Timing and introduction of meals

[WorkingItOutForMyself]

Hi all,

My DS is 5.5 months so we are starting to think about weaning him when he turns 6 months. I'm planning on doing a mix of (mainly) BLW and (some) puree.

I'm returning to work when he's 7 months, so I'm going to have to tell nursery what to do once he starts.

I know I'm going to start by offering breakfast - when do I do this? Right now he wakes and feeds at 7am and naps at 9am. Best to offer breakfast before nap, or after?

With BLW can I just let him get on with it - ie offer him some food at every meal and assume he'll eat if he wants to? Or do I have to work up to offering 3 meals a day? If so, how long should I wait before offering lunch and then dinner?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row for when he starts nursery!

I'm totally clueless and find myself unable to read all the books on it, as once DS is asleep, I am too!! If anyone has any other good websites / resources I'd love to see them :-)

TIA

If you can read just one book, read the BLW book by Gill Rapley (not the cookbook). It gives a good overview of BLW.

I would do breakfast at maybe 8 to 8.15 am on your schedule - about an hour after a milk feed. If that's too tight a time window, you could start with lunch instead. It doesn't really matter which meal you begin with (I did lunch).

I offered one meal a day for a few weeks and then did two meals, moving to 3 meals a few weeks after that. The reason I did that was the NHS advice to move towards 3 meals a day by 8 to 9 months. My DS took to BLW very quickly and was soon able to feed himself as much as he wanted.

We started with DD2 a fortnight ago. I offer food at lunchtime by placing it on her tray. She has eaten banana! It took about 3/4 weeks for DD1 to get the idea. I offer one meal at 6 months, 2 at 7 months, 3 at 8 months and then add snacks at 9 months.

Thanks culture that's a useful overview. I'll try and find time to read the book. I'll aim for an hour after milk for breakfast and by the time he's in nursery I'll let them start him on lunch.

star I like that numbers system, easy to remember! I'll try that too, thanks :-)

Sounds like a good approach. Also, in the early days, it doesn't matter if you have to skip solids for one day if things don't go to plan. Or give lunch instead of breakfast etc.

He will wean much faster at nursery. They love copying other children at that age. DD1 went to nursery at 7mo. We did BLW and she went from breastfeeds and a little bit at meals, to 3 meals + 2 snacks in no time. She never drank more than one carton of formula each day.