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Share your tips and tricks for weaning your little ones

58 replies

EllieSmumsnet · 12/09/2024 12:20

We all know how exciting, yet daunting, the weaning journey can be. From choosing the right first foods to dealing with worries about allergies and picky eating, there’s so much to consider. How did you approach weaning with your little one? What were your biggest challenges, and what tips do you have for other parents starting this journey? Share your experiences and let’s help each other make weaning a smoother ride!

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DifficultBloodyWoman · 22/09/2024 01:10

Whatever else you do, buy a Catchy or similar. It contains the mess and makes clean up much easier. https://catchyandcrew.com.au

Eat as a family and try to eat roughly the same ingredients as each other.

For example, DC had over cooked veggies, we had the same but al dente. If I made curry, I’d rinse DC’s portion in water to make it a bit less spicy. If we all ate cereal, DC got the sugar free version.

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JacCharlton · 22/09/2024 17:34

My tips would be patience, if it doesn't work today, it might tomorrow. Be kind, soft voices, muted flavours, and change gradually, evolving to your everyday food.

Kentishbirdlife · 22/09/2024 18:08

Doddl cutlery worked really well for us

tolerable · 22/09/2024 18:10

expect a mess, i always gave baby own spoon and whilst they try dip in food and reach mouth you get to pop some in . the netbag things you screw shut with fruit in are a gamechanger too.

Penguinmouse · 22/09/2024 21:22

My biggest tip would be remembering that “food before 1 is just for fun” so taking an opportunity to try different things with the safety net of milk to ensure my little one was getting enough food. Oh and that an IKEA highchair tray can go in the dishwasher!

custardcream1000 · 22/09/2024 22:47

Like others have mentioned, let your baby eat the same food as the rest of the family and don't worry about how much they are eating for the first few months. This stage is all about exploring textures and taste and making a lot of mess.

ToriTheStoryteller · 23/09/2024 06:37

It was a slow, methodical process for us due to food allergies. DS had skin prick tests at 6 months which showed multiple reactions so we had to test each food for 3 days before moving on.

It took a long time but it was still exciting for DS as everything was new to him.

MarvellousMonsters · 23/09/2024 07:20

Wait until your baby is able to sit up unaided, and can pick things up and put them in their mouth. Then sit them in a high chair and give them chunks of soft foods to play with. See the Solid Starts app for info on how to 'serve' different foods.

Don't spoon feed baby rice or puree, this uses a 'suck-swallow' reflex, which makes choking more likely. Giving chunks of food and allowing baby to feed themselves is actually safer, they may gag and spit food out, but are less likely to choke or aspirate.

Avoid just feeding sweet things, (another reason to not puree fruit & veg together) give veg like broccoli, avocado, or strips of meat, milk is sweet, so introduce non-sweet foods for a variety of flavours.

Try not to worry if they don't eat much at first. It's a skill that they need to learn, and letting them figure it out in their own also means their gut doesn't suddenly get a lot of solids, which can lead to belly ache and constipation. By letting them feed themselves you are giving their intestines time to adjust to dealing with solids. Spoon feeding or helping your baby get stuff into their mouths means they'll eat a much bigger amount, and their guts aren't ready for that immediately.

Wait until 6 months. Or there abouts. Don't rush to mush. Babies don't have the gastric enzymes to digest anything except milk until they are around 6 months old, feeding puree at 5 months is pretty much pointless, as they can't absorb much nutrition from anything except milk, and as well as the risk of constipation, it can cause liver and kidney damage (which doesn't show immediately) because these organs are not ready to deal with solids yet.

The 6 months guidance has been in place for over 20 years, it's been reviewed in that time, and is still 6 months. It doesn't 'keep changing' it's been the same for two decades.

MixedCouple2 · 23/09/2024 07:46

To remember before 1 just for fun! Some Mums get caught up with filling up baby. Weaning at 6 months - 12 months is just to introduce foods, the texture and tastes. It is not meant to replace their proper meals which is breast milk / formula.

An amazing website that helped me until DS was 1.5years old was Solid Starts. Loads of ideas, tips, info on allergens and meals.

Aubasaurus · 23/09/2024 16:21

Baby led weaning worked well for us, and it meant we parents started eating more healthy meals as well! A good tip I read is that babies and young children can often take a long time to get used to a new food, so keep offering it on the plate/tray even if they've spat it out in disgust for the previous few meals!

