Where do I start!!! Bit long but so confused...

[STORM01]

New mum....have read a lot of the other posts just to see what everyones talking about & now I am totally confused.

DD 17 weeks - I will be waiting for the 6 months mark before we start but have decided to get up to scratch ASAP as we had a slight blip last week as she was hungry all the time - now on "hungry baby milk" for all feeds as advised by health visitor.

In my naivety, I just assumed we'd start with something like baby rice once a day, move on to blended meals then start with chunks of fruit & so on & so forth. Reading some of the other posts you ladies are giving chunks of food from day one (scary!!!) Then theres the issue of milk - never even thought about it although knew she'd still be having it.

So in short juggling all the info on here my plan is...... Give milk before food, start with baby rice & blended meals & depending on how well her co ordination of hand to mouth is give her some "chunks" to chew on....do I try to give her solids at every feed (well breakfast, lunch & dinner?)

Im sure she will let me know but just trying to get my head round it first

PS my husband would like to know why they make baby rice for 4 months plus if your not supposed to wean until 6 months

IIRC if you wait till your baby is around 6 months, then they should have all the motor skills to deal with finger food (obviously not salted,no honey, no nuts / choking hazards) - they can sit upright, bring food to their mouths, chew, move food around their mouth with their tongue and they have a strong gag reflex to deal with lumps.

Purees are a hangover from when weaning was done very early and 3/4 month old babies did not have the ability to deal with anything more than very runny food. It is also supported by commercial manufacturing processes who get your businesses by hooking you into stage 1 foods and ensure you follow the process and keep buying their product.

My DS had finger foods from day 1 (weaned at 6 months on the dot - I am very compliant). He was on pitta bread and curry by day 3

When the guidelines changed in 2003-ish to 6 months (they used to be 4-6 months), packaging guidelines were not changed so that is why they can state '4 months'

If you are interested in finger foods process then try reading Gill Rapley's Baby Led Weaning. My local authority leaflet on weaning also said that finger foods should be introduced from day one (if you follow the 6 months approx guideline)