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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Weaning - please DO talk to me like I'm an idiot

17 replies

macneil · 09/05/2007 23:05

Okay, she is 5 months + 1 week and EVERYONE I know and meet says it's time she should be starting on solids, esp. the mothers, mine and his. I know this is a big deal on mumsnet, but as the 6 month thing is a new thing, there must be loads of you who didn't wait that long. If I were to start introducing something else, how would I do it? I know there's such a thing as baby rice, do I give it every feed? Before or after the milk? Is there a better kind? Is there a better food to start with? I don't know anything about this. When I tell people she still wakes at 4am, they say 'Oh well she should be having a little baby rice now, she's hungry', but I've been reducing the size of the 4am feed, and she isn't starving in the morning, she's sweet and fine for hours. So I just don't know what to do. Thanks for some pointers.

OP posts:

VeniVidiVickiQV · 09/05/2007 23:09

I will prefix this post with "IMVHO"

Babyrice is orrible stuff. If you are going to attempt to wean before the 26 week guideline, then, I would have a wander on over to the Baby Led Weaning blog, and the many threads about it. Offer food after milk - milk is the most important nutrition up to 12 months of age so 3 meals a day not ultra important before then.

Try offering a bit of simple finger food from your plate at breakfast or dinner time.

Avoid dairy, and meat to start with. Avoid nuts completely.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 09/05/2007 23:11

Oh, and the waking will not likely be fixed by baby rice (it has hardly any calories in it). Plus, its utterly normal for babies to wake in the night for up to 12 months.

Rubytues · 09/05/2007 23:16

Everyone told me to start my DS on baby rice which I did, when he was roughly 6 months, and he hated it. Got on much better with pureed pear, sweet potato, apple etc which I gave midday in between milk. I found this quite a stressful time with everyone saying what he should and shouldn't be on and at what age. My advise to you would be do what you think is right for your baby. You won't be wrong, you're mum. If you think this is the right time, go for it. A matter of weeks isn't going to make any difference. Good luck.

Original poster

macneil · 10/05/2007 11:32

It is stressful! Especially because I'm still a bit sleep deprived and everyone is telling me this is my fault because I'm starving the baby. Okay, well, the husband is a whizz with steaming and stuff, so maybe I'll get him to whip something up, but I'd better read up on this properly. It seems to have sneaked up on me suddenly, that this is the transition period.

OP posts:

bananabump · 10/05/2007 11:54

As someone mentioned below, it really might be worth checking out the Baby Led Weaning blogs written by Mumsnetters. Here, I'll link you:

BabyLedWeaning.com. A great site with lots of ideas to try

MyBLWexperiences- An ongoing blog about one lady's experiences doing BLW with her son

A good description of what BLW is all about

Basically blw is a way of avoiding all that steaming, puree-ing, filling little icecube trays, defrosting, heating, shovelling into your baby. You just try them with some whole bits of food at their own pace, no pressure. (They've described it so much better than me on the links above!)

I have no idea if a few weeks will make any difference, if you choose to stick to your guns, all you can say to those in your life who are recommending you wean earlier is "it's only 3 weeks til he's 6 months anyway. That's what the WHO guidelines are recommending so I may as well go with it, but thanks for the advice"

Original poster

macneil · 10/05/2007 13:19

Have just noticed entire weaning category on mumsnet board. - title of this thread was very appropriate. Thanks for the links. Actual food seems very scary looking at this toothless little... oh my god, is that why she's been screaming all day? Maybe she's starting to teethe. Teethe? Teeth?

BLW blog is making me really hungry.

OP posts:

bananabump · 10/05/2007 13:54

Hah! it has that effect on me too. Always end up going away with a hankering for toast.

She may very well be teething, which would be a great time to perhaps give her a piece of chilled raw carrot to gnaw on. Apparently their gums are way tougher than we think (the teeth are there after all, just below the surface)

Anyway, I've got all this to look forward to, it's all still theory for me! Mine's still kicking me in the bladder all night and day.

whomovedmychocolate · 10/05/2007 17:00

Hiya, if you wean before six months, milk before food (always), start very small and add another meal every week till she has three small meals.

But we do BLW (see my profile photos) which is hugely successful as well as entertaining.

whomovedmychocolate · 10/05/2007 17:01

Bananabump - you still waddling around plotting weaning? - when is that baby due?

Original poster

macneil · 10/05/2007 17:49

Oh, your spaghetti pics are adorable. She has a hilariously mature facial expression.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 10/05/2007 18:03

Macneil - thank you - she was probably wondering why the hell everyone was laughing at her actually!

She takes her food VERY seriously. I tried to take a bit of toast off her once and she bit my fingers and then nicked it back .

Takes after her mum .

bananabump · 10/05/2007 19:41

Hello!!

Yes, still snooping about on the weaning threads, although to be fair, I stick my oar in all over the site! I just think the blw thing is too damn convenient not to recommend it to other folks who are considering starting the baby rice stuff.

My niece's baby is 3 months and she seems determined to start giving him baby rice now even though he's been racked with colic and is only just getting over it. I did suggest starting blw (at six months) but she just looked horrified at the thought of not buying baby food in cute little readymade pots....

Your baby is adorable, what a bonny little face, even if it is covered in spag bol! hehe

whomovedmychocolate · 10/05/2007 20:58

Well at least you'll know better when your LO shows up!

mawbroon · 10/05/2007 21:17

macneil - my ds was BLW'd and I can thoroughly recommend it. As long as you don't physically put the food into your babies mouth yourself, you are completely leaving the pace up to your baby. If she's ready then she'll eat, if she's not then she won't. And it really is a no faff method.

NineUnlikelyTales · 10/05/2007 21:22

Macneil - my DS is 8m and has been eating 3 meals a day for quite a while now. It hasn't made the blindest bit of difference to his appalling sleep habits Why do relatives always want you to do things you don't want to do? They don't have to live with the fallout. Damn and blast them

kiskidee · 11/05/2007 17:39

give her a few steamed carrots, cut the size of your ring finger, & some broccoli florets. observe what she does with it. probably pick up and gnaw as they gnaw on everything about now. then go to rellies and talk very excited about how much she loooves carrots and broccoli already and say that you will try out a piece of apple or pear next week. then do whatever you like.

LucyJones · 11/05/2007 17:41

I would go along to your local library and have a look at the weaning books for an idea.
I found Lorraine Kelly's to be a good one, and Annabel Karmel for what to try and when.

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