HV Advice

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Has anyone been told to put their DC straight on to three meals a day?

My HV said DC is 24 weeks old so would go straight to two main meals, two snacks and breakfast.

She also said the main nutrition should come from solids now (DC is 5 months).

All I have read about BLW says it is just exploration at this age and until 1 nutrition should come from milk (either FF or BF) so this seems odd. (she says to do a mix of spoon lumps and holding things so not BLW, but not purees either really)

Also going straight to so much solid food would cause constipation, wouldnt it?

Advice appreciated!

I don't think my DS was on three meals a day until around 9 months. I introduced lunch at 6 months, added breakfast a month later, tea a month after that. At 13 months he gets an afternoon snack as well. He was fully BLW, I just let him get on with it and concentrated on eating my own food!

I carried in BF on demand throughout. I felt confident that he was thriving on BM so that would be sustain him on the days he just played with food.

Gill Rapley's BLW book is a really good read if you are thinking of going down that route.

i got told to start of with a spoon ful or 2 to beging with once every other day for a few days then making it every day gradually increasing the spoonfuls.Once that was well established then introduce another meal time.I agree with you i would imagine it would cause constipation to go from just milk to 3 meals a day, doesnt seem right to me. I did wean my son earlier soby the time he was 24 weeks he was on 3 meals a day, maybe there was a bit of confusion?All i can suggest is do what you and your baby feel is best

i agree the confusion is probably around where your DC would be if he/she were weaned earlier, and the HV is expecting him/her to be at that stage now even though yu're just starting out! my HV told me to start with once a day, and she knew we were planning to wean at 6 months. this seems really odd advice tbh.

This is so frustrating! The HV is not following current guidelines at all, which is to wean at 6 months, and when you do start, to start gradually and go at your baby's pace - so going from just milk to 3 meals a day and 2 snacks would be a huge shock for your baby!

The "official" guidance is here

a quote:

"Start by giving your baby a few teaspoons of mashed vegetables, fruit or cereal mixed with either breast or infant formula"

I think the main exception is if your baby was premature, then they may need to wean earlier because they didn't have as much time to build up iron stores in the womb, but even if this is the case, I would still think you should build up gradually. Perhaps you could ask her why she's going against the guidelines? Or is it possible to see a different HV and get a second opinion?

Anyway don't worry, you've got plenty of time.

dd is 10 months and only since two weeks on four meals: breakfast, lunch, afternoon, evening
before that she sat with us at meal times but hardly ate anything at all.

I don't think your HV has read about BLW!!

You are exactly right. Main form of nutrition until they are 1, is Milk.

No rush on getting him up to 3 meals a day. Just take his lead.

If my DD was awake, and we were eating...she'd join in. If she wasn't, she didn't! Simple as! Even at 15 months, she doesn't have set meal times. She's currently eating Part 2 of her lunch, which she started at 3pm as she was asleep over lunchtime!

I think the problem is that Finger Food and BLW are lumped (no pun intended) together. When they are 2 very different things. BLW is a whole attitude towards your child and food.

You sound like you know what you need to do

HV is a loon. Many are loons about weaning, for some reason.

Current NHS guidelines

Thanks for the replies. Lots to think about. I think I will just see where DC wants to go and lead the eating!

Thanks again!