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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

All weaning mums!!!

25 replies

Laurasmum · 28/09/2005 16:10

Just had a desperate time of it last weekend. I am a 1st time mum, a brit living in Eire, no family close by and no mates with babies so I am pretty much learning as I go at this baby lark! However, made my first massive mistake recently and just wanted to warn all meaning mums: I know it sounds obvious but if you are starting your baby on baby rice as a first food, make sure you give the baby water to drink too... I didn't and my baby ended up with the worst case of constipation I could ever imagine. It was like clay, she was screaming in pain and forcing and straining for days and she acctually tore like when you give birth... I now keep a sterilised 2litre bottle of boiled water in my fridge and give her at least 2oz a day. I am traumatised by the whole episode and terrified it might happen again.

OP posts:
swizzles · 28/09/2005 17:24

my baby usually refuses water...what will I do??

chipmonkey · 28/09/2005 17:50

OMG, Laurasmum, actually never had this happen when weaning and none of mine are keen on water either! Poor little thing! Whereabouts in Ireland are you?

006 · 28/09/2005 17:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lindster · 30/09/2005 21:43

my s hated babyrice so went for veg instead. he loves that. Also he hated water in the bottle but will take it from a beaker. Health vis said you can give beaker at 4 months. he does alright with it.

Psychobabble · 30/09/2005 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nasher · 30/09/2005 22:12

i'm a first time mum and just started weaning my 4 month son. However, he has eczema and today flared up with a huge rash on his face and belly. Today we gave him egg custard, and yesterday banana, and have just been reading that these can cause flare ups in eczema....how bad do i feel!!!! Before i try anything else, does anyone know what other foods may cause flare ups in his eczema????

hunkermunker · 30/09/2005 22:14

Nasher, have a look here

I'd steer clear of much other than baby rice and vegetables - or reevaluate whether you want him eating this young? He'll be fine on milk alone for another couple of months, especially with eczema.

lucykate · 30/09/2005 22:16

whats the advice for weaning in your areas?, when i had dd it was 4 months, but with ds, my hv says 6 months, i'm confused!

hunkermunker · 30/09/2005 22:17

Six months "new" guidelines (I say "new" - the WHO have been saying this for years, but it's only recently the Government has given women long enough maternity leave for this to be in any way viable for a lot of women.

Nasher · 30/09/2005 22:23

ok, i'll keep him on rice and i'll try mashed pots. The HV did say 4-6 months, my babs was a big un (8lb 14) and is a hungry one so hv said it was ok to start weaning. Perhaps we;ve just got a bit adventurous with the foods, but we;re given so much advice of different pepaople, its mega confusing!!

lucykate · 30/09/2005 22:27

ds is 18wks, did try him with baby rice two weeks ago but he's still got that tongue reflex and gagged on it, so decided to leave it a bit longer. i started weaning dd the day she turned 16wks, she opened her mouth ready for it! am finding i'm not in so much of a rush with everything second time around though

laurasmum, sorry for hijacking, with dd, i only lasted 2 days on baby rice, i tried it myself and its yuk!, dd really liked pureed potato, parsnip with a bit of milk and cheese, never had any probs with her and constipation

hunkermunker · 30/09/2005 22:27

Nasher, DS was 8lb 10oz when he was born and didn't eat much until he was 8 months old - nothing but milk till over six months. Their weight doesn't necessarily have a lot to do with how hungry they are.

Some HVs are keen to get both big and small babies onto food - makes no sense!

lucykate · 30/09/2005 22:32

laurasmum, just had another thought, i used recipes from annabel karmels book with dd, when she got a bit older and came down with stomach bugs, (she used to get them alot being at a childminders), to help get her over the opposite problem to constipation, i gave her the veg and lentil casserole. it worked really well as a first meal after having a bout of diorhea as it slowed down her system

Nasher · 30/09/2005 22:34

Argh how confusing!!!people say follow your motherly instinct, but sometimes i wonder if i have any! He guzzles 7 oz evey 2.5 hrs so everyone suggested the weaning. I tried water in between, but he just guzzled that aswell and still wanted the milk! Sorry Lauras mum for gate crashing! I understand totally how you feel about learning as you go!

lucykate · 30/09/2005 22:37

i've weaned before, dd is 3.75, but am still going to the talk at our local health centre about it on monday, its def a learn as you go thing!

Nasher · 30/09/2005 22:47

Well, he's putting on weight fine and is happy enough so maybe we'll just chill out on the food for a bit. Just stick to rice and hopefully his eczema will calm down.

hunkermunker · 30/09/2005 23:03

Milk has more calories than rice - wouldn't bother with that even, tbh.

Sai · 02/10/2005 17:54

My baby has just had bad constipation too and won't drink water. I'd been giving him baby rice too. My mums idea (mums always know best, don't they?!) is to freshly squeeze and strain some orange juice and mix with warm water. Bubs love this.

jambot · 03/10/2005 12:45

I personally would think that orange is a little acidic and some babies can be sensitive to citrus in the first year. Try prune juice instead.

Original poster
Laurasmum · 03/10/2005 13:18

For babies who wont drink water and are formula fed, over dilute the formula by an ounce in each bottle and it gives the baby extra fluids at the same time as feeding (don't know about breastfed babies). I do this now as my dd was unimpressed about the 2oz of water every day. She's been grand all week thank god but the baby-rice is in the bin! Given her a few jars, tried a mixed fruit one and today I gave her rice pudding which she practically chewed my hand off to get! Yep, baby rice sux!

OP posts:
charliegirl25 · 03/10/2005 14:33

Message withdrawn

Charlieslittleangel · 05/10/2005 20:40

Constipation help, add a little orange to some boiled water, gives them something to taste and helps them go to the loo brilliantly, my little man is now 6months old and still has his orange juice

spilla · 08/10/2005 23:14

dd hated baby rice and so went straight to veg's

she loves the Heinz Pure Pear Juice and it see,s to stop her being constipated or even struggling at all.

Original poster
Laurasmum · 11/10/2005 13:13

DD is on pureed carrot now and I am still having trouble with constipation. It's not nearly as bad but still a worry (it's "formed" if thats not too much information!)I've been over diluted her formula as she is refusing to take water from a bottle but it doesnt seen to be working anymore. I have an Avent cup thats blue and yellow and has a sippy spout (came free with the steriliser I think), is that what I should be using to give her water? Is that what everyone means when they say beaker?

By the way chipmonkey, I live in Galway, Ireland to answer you question of 2 weeks ago!!!

OP posts:
Leogaela · 12/10/2005 10:04

keep trying with the water, but give her apple or pear instead of carrot.

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