Does it matter what time of day you introduce solids?

[Gangle]

DS is 6 months tomorrrow so going to start triyng to wean him using Annabel Karmel which recommends starting with one solid feed per day. Can this feed be at any time of day? I was going to do it at around 11am but we are often out in the morning doing so later in the day would be much easier. Is this ok?

[Pheebe]

Doesn't matter at all so long as you're both relaxed and happy (bub not tired/ready for a nap etc).

Good luck, hope he enjoys it

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

Am is better as it gives plenty of time for you to notice if he is going to have any reaction.

11am should be fine, happy feeding.

[weebump]

Hi Gangle. I found it easier around lunch time. I think you do need time to 'monitor' them afterwards, so best not introduce anything new in the evening. Other than that there's no fixed time. It's all about exploration at this stage, so whatever time suits you both, as Pheebe said.

[Sheen4272]

Hi Gange, my dd is almost 6mths and I am also going to start weaning and have the same book. Are you going to start on baby rice? Has any body had any success with something different?

[beansprout]

My rule of thumb is not to feed them anything I wouldn't eat myself and I would NOT eat baby rice!!

[CherryChapstick]

Morning is best as if there is any reaction you will see what is happening before bedtime.

[MrsBadger]

I echo beansprout - prescriptive books are a waste of cash and will make you stressed re The Schedule etc.
Weaning should be fun and child-driven, not regimented or stressy.

You don't have to buy special baby stuff (esp rice, bleurgh), or even make purees, just offer him plain veg off your own plate

you may never look back!

[MrsJamin]

yes I'd ditch the annabel karmel book if you're starting at 6 months, it's pretty irrelevant advice if you're starting at the correct time, you don't need baby rice or puree, just go straight to finger foods. AK used to be important advice to follow if you weaned at 4 months but at 6 months babies can feed themselves.

[weebump]

Well, I'll stick up for AK, as I didn't have a clue, and found her book very helpful. She doesn't prescribe a schedule, just gives you an idea of how to go about weaning, what foods are good, etc. I agree the whole baby rice thing isn't necessary for 6 month olds, but there's no harm in quickly going through the puree to the mash to the finger food, as we did in the space of a couple of weeks, as baby experiences all sorts of flavours and textures, and that's a good thing, isn't it?

[MrsJamin]

but you just don't need to puree for a 6 month old, mashed is fine if you want to spoon feed. Puree is for babies with the tongue thrust reflex which should have gone by 6 months old.

[weebump]

Well, my purées were so bad they were more like mash anyway

[baiyu]

I'm enjoying doing AK with my LO (and I actually think veg/ fruit puree with baby rice tastes quite nice!)

[Pheebe]

Theres alot of snobbery and once up manship about weaning at the mo, especially the purees vs so called blw 'methods'. Horses for courses i say. DS1 LOVED his baby rice purees and wouldn't touch finger food til he was well over one. DS2 is loving a mix of finger foods (since 6 months) and purees and is particularly fond of anything mixed with mashed potatoe but is too lazy to feed himself and prefers mum to do the scooping.

IME, give them what they like and are ready for and don't sweat it. AK is a great guide to gradually introducing new foods if you're unsure. If you're confident then bully for you and off you go

[MrsJamin]

Pheebe, it's not snobbery, "baby-led weaning" just a different way of doing things. I just think DS should learn what is normal food and what is not. I don't know any adults who eat puree or baby rice. It's just unnecessary and doesn't tie in with what a baby can do at that age, i.e. eat real food.

[Soph73]

Saw this and just had to say that I puree my soups as I don´t like lumps in them So yes, I eat puree. Must admit DS2´s baby rice is foul though Best of luck with the weaning my DS2 is now 5.5 mnths old and is eating loads of purees now & loves them

[Pheebe]

o tis definitely snobbery mrsjamin

What I mean by snobbery is that certain blweaners tend to snear at anything that resembles a puree which is very unhelpful as blw in its purest form simply doesn't suit some of babies (and parents). Actually, I'm doing blw with ds2 topped up with purees so I have nothing against either method, just the unhelpful antipuree comments that inevitably emerge and create more concern and worry for parents weaning bubs for the first time