Starting weaning tomorrow - help!

[Writerwannabe83]

DS is EBF and he is 6 months old tomorrow. We are going to begin the weaning process but don't really know how to go about it!!

We are giving him mashed/puréed carrots but how much am I supposed to give and when? Does he need to be restricted to one or two spoonfuls or do I let him have as many as he wants?

And should he be on one 'meal' a day or more???

Ah dear. These things can get weirdly competitive. Just wait until you get to potty training. And then reading levels...

I totally agree that it shouldn't be a faff. I more meant that, with DD1, I was focused on making things that were suitable for her. This time, I won't care if dinner is just two spoonfuls of mash that get thrown about unless and until he's eating enough to drop lots of milk feeds.

The other tip is patience. Don't hurry him. Don't try and guide stuff into his mouth. He might faff for hours. That's a good thing - you can cook tea or tidy the kitchen or whatever around him. Or indeed sit and MN with a coffee.

And it's fine to puree too. You can do both f you want to.

Yes that's the best bit. With blw you can give a fussy baby something to eat in highchair in kitchen whilst you finish prepping dinner.

And easier to get something out if needed/ out longer. Even costa sell sticks of melon and bananas now. And you can just give bits from your lunch out ie crusts off sandwiches, whatever off plate than you can either spoon in or let him hold and try

Salmon fillets very good if he likes as soft/ but flakes easy to pick up. Can just pop some in foil in oven 20 mins, eat 3/4 yourself and give him chunk off end

Means you find yourselves also eating healthier also :)

I've done it both ways and blw is so little faff. It's messy, but then all weaning is messy.

It's important to get your head around how little food he will eat though. Keep bf on demand and he'll take more at his own pace.

It gets much easier once their grip and coordination improves, particular the pincer grip but this comes with practice.

Oh, and it's important to mention (I'm sure you know this) that it's vital that he can sit independently. He must be able to move his body to be able to move food around in his mouth or move his head around, as this reduces any risk of choking.

Ladies, can I hijack this thread to ask a quick question?

I love all the advice given, I've done both purree and BLW but I'm stuck with DS4.

His pead said it's okay to start weaning but DS has delayed chewing skills (due to delayed motor skill caused mainly by a brain infection) and a sensitive gag reflux and I have no idea where to start. Any helpful/random advice?

Sorry for hijacking!

Although seeing the above post, I should hold off because he cannot even sit without slouching yet (he's 11mo act)

I BLW DD (who wouldn't take a spoon putting paid to any thought of puree, regardless). It was great. She is 22 mo and an incredibly adventurous and confident eater.

I would add two bits of advice to the fab stuff you've been given above.

First, the advantage of BLW is that it allows the baby to explore food and play with it (which is how they learn). So embrace it as a form of play! consider colours and textures, let your baby play with the food, squishing it with their hands, smooshing it around. And with that in mind I would save yourself some heartache and do meals in a nappy (baby, not you ) in an easy to clean bit of the house. I found it much easier to cope with the inevitable mess when I could just wipe it up.

Second, don't worry if your baby doesn't eat much, at all, for quite a while. DD didn't eat any appreciable quantity until almost ten months, when she scoffed damn near a pun net of blackberries

And keep an open mind about what they might like. DD loved mushrooms right from the off, still does.

Enjoy!

I'm worried I'm going to give him something I shouldn't. I just don't enough about what foods are or aren't safe for them to eat.

Writer- pretty much no honey before one, max 1g salt before 1 ie just don't add salt to cooking/ or give processed food.

Mama - I would maybe talk to pediatrition again. But I would probably give him some mashed style as he can't sit alone yet. They might recommend giving some baby vitamins and waiting a few more weeks also

Writer - Stick to things like fruit, toast (bread), veg, eggs, pancakes (the american style ones), cheese cubes and rice cakes. Try food groups like; grains - pasta or wheat toast with hummus. Healthy fats - avocados (eaten on their own or smeared on bread). Protein - boiled chicken or grilled fish (be careful to remove any bones). Fruits and vegetables. Dairy - yogurt and soft pasteurized cheeses like ricotta or cottage cheese (if given the chance, babies can learn to spoon-feed themselves) :)

Try what you're comfortable with and just keep adding and getting more confident as you go :)

I found this site really helpful. With lots of good recipes.

Art - He doesn't she her for a few months now so I might book an appointment with his nutritionist instead and see what she recommends :) Thanks!

Writer- he is six months with no known allergies, yes? Then normal baby rules: low salt, no honey yet. Cut grapes, cherry tomatoes, etc up.

Then I'd just add to cook foods which are otherwise very hard and snap into big chunks - e.g. carrot.

If you give him something otherwise 'not ideal' for the early stages the only issue will be he won't get much into his mouth - e.g. long grain white rice (though sticky rice is fab!)

I also think this is important; "If the baby gags, remember that it’s their way of moving food around in the mouth and don’t panic. Some parents have found that making exaggerated chewing faces and noises reminds the child to get back on track."

Gagging doesn't always mean choking. I'd like to think we could tell the difference xx

Mama - The key thing is the ability to sit upright with a little support if required, rather than sitting completely unaided. Does he still slump in a high chair or just when trying to sit unaided?

Cornish - He occasionally slumps in the highchair, or leans to the side but not as much as he does when he's sat unaided. He loves to sit up but he just can't get the hang of it yet.

We've had much more success tonight - he had dry toast and roasted parsnip as suggested and he loved sucking in them!!! Especially the parsnip!!

Admittedly he didn't eat anything and just made them soggy through sucking but I'm assuming that's to be expected this early on

Absolutely. That is a fabulous first day. Well done WriterBaby.

Writerwannabe83 - That's expected. At their age it's more about exploring food rather than eating it. If he's still being bf then he's still getting nutrients :)

Ps You will know when some goes down by the contents of the other end!

Hi writer, if you can get yourself on www.babyledweaning.com

Oops, posted too soon! There's lots of advice plus a forum where you can get recipe ideas and chat to other mums. I'm on the "September Starters" thread under a different name.

DD is 6.5 months and in the last two weeks has had broccoli, cucumber, butternut squash, carrot, mango, yoghurt, porridge, satsuma, avocado, banana, courgette & chicken thighs! It really is just a question of finding your confidence and trusting your baby.

I did BLW with my babies. Straight onto family food, cooked veg to start with , no purees, no spoon feeding. Within a few weeks they were eating normal family food.

When can they start being tried on yogurt??

When can they start being tried on yogurt??

Can give yogurt now. I would just give a natural Greek yogurt though as most others even baby ones fairly sugary/ sweet

I was just wondering as I'm sitting here with a strawberry flavoured yogurt in my hand (a bit like a petit filous type) and was trying to decide whether to give him some. I won't then if natural yogurt is what's recommended

You can give him some. It is fine. Sugar is about balance overall, not individual foods, just like with an adult but less sugar in total.