Preparing to wean

[Kafri]

Hi all

I'm a little early for this but best to be prepared...

DS is only 12 weeks at the min and is on Aptamil Pepti 1 formula. This doesn't satisfy him as much as a standard formula would because of its consistency so my paediatrician has given the go ahead for 'early weaning' in a few weeks time. I'm sure he'll answer any questions I have when I next see him but was hoping to get some hints and tips from you mums who've done it before.

1. Do I go down the route of baby rice/porridge?
2. If not, where do I start?
3. If I do baby rice, do I stick to just baby rice for a while?
4. Do I give a full portion as described on the packet or do I start off small and increase gradually over a few days?
5. Where do these ready made jars fit in these days - i'm guessing people use them? Are they worth having in the house or better not? Are some better than others?
6. Anything else you can tell me about starting to wean.

I realise i'm going to get some people flaming me and telling me to wait until 6 months eta which in an ideal world would be fine but as I said above - this advice has come from my paediatrician who I trust not to advise me to do anything I shouldn't.

I would ask your pediatrician what foods he recommends for a 4 month old baby. I expect it will be baby rice and fruit/veg purees. I believe the advice is to avoid dairy and gluten before 6 months. Most of the stage 1 baby food that is marketed at 4+ months seems to be fruit/veg puree. As your baby will be too young to self feed you will either have to buy jars or pouches or make your own baby food.
I would expect you would start off small, just one spoon at a time and see how much your baby is interested in taking.
Regardless of what the doctor says, if your LO has not lost the tongue thrust reflex when you start at 17 weeks, it is pointless continuing. You have to wait until they are physically capable of swallowing food otherwise you are wasting your time and effort.
Ikea bibs with sleeves are the best thing ever.

If I was you and waiting till 6 months was not an option, I'd probably have preferred to avoid baby rice and stuck with fruit and veg type options. Although I dislike Annabel Karmel intensely, if you are having to do purees for a 4 month old, she does have some recipe ideas and lists of what foods might be suitable.

thanjs guys.

when it comes to it, this may seem like a silly question but what are the signs to look out for that he's ready.
tongue reflex - what am I looking out for? etc.

The NHS website tells you the signs that a baby is ready for solids -

1. able to sit with minimal or no support 2)able to pick up things and put them in mouth
2. able to move food back in mouth and swallow (loss of tongue thrust)

The tongue thrust reflex prevents babies from swallowing things they shouldn't. If you try to spoon feed a baby who still has this they will use their tongue to push the food back out of their mouth. Try giving calpol on a spoon and see what happens.

If you are weaning at 4 months your baby will not show the three signs above as it is rare to have all 3 before approx 6 months.