Freezing formula in purées?

[Njh1986]

Hi all,

I have been advised by our consultant paediatrician to begin weaning DD at 17 weeks (next week) due to her worsening reflux. Obviously we will be starting on veg purées rather than finger foods at this stage, so my OH (who does all the cooking) is going to make some this weekend to freeze.

I would rather add milk than water, as DD’s milk intake has been slowing week by week since the reflux has got worse. She’s FF on HiPP Organic. Usually we use the powder mixed with Carobel, which separates really easily after a while so it’s not practical to make the purées and add the formula at the defrosting stage as this would require making a whole bottle for the purée then a fresh one afterwards to drink - and she already wastes a ton of it already!

Would it be ok to add the ready made milk to the steamed veg to make the purées, then freeze and defrost and use as normal? I don’t want to make her even more ill than she already is!

Also, any tips for weaning at 17 weeks would be much appreciated! Luckily she’s a very strong baby physically; can sit comfortably upright in a high chair and hold her head steady for long periods of time.

Thanks to whoever replies.

Yes I'm sure you can add formula to the puree, freeze and then defrost when required

Would it be ok to add the ready made milk to the steamed veg to make the purées, then freeze and defrost and use as normal? I don’t want to make her even more ill than she already. Yes absolutely.

Also, any tips for weaning at 17 weeks would be much appreciated! Luckily she’s a very strong baby physically; can sit comfortably upright in a high chair and hold her head steady for long periods of time. Yes . Get sone bowls and some soft, heat reactive spoons, the ones that change colour when the good is two hot. Once she progresses you might want some long sleeved bibs to save her clothes and a cheap shower curtain to protect the floor.

Ale it easy too. She will probably only take one ice cube worth at first and it can take ages for them to eat it.

Don't expect miracles either, weaning can sometimes make sleep worse, not better.

Give her the veg to start but then you can start adding a few flavours to thing like a little cumin powder to Carrie or cardamom to apple.

Can I ask to as her reflux is so bad, has anyone ruled out CMPA?

Cross-posted with denented

You can do that but would it not make more sense to freeze the pureed veg then add the formula when defrosted?
I made my own purées to start but then realised it was much easier to buy pouches and freeze them in ice cube trays. They eat such a tiny amount at that age plus you can get them at Aldi etc now it’s really not worth the hassle in my opinion.

Just a little word of caution on the pouches, and this is no way a criticism. The only ones Aldi sell that are suitable at 17 weeks are fruit based and get a lot of sweetness from apple. Apple does seem to be the major ingredient in fact and can be used by sone manufacturers as a cheap bulk agent and sweetener.

They are fine in moderation, like most things

Thanks all - these are good practical tips for a FTM who fully expected to be weaning a lot later than this!

JJJ - yes, she was on Neocate milk from 2 weeks to 7 weeks to rule out CMPI. Initially seemed to help but then as the weeks wore on it caused dreadful digestive issues. Long story short, after a series of visits to a paed registrar with suspected pyloric stenosis, she was tried on what seemed like every milk under the sun and the HiPP/Carobel/Ranitidine combination was the only one that she could tolerate.
Poor girl seems to be cursed with my family history; one of my sisters apparently refused all milk apart from soy as a baby and didn’t ever touch a drop again as soon as she tried her first spoonful of solids, my other sister has severe IBS (medicated, I have moderate IBS but I medicated) and my mum has colitis. None of us will touch milk unless it’s cooked in food, and allergy tests, scans etc have found no cause.....we must all be medical mysteries 😩

Poor little love. As Neocate is a hydrolysed formula, the next step is usually an amino acid formula. Did they try her on one at all?

They told me that Neocate is an amino acid formula? She was tried on a partially hydrolysed one and it made no difference so they moved to the Neocate, also tried lactose free, soy etc.

She’s much happier now, and I can see that the pain is almost entirely gone, but now it’s apmost like she hates the being sick part SO much and has realised that if she drinks less she won’t have to do that, IYSWIM? So the pain aspect is better, but the projectiling and milk aversion is getting worse - because she’s more active I guess the stomach muscles are pushing the milk back up more.

They told me that Neocate is an amino acid formula. You're right of course, sorry about that, I blame this cold I have

I forgot to add yesterday that there are lots of weaning recipes in MN recipes which are usually pretty useful

That’s very true that a lot of the pouches contain mainly apple, I found that a lot of the Ella pouches were terrible for being 80% Apple and only 20% veg but then that’s why babies prefer them! You can get the first taste ones that are purely one vegetable.
It’s also worth trying different temperatures, my DS1 had his formula straight from the fridge so even now won’t eat warm food.
Cracker breads (adult cracker) are a brilliant first finger food as they dissolve when they gum them.

Thanks all, my OH is spending a bit of time this weekend making purées with ready made milk....we’ve tentatively decided on carrot, sweet potato and pear to start with (not all together, obvs!). I did toy with the idea of banana for the first fruit, but I’ve heard that can cause constipation and she struggles with pooing already.