How to begin? Prem twins, not ready for high chairs

[PeelingmyselfofftheCeiling]

My Dts are 5.5 months and although they were 10wks early we still need to begin weaning in the next couple of weeks.

They're way too small for a high chair and haven't really got used to sitting in the bumbo for more than 30 seconds at a time.

What bothers me more is that basically meal times for me are something snatched during naps. Due to the fact they can't go in high chairs and you can't put bumbos on the kitchen table and the fact that if they're both awake odds are one is crying I never have them with me when I eat IYSWIM.

Anyone been in a similar situation or got any tips?

Peeling, my twins were born at 31 weeks, we were told to wean at 6 months actual. I had wanted to do BLW but there is no way they could do that. We have gone down the puree route and I feed them in their fisher price baby to toddler recliner chairs and they are fine with it. Were four weeks in now and they are on 3 meals and 4 bottles a day. Mine have reflux too and it is improving with the solids.

Good luck!

Hi silver. Was hoping you'd spot this! Do you have a link to that chair? Can't seem to find one online.,

I used a bouncy chair and then the Bumbo (although I know the Bumbo doesn't work for everyone). I then found a high chair that reclined but tbh it was quite expensive and not really worth it.

As an aside about when to wean a prem baby, we were advise to wean at 5-6 months old (not corrected) even though she seemed really small. I believe that the reason is that the baby has been using their digestive system to digest milk for 6 months.

I was advised to wean my premmie at 6 months actual too. Too tired to remember exactly why, prob due to iron stores lacking etc. Bumbo was a disaster, DD would slump with her nose near her toes and a highchair didn't work until she was about 7mo corrected. I mostly fed her in the bouncy chair until she could sit. Tbh for me it was only tiny mouthfuls of mush a couple of times a day (she was usually either feeding or sleeping!) for a couple of months before she cottoned on to eating.

Ooh, I'm on phone so no idea how to link but google fisher price infant to toddler rocker, argos do them. We were using simpler bouncy chairs but these hold their heads way better!

Ooh, I'm on phone so no idea how to link but google fisher price infant to toddler rocker, argos do them. We were using simpler bouncy chairs but these hold their heads way better!

this is the sort that we got - we bought it on ebay for about £10, (put reclining booster into ebay search) it was recommended by ds's occupational therapist, and is still really useful.

There is a good leaflet you can get from the Bliss website on weaning premature babies. I started at actual age 6 months, corrected age, 4 months (you don't correct weaning as the digestive system has been working since they were born, also prem babies are often much slower to take it up). I used the car seat and bouncy chair. Start with smooth purees and when you feel ready you can give them a rice cake or those Organix crisps, something that gives them an idea of chewing but that melts easily. Take it slow, keep food smooth till you are comfortable with the head control and try to enjoy it. Don't bother comparing with other babies just go at a pace that you think works for you. And I second ensuring there is still plenty of milk. Don't worry about rushing into a high chair. The rules for prem babies are not the same as full term. Good luck.

As it's basically going to be entertainment for a few weeks, do you think it matters if once started they go back to a few days on milk only? Just got a few weekends away in the diary..

I don't think that matters at all. There are many days when they will hardly have any food and they won't miss it. If you can maybe try to keep the main 'meal' you decide on that might be good, from a routine point of view. Even if it's just a few spoons of puree. However, I really wouldn't stress about skipping the odd day in the early months. The Ella's Kitchen stage one pouches are brilliant if you are away and not too precious about cooking every darn thing yourself.