Weaning baby who can't sit?

[crazycatlady]

My DS, 22 weeks, has no diagnosis yet (being tested for chromosomal and neurological disorders) but among other issues he has very poor muscle development in his trunk and neck. Even when sitting supported his body tends to slump into a c shape and his head goes over to one side.

He will be ready for weaning in a few weeks time I guess and I'm just not sure how to approach it? (I weaned DD (NT) with a mix of puree and finger food). Could I do the same with DS? He can bring his hands to his mouth at least... but he also does slightly unusual mouthing motions with his tongue...

Any advice very gratefully received.

I used a cheap bouncy chair too for ds1 (didnt sit up inaided til he was nearly 10 months but was desperate for food!!!)

It worked really well and the cover came off so I could wash it when it got really manky from spilt/squished food.

I used purees/fromage frais/home made soup for ages before finger food due to ds1's issues and it worked fine.

hth

I'm another one who used a bouncey chair for weaning. My DD couldn't hold her head up til 7 or 8months so the chair gave her the support she needed. It was quite a sturdy one as she is quite big - mamas n papas. We used that until she was about 14months when we got a supportive chair from OT (leckey Squiggles its great). She just starting sitting up now and she is 23months. X

My DS2 has severe hypotonia and we were given a neck support like this:
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_111801_10001

We used in in his bouncy chair and in his car seat, it helped with the weaning as his head would flop to one side.
Later we had a chair very similar to this one:
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_35_10751_-1_14635_113318_10001_

Which was good as it can be tilted and made more upright as your child become stronger.

We had a SALT who focussed on feeding issues which was useful to check for aspiration etc

We used a bouncy chair or pushchair with dd1 (she didn't sit until she was a year old due to low tone). With dd2 (low tone in her trunk) we used a bumbo but i think her tone was a lot better than her sisters.

We used a tumbleform chair with ds2 which we got from the physio. DS3 is not as severe so we have been using a bumbo.