Weaning advice

[hayesgirl]

This is my first baby and he's starting to pay a lot of interest when we're eating, has been sitting unaided for a few weeks now and generally seems ready to start weaning. The HV gave me a leaflet about the foods to start with etc but it's not entirely clear what I do about his milk.

I realise that probably for quite some time he won be eating enough to reduce his milk much but do I time his milk so at its at the same time that I try solids or do I feed him in between when his milk is due? Very confused and I can't seem to find the 'idiots' guide that I feel I need! everything seems to assume a certain amount of knowledge and I have none!

Any advice welcome

I think there is no right or wrong answer to this one, so go with whatever seems to work for you.

Personally, my method was to keep the milk and solid feeds separate. My thought process was that if I gave solids first, it might put the baby off his milk (which is still so important at this age), and if I gave milk first it might mean he was too full to bother with solids. So I inserted the new solid feeds halfway between existing milk feeds iyswim. The only problem with that is you do initially feel as if each you are spending most of the day giving him either food or milk! But if your baby takes to solids quickly you will find he soon drops a couple of his breast / bottle feeds.

you should give milk first, and then offer solids

maybe start with just one "meal" a day, whichever is easiest for you and then build on that

BTW I recommend Annabel Karmel's book Baby and Toddler Meal Planner

DD had her milk at her usual times, and I just offered solids at whatever time I happened to eat at. Didn't even think about timing solids around milk feeds.

My DD is 8 months now. Initially we gave some milk and food at the same time but once she was eating more than once a day she enjoyed each so much it seemed a shame to limit them so that she wasnt overfull. Quickly we fell into alternating milk and food feeds or she would be sick when rolling around on the floor! This works well as it means she has a sleep after her milks but stays awake after her food which I think is better for her digestion.