Weaning

[ldnstb123]

Hi all

I am thinking of starting to wean my little girl this week, she is 20 weeks and is showing signs that she is ready to start solids...

I have no idea where to start if I'm honest and was hoping I could get some opinions and advice on what worked for yourselves.

Her current feeding routine is:

7am bottle
11am bottle
3pm bottle
7pm bottle
10pm bottle - she sometimes misses this as she sleeps straight though 7-7 sometimes so I don't bother waking her sometimes for the 10pm feed if she's already sleeping after the 7pm bottle

She has 8oz in each feed sometimes she polishes it off sometimes she leaves an ounce or so in the bottle

So if anybody can point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it

I am also looking at the bebea baby food 4 in 1 food processor - has anybody had this and is it any good?

Sorry for long essay!!! TIA x

I think the advice is to wait until your dc is 6 months, more info www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/solid-foods-weaning/ here from the NHS website x

Hi yes I know the advice is to wait til 6 months but as I said my daughter is showing the signs that she's ready to start weaning I.e. she is sitting upright and holding her head up and is picking things up like teething toys and putting them in her mouth etc so her co-ordination is good...

Looking for advice on actual weaning please I.e. how much to give in first few days, baby rice or baby porridge? x

I'd wait if i were you, there's no reason to wean early if baby isn't struggling to grow, and even then not without advice from your GP and HV.

Why do you want to wean now anyway?

Honestly I'd hold off till 25/26 weeks. Weaning is a load of hassle with the prep and extra mess. I'd also do the green veg puree first, gets them used to bitter rather than sweet foods. As for porridge, I'd use ready brek it's smooth and easy to make.

I would first speak to your GP or HV before weaning early.

However baby rice and porridge are not nutritional at all. I'd really encourage you to speak to a HCP so you get the best information

I've spoken to my HV and she has said I can try starting to wean now as my daughter seems ready and able, I am looking for weaning advice on portions and the food etc not on when to wean her as I've been advised she is ready

TIA

@ldnstb123 did your HV not give any indication on foods?

@ldnstb123 www.nhs.uk/start4life

This has some good ideas.

Ellas kitchen also does a weaning road map.

Sorry meant this link www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/

Yes HV advised starting with a 'few' spoonfuls a day for 2/3 days see how she gets on then gradually up the amount of porridge/purée as the days/weeks go by to when she is eventually having 3 meals per day

If i were you I'd wait a month and then do BLW, much less hassle.

I’d wait too and do BLW, so much easier. Just because they are ready you don’t have to start. Food is just for fun before 1. You just give them exactly what you have.

Baby rice and baby porridge is absolutely rubbish. No nutritional value- avoid that sort of rubbish and just give proper food.

Give food after milk, when they aren’t hungry. Don’t drop any milk feeds and just give them food when you eat.

Get the Gill Rapley book, really simple to follow

OP I weaned by little boy at 23 weeks because he was ready. About a week before this I sat him in his highchair and gave him some spoons to play with so he got used to it. I started with lunch, then progressed onto dinner a week later and finally added breakfast at 6 months old. Looking at your schedule you could start at 12pm so she will have had her 11am feed so won’t be too hungry but will have a little appetite. I have done a combo of purées and finger food as I wanted to be sure he was getting a balance of nutrients. That way I am getting the best of both worlds with minimal faff. I’ve used the baby led kitchen app and weaning made easy recipe book. Hope that helps.
Also the guidelines say AROUND 6 months so you don’t have to wait if she is showing signs. And to say food is only for fun for the 1st year is misleading- there are nutrients that babies need after 6 months that they cannot adequately get from formula or breast milk alone.

Oh and @ldnstb123 I just used a hand blender. So for example if I was making parsnips for dinner I would steam a few for finger food and purée and freeze the rest using a hand blender.

@bluebellpainting thank you for this, the sort of answer I was actually looking for haha! Very helpful thanks for the tips x

I didn't start until 6 months, but if you have been advised it's okay then a lot of people like to start with pureed veg, personally I did a few spoonfuls of ready brek with his milk mixed in, and didn't add any other solids for a good few weeks. If you buy baby porridge be aware that it is mixed with water as it already has dried milk added (if that makes sense). And then after a few weeks added puree for lunch, also introduced finger foods after 6 months, actual solids ie baby led isn't advised until 6 months plus the signs of readiness. You can do purees though and then start BLW down the line, it's not hard and fast rules.

Just do BLW it’s far far easier.

Thank u for the advice I appreciate it, I've ordered the food processor so I'll defiantly give the fruit and veg purées a go instead of starting her on the porridge or rice, I'd rather her have fresh cooked bits anyway so that's no problem

Thanks all