Simple approach to weaning?

[NuzzleandScratch]

Dd2 will be 6 months old in 2 weeks, so will be starting weaning then. With dd1, I used Annabel Karmel's books as a rough guide, but she just makes everything seem such a faff! So can anyone recommend a book with a simpler approach, or any websites? I'm planning to do mostly purées, but want to include finger foods early, as I don't think I did this with dd1, & she's quite fussy now, which I think is partly due to this. With dd1, we also ended up giving a lot of Ella's pouches, which I'm keen to avoid (partly due to cost, & also, I think fresh food has to be better).

Any advice appreciated! I don't want to do BLW, as to be honest, I'm quite nervous of choking! Dd1 is a fruit & veg refuser, so I'm keen to introduce these to dd2 as finger foods, so hopefully we won't end up with the same problem! (I'm also secretly hoping that dd1 seeing all this might finally be willing to try some new foods!)

Can you ask your HV? I got a booklet from mine which was really useful.

It's not rocket science (not patronising I promise it's just easy to make it into a massive thing when it doesn't have to be).

I started a bit earlier than you but by 7 months DS was eating what we ate (no salt used in cooking).

Good luck.

The easy approach is to cook healthy food for the rest of the family and then puree/mash it for the baby. Any bits you feel like leaving as finger food, you can.

Thanks, I will ask the HV, as she's due to be weighed again. I totally agree that it shouldn't be a big deal, the books just make it seem that way don't they! I think sometimes you just need to be pointed out the basics (especially when sleep deprived!).

Rana Conway's Weaning Made Easy is a good book. She advises doing some simple purees and everyday table foods. She is very common sense.

Rana Conway's Weaning Made Easy is a good book. She advises doing some simple purees and everyday table foods. She is very common sense.

I found it useful to cook lots of stews, casseroles and mild curries for the family without salt and put them in the freezer (get some very low salt stock cubes, they are very useful). Then you just get them out to defrost, and remove the baby's portion before salting the adult's portion. You can just mash bits with a fork and feed them to the baby, and then start gradually giving actual pieces of food for self-feeding once you and the baby feel a bit more confident.

Good point CMOT, which has the added benefit of making us eat more healthily!

Thanks TheNewStatesman, I'll check out that book. Good idea about cooking stew type meals. Annoyingly, dd1 will only eat 'dry' foods, such as grilled salmon or chicken with plain rice, but I don't mind cooking separately for her for now, hopefully she'll broaden her horizons at some point!