Once I've started weaning 5 month old, can I stop?

[sparklechops]

Would appreciate some weaning advice. We started our ebf five-month-old DD on baby rice last week and she loves it - guzzles it down and tries to grab spoon! I was intending on starting her on fruit purees this week but having read things on here, I am in two minds and worried that I have started too early. She's very small for her age - only 13lbs - but perfectly healthy and very active. She's sitting up fine (we feed her in Bumbo), has been rolling for weeks and is already starting to crawl. I was intending on using purees until she is six months and then putting pieces of food in front of her - so basically trying BLW. Will it be ok to keep her on purees and baby rice for the next month or should I just stop completely and start again when she's six months? All very confusing. I went to an NHS run weaning class and they advised to start around now. Also, my HV agreed it would be ok. But after reading things here and on other sites, I'm wondering whether we should have waited. Basically worried about sparking any intolerances.

Both (purees until 6 months or stopping and starting again) would be fine I think. Milk should be the main source of nutrition until 12 months anyway.. So if your baby only plays with her food and doesn't swallow any for a few months it doesn't matter so long as you keep giving her as much milk as she wants as often as she wants it.

It might be worth doing some reading on the baby led weaning website. I read the book when I was pregnant having never heard of it before, it made a lot of sense to me and helped the whole weaning thing become much less of a minefield and I was able to approach it with confidence when the time came.

FWIW none of the things you've said make me think "ooh that baby's ready for solids" - if she seems hungry she probably needs more milk! I'm pretty sure waiting another month or more will reduce the likelihood of food allergies developing as well.

If I were you I'd do some research to help boost your confidence and give you a bit of direction. Good luck!

Yes, have ordered a BLW book...patiently waiting for Amazon to deliver! Can I ask which one you read? Am feeding on demand and will continue to do so - planning on bf until first birthday if poss.

Just seen the one one you mean. The Gill Rapley one. That's the one I've ordered.

I wouldnt worry too much about stopping if the signs that your dc is ready for food are there. I weaned at 18 weeks on GP advice. My dd was dropping centiles and I was told to take her to the doctors by the HV. There was nothing medically wrong with her, she just couldnt take milk in any real volume. I went through a stage of feeding her hourly but she ended up getting really cranky and it made no difference to her weight. My GP went through all of the signs that show a baby is ready for food and confirmed she was showing them and then told me to start baby rice. My GP said that the guidelines were just that - guidelines and that my baby's weight was a more pressing concern. Next time around I will look for the signs and use the 6 month mark as a guideline. I think 6 months is a good age to aim for (obviously I wouldn't wean younger than 18 weeks) but I think following the baby is the best way. We did purees and then introduced finger foods at 6 months and my dd thrived. Her weight stabilised, she dropped one of her bottles and was altogether happier and more content. Follow your baby x

I had the same worry so just stayed with baby rice till i felt he was ready to move onto purees. he has been fine. So far I have just stuck with baby rice, fruit and veg but he is now 6 months so going to introduce dairy soon and then meat/ fish after that. I think its just a big step and you are worrying because the current guidelines say 6 months. I started ds when I felt he was ready, if your dd is enjoying it then i would say carry on but it wont do her any harm if you stopped again for a bit. do whatever feels right for you and your dd.

Thanks for the advice! Have decided to carry on with just once-a-day baby rice and perhaps some purees until six months, when we'll start on solids if she seems ready.