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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Am desperate to start weaning!

28 replies

MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 11:04

DD is 5 /12 months ish. I've been holding out for the 6 months marker but it's killing me! Anyone else desperate to start weaning?? I just love the idea of feeding her with a spoon and getting into the whole pureeing thing. Some of the recipes look delicious!

OP posts:
belgo · 08/10/2006 11:10

I don't really see the problem with starting to wean her now. In fact, I think the newest guidelines state that you can start weaning between 4 and 6 months (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong!) In Belgium where I live, the advice is between 4 and 6 months.

Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 11:12

i know but she's not really showing signs of needing to be weaned...

OP posts:
ledodgywizardrobespierre · 08/10/2006 11:12

If she's not showing any signs wait until she's ready it will happen soon wnough.

ledodgywizardrobespierre · 08/10/2006 11:13

*enough

covenoveneer · 08/10/2006 11:13

Why are you so desperate to wean? It is so messy .

MerlinsBeard · 08/10/2006 11:13

whats the rush? easier when ur out and about to heat a bottle up. You could start coooking and pureeing and freezing things though in preparation. If shes not showing signs then its prob not the right time.

belgo · 08/10/2006 11:14

If she's not showing signs of wanting to wean, then you'll save yourself a whole load of hassle by waiting until 6 months! Weaning is absolutely my worst parenting job ever.

BlackCatBert · 08/10/2006 11:23

Aw - for what it's worth - I think you have done great to have stuck it out until 5 1/2 months. I actually remember that feeling of being desperate to wean. Having weaned 2 babies now, I must be an old bore and tell you it's not NEARLY so much fun as you think it is. It really IS messy. It really DOES make going out more tricky as you have to remember food, bowls, spoons and find places which will accomodate. You will have to join those threads which debate jars vs real food!!!

Stick it out - it's not long to go. And the better she is at sitting, the easier it will be to have her in her highchair etc. And weaning can be lots of finger foods and fun stuff like that - rather than watching puree go in, and back out again dozens of times until you cry...

GuppinBuppin · 08/10/2006 11:54

it's messy. their poo gets really really stinky and you have to start taking food with you when you go out.

Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 11:56

hahaha, thanks! i get the picture!
glad of the support because it is HARD to hold out like this. I know it sounds daft but i guess i just fancy the change. BF (with top-up formula) can get so dull!!!

OP posts:
QueenQuootieSpookypieBee · 08/10/2006 12:02

Its best to wait until 6 months. Its hard, I know... I was desperate but I made it and started weaning 6 months to the day only 2 more weeks, isnt it?

Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 13:08

well, it's almost 3 i guess QQSB. Born 27th.

What I don't get is that one minute they're saying wait until 6 months, and the other minute they're saying that baby should have vitamins, iron etc etc no later than 6 months. if you wait until 6 months to start baby rice, and my friend said it took her baby 2 weeks to get the hang of swallowing baby rice, then you're going to be late with the vitamins, minerals, iron etc from pureed veg

i spose a few days/weeks either way doesn't matter...

OP posts:
Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 13:09

and when i say 'they', i mean advice in books, HV, WHO etc.

OP posts:
QueenQuootieSpookypieBee · 08/10/2006 13:14

i think you can get vitamin drops?

You have 6 months to build up to 3 meals a day, so 2 weeks is ok to get used to swallowing. Try and hold off... if you can

Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 13:17

ok..... sigh

OP posts:
QueenQuootieSpookypieBee · 08/10/2006 13:17

honestly, its worth the wait

dizzybint · 08/10/2006 13:17

have you read about baby led weaning? no bowls no spoons no puree..

Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 13:23

well dizzy, it's funny, earlier i saw a load of thread titles with BLW and I was thinking, what on earth is BLW?? Then i found out it was baby led weaning, but it still left me wondering! what does it mean, that you put food in front of them and see if they go for it?

OP posts:
QueenQuootieSpookypieBee · 08/10/2006 13:24

im doing BLW

Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 14:18

How do you BLW QQSB?

OP posts:
QueenQuootieSpookypieBee · 08/10/2006 14:21

basically its giving baby finger food and letting them control their own intake. You cant start before 6 months, because they cant pick up food, place in their mouths and chew it before then. They basically eat when they are ready, and as much or litle as they like. Ive started with boiled carrot sticks, banana and toast fingers and hes getting the hang of it in just a few days Theres more to it... and a blog. Look for BLW in the title of threads, and theres probably a link to the blog.

Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 15:49

ok thanks, i will look for it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MissyBabee · 08/10/2006 15:57

Just found aitch's blog QQSB. Very exciting! I had no idea about this before. No-one's ever mentioned anything to me other than puree-ing and ice-cube trays!

OP posts:
dizzybint · 08/10/2006 16:54

yes, just as described. there's been some research to show that if you wait til 6 months that's when the baby's body is physically able to sit up, pick the food up, chew it, and swallow it which is also when their gut is ready to take the food. so for example your baby would probably choke on a pea at 6 months, but they also can't pick one up cos they don't have the pincer grip. so the baby's body only lets them eat food they are able to eat. does that make sense? aitch's blog is fab, loads of great pictures.

littlepiggieneedssomesleep · 08/10/2006 21:48

6 months is a guide, ds is 24 weeks and started blw this past week, he will hold food, put it to his moth and chew, he will eat banana and a rice cake for breakfast with very little help or no help (slippy food slips out of his hands) It is thought that if they can pick food up, put it to there mouths and eat it then they are ready.
Ds had been trying to get our food for weeks, about a week ago i had him on my knee while eating a banana, he got all giddy, grabbed it and had a good old suck and chew on it. He will alredy take bites of it, mush it about his mouth a bit and swollow.

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