Worried about weaning

[Daffodilly]

Help - I'm in need of some reassurance about weaning...

DD is 7 mths and we started weaning slowly just before 6 mths. She currently has baby porridge of breakfast, pureed veg for lunch and pureed fruit for tea. She is having about half a small pot of each (2oz ish). More of the porridge and fruit - less of the veg which she isn't that keen on.

I've also tried her with finger foods - but she either plays with them and doesn't even put any in her mouth (yet anything else she lays her hands on goes straight in the mouth!) or, if she accidentally gets a bit in her mouth, gags and spits it out.

She isn't really having any protein yet - should she be?? I haven't started her on dairy either as I've seen so many mixed views on this for small babies.

Also she is still breastfed at the moment and I'm worried about the question of whether she is getting enough iron now?

Most of my antenatal group stared weaning before 6 mths and now have little ones wolfing down two courses at a time. I know I shouldn't compare, but can't help feeling I am hampering her development. Not helped my HV telling me we should be on 3 full meals a day, protein, etc.

Help - I'm usually quite confident that I am doing right by her. But this food thing has me all confused and it is an area where I really want to set her off on the right foot. Am also feeling disheartened that when I spend hours preparing foods for her I end up throwing most of it away!

Daff

Baby cereals have iron added which is what she needs. But I wouldn't worry TBH - my DD is seven months now and she scoffs anything. Just keep on trying with the finger foods. She'll get it in the end.

We're in much the same situation here - although I'm only feeding two meals a day of purees at the moment, supplemented with bits of finger food. DD is not that keen on bits of veg for exactly the same lump. gagging, spitting reasons, but unsalted ricecakes go down very well, as she just gums them into a pulp. Toast or crusts would probably do the same thing.

I've also not given her any protein yet - although I'm going to try a bit of lamb this week.

As far as iron is concerned, I think it's a while before it's crucial. But you could try a dried apricot puree - they're very iron rich, and dd loves it for breakfast mixed with some apple and something porridgy.

Don't wotrry, you're doing fine. You can take things at her pace and she will let you know quite clearly that she's rwady for more. Playing with finger foods isas important as eating them. If she's gagging try larger chunks (ds2, very like your dd, loves a 3"length of quartered cucamber to gnaw on).

Hi Daffodilly,
If its any reassurance, I found weaning hyperstressful, pretty much for the reasons you are, but ds is now 1 and eats pretty much anything. It all happened really gradually and now I look back I realise I shouldn't have worried.

As I understand it milk should still be her primary source of nourishment, incl protein for ages yet and has more protein and calories than most things she would be eating. I also think that weaning at this stage is more about getting her used to eating different foods and the processes rather than for her main nourishment.

~Re the preparing food you throw away. Why not just keep a little for her to eat now and refridgerate/freeze the rest for later. DS always has the same tea two nights in a row cos I put some in the fridge for later!

Good luck but try not to worry sounds like yo are doing great. Just ignore the bl**dy HV, babies aren't robots.

Thanks for all your replies. It is great to hear from others in a similar situation. It seems like most of my friends aren't having any problems. This is definitely the most stressful part of motherhood (so far)!

Good idea on the dried apricots. We have some of these and she does seem to like her fruit so I'll give them a try.

I'm sure I will look back on this and wonder why I was so worried....eventually.

Daff

DS is 8 months and is still fully BF. He gets porridge (home-made) mid-morning if I remember, but he'll only eat max of 3 tiny teaspoons.

Other mealtimes he sits at the table with us and he gets mostly finger food. Occasionally I'll offer mashed up stuff that I've frozen for him - butternut squash etc.

They don't need protein until 9-10 months. Milk is sufficient right now. Having come from Canada and read a Dutch site, the UK advice is very old-fashioned!