What equipment do I need?

[hildainstant]

Hi,

My LO is 4 months, which is a little earlier than I'd hoped to wean but he's definitely showing signs of being ready for food. I'm hoping to feed him puree's in the next 2-3 weeks so want to get prepared.

Problem is, I haven't a clue what equipment I need - Annabel Karmel would have me believe I need things I've never even heard of! Anyhoo, any advice is welcome, but I'm looking for cheap options that work well - I don't want to waste my money on food processors that don't do the job.

[LoopyLoopsOfSparklyFairyLights]

That does seem very early, are you sure? It will make a lot more work for you, for very little (if any) gain.

If you are sure, you need a bowl, spoon, bibs and probably some kind of small tupperware type things.

[BikeRunSki]

Very early.

You DON'T need Annabel Karmel.

You DO need Vanish.

You also need to wait a few more weeks. If you want to make weaning very cheap and easy, wait to 6 months and do Baby Led Weaning.

[hildainstant]

Do you think? He was huge born (9lb 10oz) and is so hungry all the time, and watches every mouthful we eat. I've got him on Hungry Baby milk and can't fit any more in the bottles! I'm happy to listen to you all though, he's my first so it's all new. The HV suggested anywhere from 20 weeks, which he will be once I plan to start.

Is BLW basically him feeding himself on solids, missing out the puree's?

Got loads of vanish so I'm all prepared there

[socialhandgrenade]

Hi - I would think a hand-held blender would be all you would need in terms of food preparation equipment. I guess some small tuppaware containers as well as ice cube trays for freezing stuff in.
Also you can get stock cubes with low salt in called KaLo from supermarkets (well defo asda cos that's where I shop) because if I remember rightly, dear Annabel K would have you making your own chicken stock . I also found Tommee Tippee roll-up bibs (soft rubber with a thing to catch food) worn over a fabric long sleeved smock type bib invaluable at limiting the amount of clothes that had to be changed. What sort of highchair are you going to use? I just had a fairly basic one, but I do think being able to remove the tray so you can give it a good scrub with hot water is a useful feature. Oh and some Vanish, I couldn't believe that apples stain stuff brown, ewww. HTH?

[Sirzy]

You don't need a lot. A decent blender if your making your own purees (I found the hand held one easier) and plenty of tubs to store them in (freezable ones)

I started DS with purees at 18 weeks (on HV advice) and by the time he was 7 months he was happily eating 'normal' food. I do think you can tell when they are ready, and if they aren't then you will be able to tell when feeding them (or trying to!)

[BikeRunSki]

BLW is indeed giving him small pieces of solid food and missing out the purees.

There's a lady called Aitch on here who is queen of BLW, and lots of posts if you start searching. I would not claim to be an expert, but I BLW my DS (only DC) at 6 months and it was v easy. Not clean, but much less messy that purees!

[hildainstant]

Thanks for that - I've started reading up on BLW a bit but I'm not sure if my LO can wait that long tbh....he's such a hungry boy!!

[HelenLG]

Are you sure it's not a growth spurt? DS was absolutely starving at four months, and I also thought he needed weaning.

I waited a little bit and then tried a few puree's, then he got constipated and I got scared so we stopped.

We came back to it at about 5.5 months with puree's again, but have now totally dropped puree and started BLW instead, it's soooooo much easier....

[nightshade]

you will probably find that even if he is interested in food, he will not be able to swallow it as generally the gag reflex does not leave them this early. all you will end up with is your lovely purees spat out everywhere!

if yoy leave it later, you do not need to sterilise or blend.

all you will need is a teaspoon for feeding and a fork to slighty mash up food.