We started weaning our daughter just over about 3 weeks ago (she was 5 months then), initially planned to follow an Annabel Karmel inspired "timetable"by introducing baby rice on day one at lunch time, sweet potato on day 2/3 and so on and so forth. She really took to it, although our timings were a little off (being receptive to food right in between lunch time and dinner time). A few days later though, she got poorly with a cough/cold and was teething, so completely went off solids and didn't have anything for almost two weeks.
So over the past couple of days, she is really receptive to it again. I'm finding that she is more keen on putting things into her own mouth, and when I try and give purees, she wants to hold the spoon herself (messy!!). I have offered various finger foods, such as sweet potato wedges, sticks of pear, cooked carrot, parsnip, etc, pieces of plain rice cakes. I am holding back on most things until she reaches 6 months (only about a week away), at which point I think I will offer whatever we are eating (within reason) and more exciting finger foods.
Whereas we were very slowly and gradually introducing small amounts once a day to start with, since recommencing after illness, I have just been offering a little something at each meal time, with no expectation that she will actually eat it all. However, she has really gone for it, and has been eating 3 times a day, as well as her regular milk feeds.
I guess I am just anxious to know that this is "ok". What could be the issue with allowing her 3 "meals" a day so soon? Is it just that she could potentially drop milk feeds too soon?
Today she has had a small amount of porridge at breakfast, two ice cube sized servings of butternut squash and carrot, and a suck on a chunk of banana at lunch, and about 1/3 of a rice cake and an ice cube sized serving of pureed apple at dinner. This is as well as her regular milk feeds. Does that sound alright?!
I hate feeling like I have no idea what I'm doing! To be honest, I imagined we would just trundle along doing purees and mash for the foreseeable future!