Can you spare me a minute to answer my weaning questions?

[MIstletAOU]

Tried looking through the archives for the answer as I suspect there are not many people around to answer my questions just now! But didn't find out what I need to know...

Anyway - ds is 21 weeks and I started weaning him this week. He had upped the number of feeds, and was feeding for longer each time - am feeding him 3 times during the night atm! Anyhow - despite weaning him before 6 months I am happy with my decision and think it was the right thing to do.

So far ds has had apple puree and pear puree, both of which he loves and gobbles up like a little bird. So far I have given him one cube around the middle of the day but suspect he would eat more if he was given more. So - do I now introduce another meal? If so, what time of day, brekkie or teatime? And do I give him more food at lunchtime?

You would think I had never done this before [roll eyes emoticon] - but it was a looooong time ago, honest...

If you think he will eat more then no harm offering to see how he copes. I would suggest giving it at teatime as this might help to satisfy hie hunger for the night. That doesn't always work but you can hope!

Have you tyried giving some savoury first and then a sweet if he still seems hungry?

I know what you mean about having done it before - with ds4, you would never believe I'd had 4 before him! Glad he is now over that stage.

The weaned child will put his hand in the cockatrice's den, according to the Lesson From King's I've just heard...sorry for that seasonal detour . Nightmare, weaning, remember it well.

I've been starting him off really slowly, since he isn't six months yet, and fully expect the feeding to carry on like this for a while yet. However I'm a bit wary of giving him tummy ache if I give him too much - he seems more settled at night if he has his food earlier in the day too.

Oooooh it's all soooo confusing - my brian hurts!!!

Thanks MI, that's really...er,....helpful

Go with the flow. I would go for the teatime one now as well.

Agree with Queenspeech, I would offer something after his lunch or give him another cube of whatever puree he's having and something for tea with a bottle.

I was going to say offer him a snack mid afternoon but I'm not sure at 21 weeks.

Just wondered if it is likely to give him tummy ache - like you'd know really, he's my ds - am slightly goggle-eyed with sleep deprivation atm!!

The first couple of days I gave him food around 4pm and he was up awake during the night (ie wanting to play) and I wondered if that was to do with his body digesting this new food stuff ... guess the answer is just to give it a go!

I think he'll let you know if it does.

I doubt feeding him at 4 would be the reason for him being awake.

How much milk is he taking now and in how many bottles?

He's breastfed nbg - um, about every two-three hours during the day, a little less at night, for about 15-20 mins each time. This hasn't cut down since introducing food but then it is early days yet and I'm not weaning with the thought of getting more sleep (though that would be nice!!)

Sorry I thought you said bottles in your first post.

What foods have you given him?

Maybe if he has something like baby rice mixed in with a fruit or veg puree so that it would fill him more IYSWIM.

I'd maybe try that for tea and just give him a veg puree with a dessert puree after for lunch.

That's a thought nbg. He's only had apple and pear so far - I don't express so haven't bothered with baby rice as I'm not giving him any formula and he's too young to mix food with cows' milk. I'm trying to avoid manufactured food this time round as both dds were really picky eaters to start with which I think I didn't help by weaning them on very bland packet food.

Sorry meant to add - but hadn't thought of mixing rice in with fruit puree.

It could just fill him up that bit more. Maybe you could try potato as well with a vegtable mixed in?

Well I gave him two cubes of apple puree at teatime and he ate the whole lot, and I think he would have eaten more! He then had a bath and another 40minute feed, and has gone to bed a lot more settled - I think he was just hungry, poor love! Fingers crossed I won't be up all night feeding anyway.

We're going to give him mashed potato for christmas dinner followed by apple or pear (still just introducing one food at a time).

I heard that a very young baby can't overfeed and will turn his hea daway when he has had enough.

I usually feed mine as much as he will have so I know he isn't hungry.

Miaou good luck tomorrow, I have been pondering what to give DD (28wks, weaning since 24) She's hardly had solids today as has a cold and seems not to want much, so it might be the same tomorrow. This week I have found myself offering food 3 times a day, this is once she seemed to take to it well (ie more than a couple of spoons) so she has some yogurt at breakfast, veg puree (which she doesn't like!) and then fruit puree at lunch then same at teatime plus ricecake. I need to get around to doing some different finger foods but things have been hectic!

I have worried about whether I'm over-doing it though took it slowly at first, but it's good to see QSE's post about overeating as it's a shock to see how much she seems to be wanting!

That's interesting QE, he definitely would have eaten more if I had given it to him! I can't give him finger foods yet because he doesn't hold things, but I think I will up his foods again tomorrow.

He was up for a feed after two hours again - so much for sleeping a bit longer!