weaning

[Squinky]

Hii, I've only recently discovered this site, and after reading a few of the pages and discussions on weaning, I'm now really scared that we've rushed ahead with my son when he wasn't ready for it. He's 5 months old on Friday, but we started weaning him at 3 and a half (on the recommendation of our health visitor). He was always a really hungry baby, so we were advised to put him on the extra hungry formula, which we did (not that it made much difference). After a while though, he settled to 4-5hourly feeds during the day (9oz) and sleeping through from 8.30pm-7am. However, at his 3-4 month check, I spoke to the health visitor about him feeding more often, and waking up in the nights again for feeds, and she suggested trying the baby rice, which he took brilliantly, and then onto solids, like mashed potatoes and carrots etc, which he still takes really well. I'm just worried because at the weekend we changed his milk from SMA first stage (yellow) to the follow-on (red), and whilst he's had no problems at all, will he still be getting everything he needs? And should I still continue on solids, is it too late to go back to just milk? So many people have given me so much advice. Mostly my mum and mother-in-law, who argue that 'you were all weaned at about 4 months, and it never did you lot any harm!' In fact, when the mother in law fed my son mashed potatoes at 7 weeks old ( !!!!!!!!!!) and I objected and said that you're not supposed to wean before 6 months, she laughed in my face and told me to get a grip! Help?

Don't worry, you are not the first person to be bullied by mother/mother-in-law into weaning earlier than 6 months. If I was in your situation I don't think I would have gone against the advice of grandparents and health visitor as a first time mum - it's so difficult when everybody seems so certain in their opinions!

I don't think (although I'm no expert) that there's any point in stopping solids now, but do make sure you introduce finger foods from 6 months and relax about how much puree DS is having.

Personally, I never went on to follow-on milk, just stayed with first milk until he was able to go on to whole milk aged one.

I would definately not go back now either, but I would go back onto the other formula. HV and doc always told me that follow-on was a waste of time, so DS was on yellow SMA until 1 when he went onto cow's milk no problem. Just make food fun and make sure he is still getting the amount of milk he needs. You will get loads of good advice on here! I could spend all day reading about feeding my DS!

I chopped up some banana for him earlier and he couldn't pick it up properly because it was so slippery but it was hilarious watching him squish it up with his fingers haha, then I gave him a bit of mango which was more successful! Is there any fruit/veg I should avoid? Not because it's too small and they could choke on it (grapes, blueberries, cherry tomatoes etc), but because it's bad for them?

I read somewhere about leaving kiwis until later in case of allergies (but didn't listen). Just separate bananas with your fingers and they are less slippy for them to grasp. Also, cut grapes in half to avoid choking I think. DS adored blueberries, blackberries and pear slices. Cook carrots/parsnips sticks to make them softer so they can gum them. There are so many ideas on the internet for finger foods you could search forever!