when should I start to wean???

[HalliesMummy]

hi

My daughter is 4 months old today... I'm a new mum, when should I start to wean her and how is it done... thank you in advance x

Has your HV not spoken to you about this?

The advice is to wean from 6 Months now, I started at 5 and a bit because my LO was ready early (sitting unassisted etc). My HV gave me a guide with the signs to look for to show that they are ready.

I started around a week before DD was 6 months. She'd been sitting well for weeks and DH had some time off work so he didn't miss out on the first few days. I wouldn't be in a rush to start early unless advised for reflux or something, it's messy and takes more effort than just milk! Definitely didn't make DD sleep any better like I was told it would either!

We did baby led weaning (there's a good book by Gill Rapley). I've found it so easy and DD is yet to refuse anything. It's messy and it looks as though they eat nothing at first, but the evidence in the nappy says otherwise! She's 9 months and is now happily on 3 meals a day with no stress at all, and much less ending up on the floor now. She's just started trying to use a spoon on her own too so not worried about transitioning to that. We started with steamed veg sticks, then fruit, and then just went for it. She eats what we eat and I've never had to buy any separate baby food products. It can be a bit scary at first but if you look up how to tell the difference between gagging and choking you'll be far more relaxed.

Personally I don't think there's any need for purées and it looks like a faff to me. I know some people like to use them as they can see how much they are getting and they feel that baby is getting more. I stick with the motto 'food is for fun until after one' so have never worried about how much she eats and she's carried on tracking the 50th centile. However, each to their own and if you fancy using purees if you go on the cow and gate website you can order a free weaning guide that talks you through how to do it that way. There's quite a lot of advertising their products in but it seemed like a reasonable guide and I know people who've followed it successfully.

Whichever way you decide to do it, enjoy it! I've loved seeing her enjoy her food

The current guidance is to aim for 6 months.
However, if your baby is older than 17 weeks then it is up to you.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/solid-foods-weaning/

Definitely talk with your HV or see if there are local weaning talks near you or any other resources she can direct you to. Generally it's from 6 months. With my first, we started from about a week before she turned 6 months as she just started to pick things up off our plates and chew on them, so we let her. But we didn't formally offer her anything until she turned 6 months. We did baby led weaning and started with cucumber sticks, melon wedges, roast vegetable sticks, mash and a yorkshire pudding for her first few meals.

I've just started to wean my little one yesterday, he is exactly 6 months old today. He was ready at about 5 months showing all the signs, but me and my hv knew waiting till 6 months is probably a good idea as milk was doing him just fine.
As I waited till 6 months (despite pressure from sister/mum to wean early) in not bothering with purées, doing that bwl jazz. He is doing really well. Sweet potato, bread sticks, cucumber, strawberries, toast, scrambled egg. Just shoving it in front of him and he is ramming it in his mouth. Then gagging/spitting it out, putting it in his eye then feeding it to the dog!!
All good fun!