Quick question about weaning a 18 week old ...

[flapjackaddict]

I have just started weaning my LO who is 18 weeks old. I have done rice after the 11am BF for 4 days now. Today I introduced sweet potato after the 11am BF. My question is do I give him rice now at 5pm (to replace my 5pm BF) and then BF him at 6.30 like I normally do?

I currently do a BF at 5pm and 6.30b (top him up before bed). I have read one book telling you to give him rice after the 6pm BF whilst continually introducing a new food after the 11am BF. Another book tells me to just introduce new foods after 11am BF. So I am confused and wondered what in practice do mums who are weaning early do?

I thought it would be really messy to do a rice feed after the 6.30pm BF I'll probably need to bath him again :-).

Thank you in advance for your help.
Jane

I have weaned all 3 children at 17 weeks, and have given them 'tea' at 4/5pm before the bath and then Bf after the bath. I have also read the book about feeding last thing and find the idea of feeding after the bath odd.

Why are you weaning early? I know it's your baby/your choice blah blah, but there are good reasons why you're meant to wait another month.

If your baby is not able to sit unaided, pick food up and put it in his/her mouth, chew it, move it to the back of their mouth and swallow it, they are not developmentally ready for anything other than milk.

Don't Rush To Mush

BM has more calories than baby rice so I wouldn't replace any milk feeds with it at such an early age. Unless you've been advised to wean early for medical reasons, I don't understand the rush to wean. It's all such a ruddy faff whether BLW or more 'traditional' puree'd methods. What can be easier than giving a boob or bottle?

Thanks thoughtsplease. So did you do two "meals" in one day? ie the midday feed and then the 4/5 feed in the same day?

Have you actually got your fingers in your ears as you sing "la la la I can't hear you"?

If weaning early then you need to take it much slower so I would stick with one type of food at the same time each day for a few days. I wouldn't move up to 2 meals a day until much later when he's getting the hang of eating a reasonable amount.

Which books are you using?

I started just with 1 meal, then a couple of weeks later 2 meals, one at 11/12 ish and then 4/5pm. DS is now 26 weeks and will be trying to do 3 meals now, although breakfast before taking the girls to school is proving difficult!

And for the record HV and Doctors have been involved and supported my decision to wean before 6 months, the HV who weighed DS yesterday said I should try to do 3 meals now.

He's actually 28 weeks not 26 weeks, (although not sure a magic 2 weeks makes much difference!)