DanBenandBud · 23/09/2024 18:09

My tips are set aside an hour for pre and post feed, be calm, don't rush or panic, and be gentle with the flavours and textures you introduce. (and if you see a sneeze brewing with pureed carrot .........duck)

prawncocktailcrispss · 23/09/2024 21:08

Avoid distractions like the TV or interactive toys and this will help them concentrate and focus on you - offer tastes and flavours and see what they do and don't like , mix your veg purees and fruits for a variety of flavours.

Oliveoily · 23/09/2024 23:03

Buy The Baby Led Weaning Cookbook. It has so many good recipes! My favourites being the porridge fingers and the white sauce (not together!)

Typeonesickofchocolate · 28/09/2024 04:49

Please go away.

Beabeautiful · 28/09/2024 13:11

My tips are give the baby some milk first, but not a full feed, then offer small amounts on a soft spoon. Have a lovely seat, highchair, and avoid distractions like other family members or the TV being on. You need to maintain eye contact, make chewing movements with your mouth, and praise good eating. If they refuse, try again another day.

chestnutroast · 28/09/2024 14:35

Typeonesickofchocolate · 28/09/2024 04:49

Please go away.

@Typeonesickofchocolate why are you telling the op to go away?

Typeonesickofchocolate · 28/09/2024 14:39

chestnutroast · 28/09/2024 14:35

@Typeonesickofchocolate why are you telling the op to go away?

Genuinely, this account appears to have been compromised. I have no interest in weaning (mine are teenagers!). I suspect my ex partner has hacked me. Apologies to you and the OP. It's happened on another thread too. So am just going to delete the account. He is that petty and abusive sadly. I thought he'd finally left us alone too!

MarvellousMonsters · 29/09/2024 10:03

Beabeautiful · 28/09/2024 13:11

My tips are give the baby some milk first, but not a full feed, then offer small amounts on a soft spoon. Have a lovely seat, highchair, and avoid distractions like other family members or the TV being on. You need to maintain eye contact, make chewing movements with your mouth, and praise good eating. If they refuse, try again another day.

Aside from giving a milk feed first, everything else in this goes against researched and studied weaning advice. Far better to put baby in a highchair at the table during family meal times and give them some soft cooked foods to play with whilst you all eat. There's no need to mush or puree food, no need to spoon feed, and definitely no need to keep constant eye contact whilst making chewing motions. If baby is ready for solids, they will chew and swallow without any of this.

Beabeautiful · 29/09/2024 10:35

MarvellousMonsters · 29/09/2024 10:03

Aside from giving a milk feed first, everything else in this goes against researched and studied weaning advice. Far better to put baby in a highchair at the table during family meal times and give them some soft cooked foods to play with whilst you all eat. There's no need to mush or puree food, no need to spoon feed, and definitely no need to keep constant eye contact whilst making chewing motions. If baby is ready for solids, they will chew and swallow without any of this.

Noted your comments - but it worked for me, and it was advice from my HV

MarvellousMonsters · 30/09/2024 18:11

@Beabeautiful

Lots of health visitors give out of date advice, the guidelines on weaning changed over 20 years ago, but I'm still hearing about new mums being given the old advice.

JacCharlton · 01/10/2024 11:04

MarvellousMonsters · 30/09/2024 18:11

@Beabeautiful

Lots of health visitors give out of date advice, the guidelines on weaning changed over 20 years ago, but I'm still hearing about new mums being given the old advice.

the latest advice is not always the best advice, we know that because how often advice changes- I would say do what works for you and baby, at 6MO they should be ready, and watching parents and siblings eating and being part of the family mealtimes, and being offered food to try is a natural progression.

MarvellousMonsters · 01/10/2024 11:23

@JacCharlton as I said in my previous comment, weaning advice has literally not changed for over 20 years. It's not 'always changing' it's just that it takes a long time for changes in advice/guidelines to become common practice, which is why there are still health visitors giving outdated info.

It's also worth noting that changes in best practice are the result of years of study, and aren't just pulled out of nowhere.

JacCharlton · 01/10/2024 11:31

MarvellousMonsters · 01/10/2024 11:23

@JacCharlton as I said in my previous comment, weaning advice has literally not changed for over 20 years. It's not 'always changing' it's just that it takes a long time for changes in advice/guidelines to become common practice, which is why there are still health visitors giving outdated info.

It's also worth noting that changes in best practice are the result of years of study, and aren't just pulled out of nowhere.

Are you a health professional ? JW

PaintMeARiver · 01/10/2024 11:33

Relax so many people get uptight about weaning, but I'm yet to meet an adult who's still only eating milk.

MrsFrTedCrilly · 01/10/2024 19:48

Let them have a version of what your having so you aren’t cooking separately for them, just leave out the salt