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Share your advice and top tips for weaning with Organix: you could win a £150 notonthehighstreet voucher! NOW CLOSED

144 replies

AnnMumsnet · 04/11/2013 12:08

We've been asked by baby and toddler food brand Organix to find out your top tips and advice when weaning your LO onto food.

So, what single piece of advice would you give to another mum just about to start weaning? If you were weaning again, what would you do differently and why? What 3 words would you use to describe your weaning journey? Which foods did your little one love during weaning, do they still love the same tastes now?

Share your thoughts on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £150 voucher for notonthehighstreet.com/

Please note your tips and comments may be used, along with your MN nickname in an email MN will send out. They may well also be used elsewhere by Organix.

Thanks,
MNHQ

OP posts:
Letitsnow9 · 10/11/2013 23:19

Don't stress and remember 'food before one is just for fun

angell74 · 10/11/2013 23:58

Polenta is your friend. My son would not let anyone feed him anything on a spoon. He would only eat finger food which we found quite limiting. In the end I used to puree whatever I wanted him to eat, add it to polenta, let it set so that I could slice it and he could feed it to himself. Needless to say neither of us can stand the stuff now!!

custardo · 11/11/2013 00:02

agreed with finger food - and my advice would be - dont worry about the mess

CormoranStrike · 11/11/2013 00:19

Ice cube trays were my top invention, each mold held just the right amount for DS to try something new. I used to puree up mash, brocolli, meet and gravy and feed it to him, fish cooked im milk and mash was anither firm favourite.

DS was breast fed and never got a liking for cow's milk, I would sneak it into his food via mash and poached fish for many years Grin

rootypig · 11/11/2013 00:35

I haven't read the thread so sure this has been said but: relax, relax, relax. It's too easy for food to become a battle. Babies have a really strong sense of their appetite, trust them. Don't be too obsessed with mealtimes, quantities, and ideas about what they should eat. Let them play and explore, and see food as a sensory experience. Give them a range of colours and textures as well as taste.

Create a place where you're happy for them to make mess.

No baby rice!

majjsu · 11/11/2013 05:38

3 words - messy, fun, cleaning

Best advice - go with the flow, do what is best for you.

I did a lot of purees of fruit, vegetables and meat. I always gave lots of variety and cplours. My LO is now a good eater. One of her faves was natural yoghurt with pureed fruit.

Keep going as its right, can take many attempts before they like a certain food.

katelo10 · 11/11/2013 08:27

I tried blw mixed with puréed food as I didn't want to just stick to either one. My daughter will have some purée but then she will also eat toast, apple cakes, carrot sticks, roast dinner etc.
I didn't want to limit her either way as I think you can get to strict with what foods baby can or can't have. That say, this is just my opinion and everyone knows what is the best way for their child.

Purplehonesty · 11/11/2013 09:54

One piece of advice - try not to worry too much, they will eventually eat!
Weaning in 3 words 'blooming time consuming!'
If I were to do it again I wouldn't use purees and would just mash what we eat and give baby finger food.
Dd loves fruit especially melon, porridge, pasta and yoghurt.
Ds loved veg as a toddler and would eat whole bowls full. Now he is 4 he isn't quite so keen but still eats it.
He is a big fruit fan too.

WowOoo · 11/11/2013 10:28

My advice: don't get too stressed about it. Remember they have tiny tummies and varying appetites from day to day. If they just mostly drink on one day, they'll probably be ravenous the next.

My 3 words: What a mess!
I'm glad I experienced some of it with my niece before I had my own, so I was prepared for the wiping up.

There are lots of things they loved as babies that they are less keen on now - roasted veg including squash, pumpkin and sweet potato was wolfed down whilst weaning. Now, they'll only eat it in soup when they don't really know it's in there.

melliebobs · 11/11/2013 11:30

I'd advise to go to a local carpet shop and ask for an offcut of carpet! We did BLW n it got messy so having the offcut under the high hair saved a lot of heartache n stains on our dining room carpet!!!!

I wouldn't do anything differently. We waited till around 6 months. Dd was ready. Somethings she ate, some she played with some went to the dog but it's all part of the journey

Weaning was ...... Fun, messy, tasty

When bein weaned dd liked loads. Sweet potato wedges and pineapple was a fave. She still likes them now but we love daddies home made Asian turkey burgers and spag Bol, but we do seem to have gone off peppers and carrots. But all out tasted change from time to time so it doesn't bother me

tweetytwat · 11/11/2013 14:51

main tip, get a dogGrin
I did purees and jars with the first. she refused lumpy food for a very long time. blw with the second was a joy. He loves food and will try anything.

Three words - gagging isn't choking

would do blw every time now. If I was going to have any more
which I'm notGrin

WhyIRayLiotta · 11/11/2013 15:45

I did baby led weaning and I can't reccommend it enough.

I cooked for DP and I and DD had what we were having. She was eating steak at 7 months old with her gums! She has a great appetite and eats a great variety of foods except brocolli

I never put pressure on her to eat.. my attitude was a bit 'until she's 1 it's just for fun' and I let her play with whatever I put in front of her and experiment. Made mealtimes while weaning enjoyable and relaxed.

