Weaning Questions.....

[dal21]

Morning all - as I stumble out of the bfeeding minefield, I prepare to stumble into the weaning minefield...am hoping some of you more experienced mnetters can help...

1. when did you all start to wean with your DC's? I know current guidelines are 6 months, but have also read in places that 4-6 months is the optimum time to start due to depleting levels of iron in bubs. But then I read that their digestive systems may still be too immature...(DS is 18 weeks)
   
2. If you started to wean, how many of you used purees etc as opposed to baby lead weaning?
   
3. DS currently takes breast and bottle of ebm for dreamfeed - when weaning, do you start to introduce a cup? If so - which ones are best in your experiences?
   
4. are the suction plates any good or just another marketing gimmick? (same with those freezer portion trays)
   
5. Did you continue to sterlise bottles etc? Confused on this one since you dont need to sterilise plates and spoons...
   
6. Havent yet decided whether will continue to bfeed past 6 months....but for those who didnt....what formula did you introduce and when did you introduce cows milk? Think it is likely I will carry on bfeeding so DS doesnt have too many changes to cope with at once.
   
   sorry for the many questions...hope you guys can help.
   
   thanks!

[kinki]

Hi Dal. Can I add a question to your list?

7 - did you give lo added vitamins when weaning?

1 - ds1 4mths, ds2 6 mths
2 - purees etc to start, then mashed up whatever the family was eating
3 - carried on bfing. Gave water in avent bottle with sippy lid thing.
4 - gimmick imo. I did have one but used it when lo was older, say 12-18 mths. Didn't use freezer portion trays as they don't stay on tiny portions for long.
5 - I did sterilise bottles esp if used for milk (because of potential bacteria in old milk). In first month or two I did sterilise the bowl and spoon.
6 - I did bf, but my one indulgence was using ready made formula (purple cow & gate one) for mixing up cereal etc. I used this for the odd feed sometimes too. Used full fat cows milk from 1 year.
7 - Both were bf. Was 'strongly advised' to with ds1, so he had added drops till 1 year. Few years later I was told it could 'do more damage than good' so advised against it. Both advice from hvs. Anyone know the current line? I believe there is added vitamins in formula so not needed if ff.

[dal21]

hi fio and kink. thanks for sharing.
kink thanks for the additional question. I too have heard about the iron thing if continuing to bfeed. Maybe tiktok will be by in a while and answer that one.

I will also ask my GP when I get DS's 4 month jabs done next week.

[dal21]

thanks fio. Interesting that you say this time you are going to continue to bfeed- do you mind me asking if there is a particular reason why? aside from wanting too of course?

[dal21]

nah fio - I take my hat off to all the extended bfeeders out there, it isnt easy - I just have to see how long I will carry on for. Although have to say - I am still loving it. Just want to be back in nice lingerie and not worry about leaky boob syndrome....shallow I know.

[MaeWest]

1. 6 months - think the low iron thing is a bit of a red herring imo
   
2. Mostly blw but did half heartedly prepare the odd bowl of mush, usually when my mum was staying
   
3. Introduced a sippy cup of water at start of weaning, DS didn't really do much with it until around 9 months. He can drink messily from open cups now (17 months) but use a spout for out and about
   
4. gimmick, never used them
   
5. didn't use bottles, but think the sterilisation thing may be to do with milk getting stuck in teats?
   
6. Erm, I appear to have become one of those extended bfer people. DS has the odd cup of cows milk (started offering from 12 months) when I'm not around. I have a friend who's DS is 9 months. She's trying to cut back on bf - she tried offering formula but he wasn't interested so she gives cows milk in a cup. This isn't recommended now, but she feels that he's getting vits/minerals from the rest of his diet and bf morning/night.

[MaeWest]

Oh, and the leaky boob thing - I personally stopped leaking early on (around 6-8 weeks) but felt that my boobs really 'settled down' between 4-6 months. I don't feel 'full' or uncomfortable now, even when I feed different amounts on days I work/don't work.

Also I went back into my underwired bras at 12 months, in hindsight I could have done this earlier... HTH

[Manictigger]

1. 6 months - but then I'm a paranoid worrier (and there was a history of excema etc in family)
   
2. BLW - but not fanatically, yoghurt and soup etc are eaten with spoon and if dd seems to be struggling with anything, I spoonfeed her (she lets me know in her own sweet way when she's had enough
   
3. Introduced a Tommee Tippee cup at 6 months for water (to get her used to a cup really). Started stopping bfing at 1 year (IYSWIM) by replacing feeds with cups of cows milk. Was absolutely amazed at how easily she took to it.
   
4. I think suction plates are a gimmick (but then I just put most food on the tray of highchair - I guess this might be tricky with purees...) but I actually found cube trays quite useful for small amounts of sauce/ soup etc (however ice cube trays are prob just as good)
   
5. Never sterilised bottles etc because my understanding was that you only needed to do it for milk and I was still bfing.
   
6. If you can, I'd carry on bfing at least until your baby is one. Faffing around with food is enough hassle without also having to faff around with bottles (IMHO obviously ).
   
   Good luck

[Lulah]

when you and baby are ready.
One of mine was 18weeks wouldnt eat mashed only pureed til 15 months, one was 5months and would eat anything she could feed herself after 8 months and last one was 6months old and again ate eberything offered.
first had cup at 6months ,2nd went onto bottle 7months bad move took me ages to wean off.and third cup at 4 months but breastfed to 12 months.
go with you and yours

[NeenaM]

When do you go from 1-2 meals a day and is it better to introduce 2nd meal at breakfast or teatime?? My darling child keeps waking at 5.30-6am and her "dream feed" at 10.30pm is very erratic. She's loving her solid feed at 11ish,but then won't finish her milk... What do I do??

[dal21]

neenam - how old is your LO?

I intro all news foods at 11am feed after a full milk feed. Then established foods moved to 6pm slot again after a full milk feed. The final intro will be at breakfast once DS shows signs of hunger way before the 11am feed.

if your LO is less than 6 months, then solids should only be after a full milk feed and therefore they shouldnt be wanting any milk after the feed.