What do I need

[IShallCallYouSquishy]

My DD is 23 weeks and due to slow weight gain and eventually weight loss I've been advised to start weaning. To get the extra calories in her I've been told to do purée along side my preferred idea of BLW until she's gaining weight again.

So, tomorrow DH and I are off to get the things we will need, high chair etc but what else is useful? Do I get a stick blender or will my food processor be ok? Bowls? Plates? Spoons? What are the best? Are those coverall bibs better than normal type ones? Oh, and no dog for clear up duty so getting a plastic mat!

Thank you.

Food processor will be fine, I managed with a fine sieve for a while. Just get some cheap bibs, and lots of them. I bought some spoons that changed temperature if the food was too hot, but then I'm rubbish at judging temperatures.

Any bowls will do and I bought a couple of ice cube trays to keep the purees in. Wilkos do some great little Tupperware pots with lids that you can take from freezer to microwave. Wilkos also sell cheap shower curtains for your floor.

My high hair was a massive grace one with a huge tray and I really hated it. It was far too big and had far too many nooks and crannies that took forever to clean. Really wish I'd bought a Tripp trapp instead.

I don't get the advice to wean tbh. Doesn't full fat milk have more calories than pretty much anything else? Surely you don't want to be filling dd's tummy with slow to digest few calorie veg?

However, you don't actually need much to wean. I just cooked what I cooked and if it was too solid for baby, mash it a bit with a fork.

I never bothered with mats/bibs, but then my babies pretty much lived in sleep suits. I just changed them after a meal if I needed to.

I would disagree and say go for a stick blender if possible. If you're only blending a small amount it will just go to the outside of the food processor and sit there. Weaning spoons are a must as they spend a lot of time chewing on them (esp when teething) Bowls that stick to the high chair seem like a good idea but in my experience they rarely stick firmly (cue turning your back and finding porridge or other cement like substance all over the kitchen!) I loved weaning and personally think a combo of purées and finger food is a great idea - just don't bother with wallpaper paste aka baby rice!! Good luck!

I'm with Starlight on this one.

If you were trying to loose weight, you'd cut out carbs, dairy and increase your fruit and vegetables. If you were trying to put on weight, you'd eat more carbs and full fat milk.

Weaning a baby who isn't putting weight on is the same thing. You'll be filling her up on veg and fruit purée when she needs more milk.

Only my opinion, but I would seek a second opinion from a different HV or your GP.

If you can hold off until 6 months and then start BLW (that by the sounds of it you want to do this). these are the things I brought::

• splash mat from poundland
• antelope high chair from ikea
• small cutlery set from poundland
• small pots for snacks for when you go out

A hand blender is great, you can get one for about £5 and it can make life a lot easier. You can just boil/steam veggies and blitz them up to go in the freezer and then you have easy access to vegs and sauces.

I used muslins instead of bibs, we had so many anyway and they cover their legs as well in the highchair.

Splashmats, as they are only a pound, especially if you have carpets.

And it helps to try the really messy eating not long before bedtime

Will second the comments on baby rice too. Have a read of this before you decide.

Didn't want to question the advice to weaning advice earlier, as I know the problems you have been having from the Breast & Bottle section, but know its been brought up, have they given you suggestions of foods to try? Things like most fruit and veg and baby rice will have fewer calories than your bm. Avocados are quite calorie dense so if you go with the weaning try that one

Can you express? Could you mix some bm with the purees?

Once she is upto 6 months you can just puree whatever you are having, provided of course that your family meals are quite healthy .

Vanish, lots and lots of Vanish.

Vanish, lots and lots of Vanish.

So good you said it twice .

Oh, and you might want to start a new thread asking for suggestions of what to wean for a low weight baby. I've seen them on here in the past. One of the things I think I remember is adding mascarpone to the food, but you may want to check that one out before you try it .

Thank you all for the suggestions. I got a high chair and just a couple spoons and tub/bowl things today. I'm going to get a hand held stick blender from sainsburys tomorrow.

Staying away from baby rice and starting with a bit of baby porridge made with EBM to keep getting those breast milk calories into her, as well as her usual breast feeds.

Thank you for your help.

Sounds like a good plan. My stick blender is the Sainsburys cheapo one and its been going for years.