HV a bit sniffy about jars. Reassure me!

[SharkSkinThing]

Took Junior to get weighed today - he's 7.5 months and 22lbs.

Spoke to the HV about portion sizes - he's on quite a large amount of food, plus still breastfeeding x3 - 4 in the day and 1 ff at night (plus 1 bf when all else fails to get him back to sleep .

Not only did she chide me for still giving daytime milk feeds (let's not even mention the night time), but she sharply remarked that 'jars are almost all water, you know'.

So...I'm a bad mother because Junior has jars/pouches of organic food, PLUS finger food PLUS breast milk, PLUS snacks?? How about the fact I don't eat meat but want to let him make his own mind up or the fact that he's never slept for more than 4 hours in a row since he was born and I am practically on my knees, let alone having the energy to lovingly make , blend and then freeze portions of fish pie or whatever.

Grrrrr. Surely there are worse evils in the world?

Is she saying he doesn't weigh enough? DS weighed about 20lb at 12 months (though he was always little so it fitted on his graph).

I think the vast majority of parents still use jars a lot when weaning. It's probably not the best thing in the world but as you say, who has the time or energy to make everything by hand? By the time he's one he'll be eating chopped up versions of 'normal' food and soon you'll forget jars ever existed.

Can't comment on the jars as we BLW'd...but DD was still having daytime milk feeds until well over 12 months, and still has night feeds now at 19mo!

Milk is the most important form of nutrition until they are 1, and even then should form over 50% of their intake for a while...gradually dropping as they get nearer to 2.

If you're wanting to get more homecooked stuff into him, then why not offer him some of what you have? From 6 months they can have anything, with the exception of whole nuts and honey. So anything goes! No blending necessary!

Er... I don't know any 7 month olds not having daytime milk feeds! Mine has 5 daytime breastfeeds and a ff at night anyway

Check the ingredients of the jars, some will have more water/filler than others. I'd say they're fine now and again, but the "meal" ones are pretty bland and watery - fruit or veg pots/pouches that have nothing added are fine though.

At 7.5 months don't bother blending anymore, they can eat normal food just mash it a bit. If your baby isn't eating with you, just save a portion of your dinner (in fact make extra and save and freeze several portions) and mash it for him for the next day. Readybrek/weetabix/toast/yoghurt for breakfast, share some pasta or sandwiches with him for lunch. It doesn't need to take you any extra time to make something special for him. Then you can save the jars for occasions when you're out, or pushed for time, or eating something unsuitable yourself.

No, his weight is spot on, she was saying that food is now the priority, that I shouldn't get 'all hung up on the milk thing', and that so long as he is having first thing/last thing milk, there is no need for day time milk!

Why do the HV's offer this kind of advice, if it's clearly not right? Even the NHS guidelines say milk is number one until they're one.

I am soooo confused! I don't want to not give him bf in the day, it doesn't feel quite right, but he doesn't really make that much of a request for it, because he has so much food? Should I just offer boob inbetween, or leave it until he asks?

He finger feeds brilliantly, and will happily eat what I'm eating, so maybe I should do that more - I'm just worried that he won't have as much if I don't shovel it in to him. But as you say, he can have what we're having, when that's possible (but not tonight, as it's fish and chips from the chippy, yay!!).

This is great advice, thank you - breakfast is a doddle and is always porridge, toast and fruit, and lunch I'll now just mash up what I'm having. He can still have a meaty Ella's Kitchen for tea during the week and share Dad's dinner at the weekend.

I always come away from seeing the HV more confused about it all..:(

Sharks- only yesterday my HV said exactly the same thing- not to get hung up on the milk thing- I am hung up a bit on it as DS has never taken to milk and getting him to feed (BF and FF has been a struggle from the start). I'm ignoring her advise and still trying to give him the option of 4 milk feeds a day.

I too am giving jars- had planned only to make homemade food but as you say where do you find the time. So mine's a mix of jars and home made. I don't feel guilty as I EBF for 6 months which was such a struggle, his sleep has been hellish and the jars have given me a bit of slack. So, don't feel guilty (although having said that- look at me justifying myself- maybe I do feel a bit guilty afterall!!!).

Right then, nearlymum, let's rebel. I'm also leaving the milk in for DS if he wants it.

I have been slightly guilt-tripped (not by the lovely people here) into doing more home-made stuff. The irony is DP and I eat home cooked every night (yes, yes, asides from tonight), but I sort of forget to siphon off some for DS!

And well doen for EBF for 6 months when it was so tough. We also have a hellish sleeper, so I'm in your camp, sister!

I always thought food till one is just for fun. Milk should still be main intake at 7.5 months.

He's a big boy, my DS was about that weight at same age, DD is only just 20lbs at 13 months.

I haven't made baby food in my life I am also far too lazy for that malarkey.

I offer breastfeeds between meals/before naps, so he usually has 2-3 during the day.

HV talking bollocks.

Apart from jars are almost all water - ALL FOOD IS ALMOST ALL WATER!

HV's drive you mad!!!! Different message every time we seem to speak to one. My DS is nearly 10 months old and loves his milk, still has bottle with every meal, and before bed. I just dont listen to them anymore!!

What a stupid woman. My 7.5 monther has 6 BF's a day (an usually one nightfeed). I tend to give her a fruit pot for breakfast 9someone shoot me) a veggie pouch for lunch and porridge and finger food for dinner, we are trying to transition to more finger food. She's rubbish at eating and so needs loads of milk!!

It's such a minefield! So what do you do if your child is ill or is teething, or doesn't take to food straight away? Hold the milk?

Zimm - I'm just wondering if good quality sausages are ok for DS, so I see no reason why fruit pots are the devil's work!

We were doing just fine until HV made this comment and it's thrown me right off my game. Grrrr.

why are they so shit?do they opnly recruit from certifiable thickos???

I am a HV and DS practically LIVED on jars as a baby. Your HV is being utterly unreasonable. Silly cow - she sound best ignored.

sharkskinthing - I think sausages are fine as long as lo/no salt?

Ahhh, so relived to hear that I now don't have to spend every other waking moment making home cooked meals.

I used to wonder what other women talked about when they discussed mother guilt...it seems now I know!

And lol at charitygirl!!

You are welcome Shark

My DS is 8 now and extremely active, lively and enjoyable. But oh... how I miss the Bacon and Bean Hotpot which we bought at times. No salt in there but something tasty about it.

I am also partial to the Chocolate and Banana Pudding.

I mean fgs - you are not feeding him crap. Who has time to blend etc - the very organised types only I reckon. It's not that I never did any cooking and blending but it wasn't uppermost in my mind. Like you I was knackered with a baby who still woke 2-3 times a night at the same age.

Dilly, so, so true. And there's nothing like havngv your lovingly blended home made cottage pie flung to the floor to really cement that kicked in the teeth feeling! I feel no such attachment to a jar!

And as you say, he's not eating crap. I'm a fab cook , so he'll be shoveling down fish pie when the time is right. For now, I'm just glad he eats so much of something! And Ella's Kitchen pouches are my savior! I love their rice pudding, and can often be found squirting the remains directly into my mouth.

Could explain the slow shifting of baby weight...