Delaying weaning

[Louise071]

My 5 month old is EBF and I wasn't planning on starting weaning until 6 months. However the day after she turns 6 months we will be going to Tenerife for 10 days.... so the question is, do I wean before or after the holiday? If I weaned before i would want to start a couple of weeks early to get into the swing of things before we go away, but I don't know how easy it would be to find appropriate food for her on holiday. But if we wait until we get back, she will be a couple of weeks over 6 months and I worry about whether delaying it this long may cause nutritional problems etc? What would you do?

Will you be all inclusive or self catering? You could offer finger foods while away e.g. bread, banana, bits of veg, etc. Banana is easy to mash to make simple puree too. It wont matter if they dont eat much of it

You would be safe enough to start a week or so early. They eat so little at the start, literally a couple of teaspoons so even when you're away you could mush up fruit and veg or take a few pouches with you. She'll only be eating one meal a day to start so I'm sure you could manage when you're away.

Depends entirely on if your baby is showing signs of being ready. Go by that not by the number of days old they are. No harm I starting while abroad anyway to give little bits of finger food (banana, broccoli, toast etc)

I can't see it doing any harm delaying weaning.

1. Baby might not be ready at 6 months and still have their tongue reflex.
2. "Food before one is just for fun". They'll still be getting the vast amount of calories and nutrients from your breast milk anyway.
3. They've got years of eating ahead of them. Waiting a few extra days won't do any harm.
4. You'll be adding extra stress onto yourself when you should be enjoying your holiday.

Just begin relaxed weaning on holiday? It’ll actually be a lovely time to do it, while having nice family meals etc! Offer your little one things like banana, melon, strawberries, cucumber, tomato, nibbles of toast.. just easy to gum foods from your plate etc!

Keep up regular milk, early weaning is all about tastes and getting used to something that isn’t milk! It won’t make a jot of difference if you do decide to start two weeks after 6 months though.. it’s not an exact since! We started just before 5 months on consultant advice (reflux & persistent weight loss) & it was all good. 6.5 months will also be a’ok!

Hi @Louise071

10 days will make no difference. It's perfectly fine

6 months is just a guideline. All babies are different. Some will be ready just before some will be ready just after. The more important thing is whether she is showing signs of being ready to start weaning.

Like pps have said-absolutely no harm trying some finger foods on holiday or mashed up fruit etc. You could probably also take some pouches in your luggage.
But also would be perfectly fine waiting till you got back if you didnt feel confident or ready to start on holiday.

We wanted to bypass purees with dd1 and go straight to finger foods. But due to it being our first, and me being a bit nervous about it, we didnt start till 6.5 - 7 months. She took to it really well and is now 4 and a great eater.

Dont put too much pressure on yourself about this. Like @Bol87 said, to begin with it's just getting used to tastes and textures and how to actually eat rather than it being about having proper meals.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I didn't start weaning until my baby was six months and three weeks because I couldn't afford to buy a high chair. The GP's said they would buy one for Christmas so he didn't have it until Christmas Day. It's had no effect on him at all, he's eight months and just started stage 2 baby food and he'll eat finger foods too.

Just take a relaxed approach - if she seems ready at 6 months (ie. is sitting up etc) on holiday you can offer her tastes of fruit etc. If she isn't interested don't worry about it - means she isn't ready. You don't need to stress about nutrition until she is much older.

10 days won’t make any difference; you could try finger foods while you’re away but I think it’d be hard to be in any particular routine while away

I would totally just delay until getting home. 10 days wont make a difference at all. I would be slightly cautious about giving any new foods on holiday as i wouldn't want any allergic reactions whilst abroad.

I was also away when my son turned 6 months so I waited. It has made no difference for him.
Some people choose not to wean onto solids till 1 anyway. Plus, your baby mat not be showing signs they're ready yet so don't stress

Thankyou all, I feel much better about it now! I'll probably just wait until after the holiday, maybe some finger foods while we are away as she is sitting up unaided for a short time, reaching for things and putting them to her mouth etc so not far from being ready!

My DS was nearly 7 months when we started weaning. Due to us being away and then him being ill. He took to it really well and he’s 4 now and eats like a horse. Just do whatever is easiest for you. 10 days will make no difference

My ds was ill when he turned six months and didn't start weaning until he was around seven months.

He's seventeen now, six feet tall and eats loads...