Should I have started?

[cairnterrier]

DS2 is 24 weeks - he can't quite sit on the floor unaided, he tends to gradually keel over to one side, however if he's sitting on our laps or in his highchair then he manages well.

We started a very cautious weaning 2 days ago with initially some mashed potato, then the remains of DS1's pot of custard - both went down a treat and DS2 was taking the spoon out of my hand and putting it in his mouth himself.

Yesterday was a tablespoon of mashed banana and a small pot of fromage frais, again it all seemed to be going in and he was able to take the spoon from my hand and put it in his mouth himself. The only reason that he couldn't get a stick of banana in was that he kept on hitting the side of his mouth with it and it broke off.

Today he has had half a small biscotti that he got in himself, did one gag and threw the rest on the floor.

What's freaking me out, is that I didn't realise that 6 months = 26 weeks ( I did 6x4 weeks) and have I started him too early now, given that he's not 6 months and he can't quite sit unaided on the floor but can sit happily in his Antilop highchair?

Am feeling strangely fragile over this

[KatAndKit]

its fine, dont worry. if he can sit in a highchair and get a spoon in his own mouth and swallow food then he is ready. i started at 24 weeks and did two weeks of spoon food but giving him the loaded spoon and have now introduced finger food at 26 weeks.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Dd weaned herself by taking a sandwich and scoffing it before we could get it back off her at 23 weeks. Don't worry too much about it. The only real difference waiting makes is they are less likely to get allergies, their gut will be more mature and you can offer a wide variety of food.

Just wanted to add, and please don't take this as a criticism, all of the things you have offered so far seem quite sweet. I would try offering some more savoury stuff and fruit and veg and lees of the things with added sugar like yogurts, custard and biscuits as the first foods they eat can influence later food choices. Have a look at babyledweaning too, as one of the ideas behind it is getting them onto family meals straightaway cutting out all that time of preparing special food for baby

[cairnterrier]

Thanks guys. Due to outbreak of cold and teething, all weaning has been suspended for the time being anyway!

JiltedJohnsJulie, no criticism taken it was what we were eating anyway!

[TimothyClaypoleLover]

Agree with Jilted that what you have offered is too sweet. All weaning guidelines suggest first foods should be pureed fruit and veg, not yoghurts, custard and biscuits.