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What foods to wean 17 week old on

37 replies

Checkingusername · 04/07/2017 19:38

So after a long discussion with my HV about my DS, we've decided to wean my DS at 17 weeks. He's currently 14 & eating in excess of what even a 9 month old should have. He is ALWAYS hungry!

What's the best foods to start with, do I drop a feed or carry on as normal??

OP posts:
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welshweasel · 04/07/2017 19:39

Start with single fruit or veg purées and build up from there, adding in potato, fish etc.

MissClarke86 · 04/07/2017 19:42

Milk has more calories than food so solids being more filling is actually a myth.

They recommend 6 months as their core strength is better so less risk of slumping while eating etc. They also often still have the reflex where they push food out with their tongue.

Clearly it's entirely up to you what you do, just a couple of points that I don't know if you're aware of :)

Orangedaisy · 04/07/2017 19:44

I would suggest if HV has advised early weaning then they should also have told you what to wean with. If they haven't I would be straight back on the phone to them tbh.

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Checkingusername · 04/07/2017 19:46

I just wanted to check with others first, I presume she hasn't explained everything as it's still 2.5 weeks until I can start.

I just don't know what to do anymore if I'm honest, I'm tired & absolutely drained. As soon as he finishes a bottle, he's crying for another one.

OP posts:
pinkmummy1 · 04/07/2017 19:49

I started my girl at 4 months to. I started with baby porridge mixed with her milk. We now have single veg meals. She loves sweet potatoes.

AssassinatedBeauty · 04/07/2017 19:49

If the HV has given you no guidance whatsoever then I would get back in contact with them and ask them for the relevant information. I imagine they'll have in mind the older style of weaning, a la Annabel Karmel, where you do tiny tastes of single ingredient purees for a few days each. Maybe you could try and find an old copy of one of her books which might have advice that suits what you want to do.

IWantACheeseburger · 04/07/2017 19:52

Are you sure baby doesn't have reflux or CMPI? My eldest used to drink a lot of milk before we got his reflux under control with medication as it was a comfort for the burning acid feeling in his stomach. Crying straight after a bottle doesn't sound like just hunger.

Checkingusername · 04/07/2017 19:57

He's on prescribed milk, most of his symptoms have cleared up. He's a relatively happy and content baby unless he's bored or hungry.

It's taken a few weeks but I know his hungry cry & it's not nice for the ears.....even my DB (8) put his hands over his.

The noise is horrendous that comes out my DS's mouth, he won't calm down until he has a bottle.

OP posts:
Checkingusername · 04/07/2017 19:58

Oh & he has gaviscon & Ranitidine in his feeds.

He doesn't cry during a feed. He only cries when he wants feeding.

OP posts:
AdalindSchade · 04/07/2017 19:58

Just give him extra milk! No food will be as calorie dense as milk is for him at this stage.

Taylor22 · 04/07/2017 20:00

Just stick to milk. Nothing you've listed sounds nearly bad enough against what you are risking.
You could cause severe stomach issues and IBS in later years.

masterblaster2000 · 04/07/2017 20:04

Both of mine were weaned before 6 months for different reasons. We started with baby rice mixed with milk for a week or so and then veg purees, fruit purees, baby porridge suitable for babies under 6 months.
Under 6 months they shouldn't have wheat, meat or fish. So basically it's fruit, veg, baby rice and baby porridge.

MoreProseccoNow · 04/07/2017 20:07

Could it be a temporary growth spurt?

My DD had one, where she was drinking a litre of milk daily, at around her term date (she was pre-term & weighed only 2.5-3kg at this point) so was taking in over 300mls/kg, compared to 120ish for a newborn.

It was just a phase that lasted 4-5 days though.

In the run up to weaning, she was taking 6/7oz bottles every 2 hours during the day, so I knew it was time to start- but she was 26 weeks at this point (22 corrected).

Checkingusername · 04/07/2017 20:32

He's only taking 3-4oz at a time but is having so many feeds per day.

I'm losing the will! I'm a single mother & have limited support day to day.

He's got no routine, he eats when he wants, sleeps when he wants....I completely understand he's only human & I don't follow a routine to the exact time but my DS seems to do the opposite to everything he "should" be doing

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 04/07/2017 20:35

What's a typical amount of time between feeds? What happens if you offer a larger bottle?

mimiholls · 04/07/2017 21:23

It will be way more work for you to be feeding him solids. Surely just giving him more milk would be the easiest solution?

NapQueen · 04/07/2017 21:25

How can you say he only wats 4oz at a time but then also say as soon as he finishes a feed he wanta another?

Just make bigger feeds. Make an 8oz bottle.

AdalindSchade · 04/07/2017 21:29

What are you talking about? If you only give him tiny bottles of course he wants another one!
Weaning will not make your life easier. It will make it loads harder.

Wait4nothing · 04/07/2017 21:31

My dd had no routine at that age - slept slightly longer at night than in the day and that was it!
Weaning is hard work - it sounds as if you're having a hard stage at the min and it could just make it harder.
Could you increase the size of the bottles - maybe with a little break and encourage again if he seems to stop at 4oz. I found the vibrate function on the bouncer helped get her to sleep (or the car).

furryelephant · 04/07/2017 21:37

I honestly don't think weaning is the answer. You'd have to eat a hell of a lot of vegetables or fruits to replace the calories that would be in a bottle.
I attempted to wean my DD slightly early (after advice) due to her feeding (EBF) almost 30 times a day every day. It made no difference what so ever, just made her seem uncomfy and start pooing at night again!

tearsinmyeyes · 04/07/2017 21:37

So he has 2 ounces at his age and cries for another bottle ? He should be having full bottles at that age. Why would the solution be food ?

heebiejeebie · 04/07/2017 21:39

If you were trying to reduce calories would you cut out cream or broccoli?

PonderLand · 04/07/2017 21:56

What milk is he on at the moment OP? Does he have any symptoms of cows milk allergy/intolerance? My sons cry was horrendous and I thought it was for hunger but actually he was in pain and milk was the only temporary comfort he got until he had pain again. I think you need better guidance if you are going to be weaning early.

Caterina99 · 05/07/2017 00:02

How many oz of milk does he have approximately in 24 hours OP? My DS was quite a big milk drinker, but he wasn't over his percentile line so no one seemed concerned. He could polish off an 8oz bottle though.

I'm in the US where although I believe the official advice is 6 months for weaning, many people seem to wean earlier and it's usually advised to do purses of single veg, fruit and cereal to start.

Timetogrowup2016 · 05/07/2017 07:07

Just give extra milk .
Try 5oz. Crying for more. 6oz and so on .

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