Conflicting advice

[Blankiefan]

Dd is 7 mo next week. We've had a few false starts at weaning due to DD's illnesses. She's at nursery and keeps getting sick - d&v twice and a cold in the last 4 weeks.

Each time she's been sick, we've postponed starting weaning or paused it and gone back to just milk. Our GP has been happy with this.

But we're so far behind. Almost a month in and we're still on a few spoonfuls of purée once a day - and not everyday.

I spoke to the HV today who seemed a bit shocked we weren't further in. She said we should have kept on with solids regardless. She'd like us to be on 3 meals a day and half her milk (currently around 1L per day). Her advice is clearly shaped by an unspoken norm that most people start before the advised 6 months. I don't see how you'd get to 3 meals per day in 4 weeks - even without illness.

So - what do we do? Push forward aggressively or continue to build slowly? I'm concerned we're missing out on giving her all the nutrients she needs to develop (and wonder if our lack of progress is contributing to get getting every bug going - although I know logically a lot of this is due to starting nursery already).... Any thoughts about what we do now?

could you offer bits of finger food as well as the once a day puree as at 7 months she should be able to feed herself things too. I wouldnt cut the milk drastically as she wont be able to make up the shortfall with food just yet. The milk should naturally decrease as solids increase.

Everything is okay - , that does not sound very helpful from your HV. If you look at the NHS website then it says that you sound be expecting to reach 8-9 months. Some reach that earlier (as I did with DD1) bur it is entirely dependant on the baby. Some take to it quickly, other more slowly. THe worst thing you can do is to get stressed and try to go quicker than you baby wants.

I don't know whether any of your friends are doing BLW but if they are take a look at how much food their children are actually consuming by 7 months! A LOT ends up on the floor. What do nursery say? How many days is your DD there? How comfortable to you feel about allowing her some finger food now that she is better?

Unless you have ongoing medical/weight issues, I wouldn't bother going to see the HV. It's an optional service they offer, and they are there to give advice not instructions.

You sound like you are doing fine, taking your dd's illnesses into account. The NHS weaning advice is to move to 3 meals a day by around 8 to 9 months. So you've got a while yet to get there. The HV is being unnecessarily controlling and pushy giving you such specific instructions.

IMO keeping going at your dd pace is probably best. Being too aggressive with food may be counter productive. Finger foods are a good idea to introduce her to a range of tastes and textures. You could possibly try some soft lumps mixed with puree? Try not to worry too much, she ll get there in her own time.