DD is almost 2 and loves her food.

2kidsintow · 11/11/2013 17:32

So, what single piece of advice would you give to another mum just about to start weaning?

Don't write off a food that they don't seem to like on the first time of trying. It takes several tastes to get used to a new flavour. Just keep reoffering the same thing and see what happens.

If you were weaning again, what would you do differently and why?

I would not try and rush things. I took a lot longer with DD2 before trying weaning and with finishing weaning her off her milk. Partly because she wasn't interested (she liked her milk) and partly because the advice had changed.

What 3 words would you use to describe your weaning journey?

Mess, mess, mess! Love the 'feed themselves' stages where they are leaning to get food to their mouths and then learning to feed themselves with a spoon, but what a mess!

Which foods did your little one love during weaning, do they still love the same tastes now?
Yogurt. Still a staple for pudding with some fruit if they want something sweet after dinner.

LonelyGoatherd · 11/11/2013 18:02

Advice? Buy the IKEA all-in-one bibs. Great for porridge and BLW alike.

What would you do differently and why? I'm happy with how we did it - a mix of finger foods, jars and home-made spoonable food.

Weaning journey: fun, funny, messy

Love: salmon, roast potatoes, strong cheese - and yes, they still love the same tastes now.

mindingalongtime · 11/11/2013 18:11

I couldn't agree more with CMOT Put it infront of them and let them get on with it, don't fuss! Children love strange foods, let them try everything.

Don't squeeze those vile tubes into their mouths, it is slovenly and lazy and not the way to introduce a love of food and independence to a baby/child

Hopezibah · 11/11/2013 19:07

I think I forgot to leave my three words before - gave three tips instead! Here are 3 words: Messy, Exciting, Worrying

Ida3456 · 11/11/2013 19:41

Single piece of advice: trust your instinct as a Mum about when to start weaning. You know your baby & you know when they are ready to try things... Or move onto lumpy-er food etc. Just trust your instinct & try not to compare your baby with other babies!

What I would do differently... Nothing really. Oh, except attempt to purée green beans!!

3 words: messy, yummy, fun!

Foods she loved: sweet potato, butternut squash, pear & cauliflower cheese. She loves them all now :)

StealthToddler · 11/11/2013 20:05

My advice after doing 2 babies on purées and 2 in baby led is to throw away the purées and just give your baby some of what you are having. Much easier, much cheaper, much less stressful and you will have a child that will try anything and eat most things.

lottytheladybird · 11/11/2013 20:14

I would say, don't worry if baby doesn't take to something straight away. They're still getting all they need from milk anyway. Just take it slowly.

It will be messy and it will be messy for a couple of years, but they'll soon get less messy.

Always taste the food you cook for them! Have some jars or pouches in the cupboard in case they decide not to eat what you've lovingly made them or if you haven't got the energy to puree any more food!

peronel · 11/11/2013 20:49

My advice: Buy a hand blender and just puree a little of what you all eat quickly and easily. (Oh, and you can use it for milkshakes and to rescue lumpy custard Wink).

peronel · 11/11/2013 20:52

My advice: Buy a hand blender and just puree a little of what you all eat quickly and easily. (Oh, and you can use it for milkshakes and to rescue lumpy custard Wink).

ScariestFairyByFar · 11/11/2013 22:25

BLW all the way here, I cooked and ate with DD from day 1 and now have a two year old who loves all food and whose favourite foods are mushrooms and prawns.

Substandard · 12/11/2013 14:56

Three words: A bloody relief.

It is a million times easier and more fun that breast or bottle feeding. Don't dread it. It's fun - for them and you.

petalsandstars · 12/11/2013 20:30

Expect it to be messy and get thrown everywhere. I'm about to start weaning again and will be blw-ing as it's the ' easier' way to just cook one meal for the family and everyone has the same including baby. Plus my previous experience has food refusal from the child sized plate but child is quite happy to pinch the exact same food from my plate to eat instead.

I love the no special prep work too

sealight123 · 12/11/2013 20:58

So, what single piece of advice would you give to another mum just about to start weaning? Do not panic, your child is not going to like every food that you put in their mouth (just like we don't), so be prepared with a variety of different tastes :)

If you were weaning again, what would you do differently and why?
Truthfully, I wouldn't change a thing...but I am very lucky by the fact that my daughter could not wait to eat food...it was rare she would turn her nose up at anything... except pureed carrots...she hated them...which is strange as she adores carrots now lol

What 3 words would you use to describe your weaning journey?
baby wipes supplies.....it was always rather messy :)

Which foods did your little one love during weaning, do they still love the same tastes now?
My daughter loved anything containing fruit (of course she did, it was sweet :p) and cottage pie. She still loves fruit and cottage pie and, thankfully, she is one of those weird children that prefers eating trees (broccoli) and peas rather than sweets and processed food :)