I need a plan! Please help, advice needed.

[Gina1981]

I started weaning DD this week. DD is 26 weeks and is EBF. I'm really struggling with it all at the moment and I don't know what to do!! I've been offering her purée fruit and veg. She seems to like it. I've also offered finger foods too.

She use to bf every 2-3 hours in the day and wake 2-3 times at night! so use to have 10-12 feeds in 24 hrs.

What I am struggling with is when to offer food and when to offer the breast! She doesn't seem to ever let me know what she wants. She tends to nap whist she bf and tbh that is the only time she will take the breast. She has reduced her feeds to about 5-7 in the day and still the same at night! I'm trying to find a fine balance and can't quite get it right. I can barely get her to bf whist awake and take food and fit it in the whole day.

I find my whole day is occupied with feeding! I don't even know if I've made any sense as I keep going roun and round in circles with this!

Relax! It gets better I promise.

I know what you mean about feeling like you are spending all day feeding.

I would suggest making a concerted effort to be as lazy about it as possible. Nothing you do is going to scar her for life (ok maybe read the NHS website about foods to avoid like honey).

She will get 99% of her calories from bm for now. Food is just fun. Sit her in her chair or on your lap when you are eating & give her a bit of yours to muck about with. Don't stress about the timing or a routine.

Thanks antidote for replying.

I really do try and relax but I keep thinking how on earth am I going to manage 4 bfs and 3 meals a day!! I know this doesn't happen over night but I really am struggling full stop.

Because she only bf whist asleep, she doesn't nap. So she seems miserable up until she is due a feed so she can then have another 20-40 mins nap and feed!! By tea time when I sit down to eat with the other 2dc, DD3 is so tired she won't sit in her high chair and try some foods with us as she is so tired!!

I originally wanted to do blw but I can't handle the mess and waste. But at the same time I can't be arsed with all the flapping about with pureeing! I must sound so selfish!! I'm just so um decided!!

If you already have 2dc I would seriously recommend BLW much as Anti describes. Put something down on the floor, like a cheap shower curtain, sit her on your lap and let her help herself. You can sit her in a highchair if you prefer. Purees are a real faff and BLW is so much easier.

As for the feeds, have you tried feeding her in a sling so that she can feed and nap whilst you do other stuff?

Don't worry about getting 3 meals into her either, just keep giving her the bfs and offer her food when you have some. if she wants the solids fine if refuses thats ok as she is getting everything she needs from you for now.

Like Anti says, relax, take one day at a time and she will get there soon .

It is tough when they only feed/sleep simultaneously!

Does she have a particular time of day when she is less grumpy? For me, breakfast has always been the best meal for DS, and he is always overtired by supper, and rarely eats a big meal.

Like jilted says, you won't be trying 3 meals and 4 feeds all at once.

I found blw much less wasteful than pureed mush. DS just ate our leftovers (and vice versa). It was messy, but puree can be just as bad.

You don't sound selfish, you sound stressed (and tired).

Hope things improve soon

You sound exhausted. I'd be working on less night feeding and forgetting about the weaning if it was me!!

My advice would be to just keep bf as you have been. If she is awake when the rest of you are eating let her sit on your knee or in her highchair and give her some of what you are having. If she's not interested, don't worry about it, she's not going to be 18 and still bf, it will happen in its own sweet time :)