About to start weaning- how much/what to give?

[Lizzietow]

Hi- just wanted some advice about weaning. I've read lots of things- Gina Ford, Annabel Karmel, Hipp baby weaning chart and I'm still confused!!

I've decides to start with some simple baby rice or porridge. But how much do you give at first? When do you increase it?

My little girl, Eloise, is 5 months, so no meat or eggs etc yet. I was thinking of maybe starting with rice or porridge at breakfast for a week and then maybe doing beg and fruit purees at lunch too?

It's a minefield!

Xx

Have you read this?
Maybe consider hanging on a month?

I roughly followed AKs guidelines, so lunch for a week, then introduced breakfast and after 2 weeks of that am introducing dinner.
I started on pear puree and baby rice - have to say he didn't like it much. He really only showed an interest when I dropped the baby rice and gave him neat purees. He seems to love the stronger flavours, eg parsnip, swede, so not surprised that he didnt like the baby rice! When I brought in breakfast I gave him baby porridge but mixed in with a largish portion of fruit puree or mashed banana.
Re: amounts, 3 weeks in he is eating about 90 ml of food per meal and still opening his mouth at the end of it - so I think I will increase it. He is still drinking 800ml formula as well. I've also introduced finger foods, i.e. banana.
The first week he was eatng about 30 ml at a time (less if it was mixed with baby rice!)
I started at 21/22 weeks.

I started my son on baby porridge.

I chose late afternoon because that was his most alert time of day (still is lol) and gave it alongside his afternoon milk feed. I used to put two teaspoon of porridge powder in a little dish and then pour some of his milk in to mix it. The packet said to use water but I think the milk made it taste better and it was easier than waiting for the kettle to boil and cool.

I'd then feed him the bottle of milk (minus the ounce/ounce and a half I used to mix the porridge) and then I'd feed the porridge afterwards. I got some really soft spoons from Tommee Tippee and would just put a teeny bit on the very end. He wouldn't eat all of the two teaspoons worth in the bowl because some of it would end up on his hands and face, he had a habit of eating a little and then putting his hands in his mouth to have a feel of exactly what it was he was eating.

After a couple of weeks of that I started offering it at breakfast time too, the same amount and the same process - bottle then food.

After another week I gave him the porridge at breakfast time just the same but in the late afternoon I'd give savoury food, usually a purée of whatever vegetables we had with our tea, just add baby's usual milk or boiled water to thin it down if you need to. Other times I would use stage one jars (HiPP do some really nice first tastes ones) where I hadn't cooked anything or we were going out and I'd serve around two teaspoons worth.

I just gradually increased over time. After a few more weeks I gave small amounts of purée at lunchtime too. I followed his lead more than anything. When he started showing me that he wanted more (basically showing he was still hungry) I gradually increased his portions to two tablespoons of porridge at breakfast, two tablespoons of food at lunch, and two at tea followed by one of "pudding". He dropped his milk feeds on his own as his food intake increased and he's now 18 months and entirely on food.

Just take your cues from your little one, she'll let you know when she wants more and when she's had enough. Small amounts are best at first, you can always make more if need be, and take it slowly, there's plenty of time.