realised he will need to start eating soon and I hadn't even considered it yet.

If his attitude to swapping from boob to bottle is anything to go by he won't eat solid food at all for months yet.... He can drink from a bottle but just can't be bothered - boob is easier and faster apparently. He has just had a bottle for his first feed since 10.30pm last night and only took 3ozs! He's is a big 18lb boy so am sure he was drinking more than that from boob!! HV suggests he should be having 5x 7oz bottles a day when we finish the swap in a couple of weeks. We'll see.

Thanks x

[Littlef00t]

I found for starters that dd would be happy to try some food even just 20mins after finishing her milk. And don't forget gathering routine will change even in just 2-3 weeks.

[WeGotThere]

Thanks for the reply. Yes you are completely correct about routine change! Esp as we went away for a week and balls it all up! I have no idea what his routine is now, he seems to want his milk every 3 hrs or less now and is no longer having a lovely 2 hr sleep at the same time as his big sister. The joys.

Anyway I tried him yesterday while we were having dinner. He played with a carrot stick and spat some mashed carrot out. So great success :) Today he had fun with some butternut squash.

[Kewrious]

Honestly honestly, I found that the food after milk thing never worked for us. I fed DS at normal times for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then he had a bottle of milk afterwards. Otherwise I found he was utterly disinterested in food. I made sure he wasnt drinking any less milk post weaning (or not significantly less after 3 meals were established). So wake and breakfast at 7/7:30, then a big milk feed at 8:30/8:45 and sleep from 9-10. 10:30 feed. 12- lunch. Then at 1, another feed and sleep till 230/2:45. Wake up and a big feed. Dinner at 5:30. Milk at 6:45. Asleep by 7:30, then milk again at 10. So really 6 feeds and 3 meals. By 8 months he pushed the 10pm feed to 3/4 am, and dropped it a year. I also found with this routine, the 10:30 feed and the 2:30 one then got replaced by snacks over time.

[Kewrious]

Oh and DS was breastfed but I went back to work at 7 months so had 3 bottles of formula and 2 breastfeeds by then plus 3 meals.