How much milk when starting to wean

[CCW86]

I was just curious how much milk you gave when you first started to wean. DS is 5.5 months and we have been weaning him for around 2 weeks. I know all babies are different depending on size and stuff but just a ball park figure would be great. The information online varies so much. They seem to range from around 500ml upwards and DS has around 850-900ml of expressed milk, and a few tablespoons on purée each day. Is that too much? I’m just conscious of not wanting to over feed him, but obviously don’t want to leave him hungry either.

Just give the same amount of milk - babies are great at self regulating so you can't really over feed them.

My DC dropped a bottle at about 8 months (started weaning at 5.5) and then was down to 2 bottles at 11 months.

I just continued with DD’s feeds as normal and gave her some food on her highchair to try. I did BLW weaning though, so it was bits from whatever I was eating. Very easy and stress free! She was onto 3 meals and 2/3 bf a day by about 1 I think.

Keep the milk the same when you start weaning. Small amounts of food in addition to milk.

You can start reducing the milk at about 9 months and increasing the food at the same time to make up for it.

Same amount of milk- you said expressed milk, are you still breastfeeding? I think breastfeeding on demand really comes into its own when weaning. Even with a baby who loved her food don't think milk dropped much till 11 months and she was on three meals a day at that point, but we trusted her to self regulate. There's v little nutrition in purées etc, much less calories than the milk, it's just to get them used to the textures.

If you started at five months, are there allergies that meant you were advised to begin early? Because keeping up breast milk is v helpful if so.

Do you feed on demand? If so baby will let you know when they are ready to drop any.

As a PP said there isn't much nutritional value in purées compared to milk, a few tablespoons a day won't be giving baby many calories. Milk should still be the main source of nutrition, were you advised to wean early?

Babies are great at self regulating their intake, watch for cues and let them lead. I do recommend baby led weaning, I'm doing it with ds after traditional weaning with dd and blw is so much easier. Ds is having a good amount and massive variety of foods at 7.5 months with no stress, no change in milk intake as far as I can tell- he's bf on demand but having the same amount of feeds.

@worriedmama1980
I pretty much exclusively pump, with the odd formula every few days if there isn’t enough milk. And no allergies. He just seemed hungrier than before, and constantly watching and trying to get at our food. Also had great head/neck control which is why we decided to start earlier. Luckily he is trying new foods like a champ, even if we get the occasional I’m not sure I like this veg look.

@majesticallyawkward
I started with purées but think I will combine with BLW at 6 months. I figure if he gets used to the feeling or texture of food he is less likely to choke on foods. But I know really it’s more for my own peace of mind

were you advised to wean early?

5.5 months isnt early. The NHS says 'around 6 months', and theres a bit of a debate about religiously sticking to 6 months if you research into it. Some countries say 4 months, others say 6. The WHO say 6 months because it takes into account poor hygiene standards in some countries and advises to wait until babies are a bit more robust. Generally the consensus is between 4-6 months as long as the baby is showing all the signs necessary. There is agreement is not before 17 weeks though.

Op just a quick note I always post to people starting BLW: the difference between choking and gagging.

The first time they gag is usually horrid, and you have to fight every fibre of your being to not interfere! But you can do far more harm than help if you jump straight in to help every time.

Thank you so much @TeddyIsaHe. I will certainly bare all this in mind. I will probably just make it all really soft at first so I don’t panic and like you said, I am sure it would take every fibre of my being to not do anything I’d it’s normal