Start weaning: basic questions

[moonprayer]

Hi, I have just started weaning my 5mo DS following GP's advice due to his reflux. I plan to start very slow by just adding baby rice till 6mo. Does it make sense? About weaning, I have several questions:

1. How much should I give him for each meal? Currently I only offer him 1 teaspoon of baby rice mixed with 3 teaspoons of breast milk. He is quite happy to take all of it, even right after normal feeding. Is it too much or too little? How should I judge whether it's enough or not? Shall I make more and feed to him until he refuses to take any more?
2. I understand I should start from lunch. But then shall I add solids on breakfast or dinner, or both?
3. I heard that baby rice could cause constipation (which I suspect has shown some sign...). Shall I offer water to my DS? How much water shall I give him if any? I've prepare a sippy cup for him, but he just chews the spout (well, I suspect he is teething) and hardly takes in any water. I also offer the breast in case he is thirsty, but he doesn't really show more interest and normally just refuses to feed. In that case, shall I feed him some water, which he seems to like? If yes, how much water shall I give him? For example, with 4/5 spoon of baby rice, how much water?

Thank you very much in advance.

Hello!

I think you'll be the best judge on what your ds needs or likes. I weaned my ds at 5 1/2 months and very slowly, much slower than others I think from what I gathered from reading on here!

I started with baby rice mixed to a thin custardy consistency. I started just with lunch first, then after a couple of weeks gave him baby rice with fruit purée for breakfast and veg/fruit purée for lunch. After a couple more weeks we started tea too. I added finger foods too and started reducing the midmorning and afternoon milk so he was hungry for solids. After a time I experimented with textures and thicker/chunkier purée etc. now ds is 20 months and he eats everything and is not fussy at all really (though like all toddlers he has him moments!)

I found the Annabel Karmel book 'weaning' fantastic.

I shouldn't worry about amounts. He'll tell you when he's full.

Good luck!

Oh, and ds had water in a bottle at first, moving on to dippy cups.

Have you thought of mixing the baby rice with ebm (if you are able to express).

There is a reflux support thread going in the breast& bottle section which you might find useful. You might also find tisvarticle useful So how do we get started with solids. Also reflux can often be diagnosed when the problem is actually tongue tie. Have a read of this and see if any of it sounds familiar?

Think though that to answer your questions fully you really need to speak to a BFC. Have you got a bfing support group you can go and talk to about weaning with or maybe give one of the Bfing Helplines a call. Have you got the numbers?

Thank you TheOneAndOnlyAlpha for sharing your experience. I was like in the dark and didn't know how to start. All the info I have read is all about what to start with but not how often and the amount. But now at least I could find some guidelines. I will have a read of the book. Thanks.

Hi JiltedJohnsJulie, thank you for your advice. I am doing baby rice with ebm right now. Was just wondering whether I need to add more liquid with it. But DS sometimes refuses to feed so I thought water may help.
The article in kellymom is really useful. While I am not sure whether my DS could be tongue tight. He is generally latching on well and gaining weight well, although he has been quite gassy since birth even now, which is another big issue...
I didn't realise I could ask BF helpline about weaning. Will do then. Thanks

My DS gained weight well with tongue tie too. It does sound like its worth checking out.....