weaning worries

[jerryg]

Hi, my baby is only five months, but plan to start blw when he reaches six months. Have done a bit of research but I'm quite anxious about the whole thing. He's currently ebf, so do I offer him less breastfeeds? Do I start off straight away giving him food three times a day? How will I know he's getting enough calories? Will food make his colic worse?
Apologies if these questions sound silly. Thanks :)

I would carry on with the breastfeeding as you are, then just start offering food at your mealtimes.

The bliss of BLW is that they regulate their own intake.

I remember finding it all really anxiety making too, it really shouldn't be. I blame the whole baby food industry for making it complicated in order to sell stuff.

Have you read the Gill Rapley book on BLW? Explains it all and makes the whole thing a lot less scary.

BLW has worked really well for us and would recommend it to anyone. I think in order for it to work though (and for you not to get too stressed) you have to get your head round the idea that milk is the main source of nutrition for the first year. Therefore it doesn't matter how much they are eating for a while (and they probably won't eat a lot for the first weeks/months). Keep on BF'ing as you are and don't aim to drop any feeds. They will in time as they eat more food.

My little boy is 8 months today and has really got the hang of it in the last 3 weeks or so. He's still having plenty of breastmilk but has dropped a few of the little snacky feeds he had through the day. I worried at first that he wasn't eating enough food, then I worried that he wasn't having enough BM but like everything it suddenly all seems to click into place and you wonder why you were worried in the first place!

sorry, just read the bit about colic - sorry I don't have experience of this. Hopefully someone will be along soon to help.

with BLW the baby leads so when your little one is sitting, with good head control, lost the tongue thrust reflex and can pick up, chew and swallow food, you go for it ! always offer breast before food and as much breast as he wants. milk is still the main source of nutrition for the first year

offer finger foods to your baby when you eat.

as his appetite increases, he'll eat more and gradually stop having as much milk, so he'll let you know hwen he's ready to drop feeds

www.babyledweaning.com is a good site

Thanks for all your advice! Will continue breastfeeding as normal then, try not to stress, and buying that book now :)