Stressed don't know what I'm doing

[Herefortheweaning]

Hi everyone.

I feel like I'm in a bit of a muddle here. Overthinking things.

My little one will be 6 months old next week. He is a big boy, thriving and is a great milk drinker. 8oz.

In December I was getting so much hassle from people to start him on something, porridge, rusks or rice but I refused as I didn't think he was ready yet.

Last week, maybe 2 weeks ago, he was going less time between bottles. When it was usually 4 hours, he was going 2.5 hours. I just gave him an extra bottle, but I then decided to give him porridge in the morning. He can take a good amount of it. When he wakes up and has a bottle at 7.30 I give him his porridge at 10.30 or 11am. He seems to love it. I gave him a little mashed banana instead of the porridge today and he didn't like that so much.

At night time I give him a bowl of rice and again, he does take a good sized platefull of this and has some milk afterwards, sits for a good 30 mins then he's ready for bed.

Today I tried him with a bit of carrot at 1pm after his milk. I decided that I would only give him 2 spoonfuls as I'm reading a weaning book (elas kitchen) and this is what they advised. He ended up being sick absolutely everywhere..

I'm so worried I've started him early and I don't know if the rice at night is too much?? I always thought going to bed on a full tummy is good, but is it!?

Is there somewhere I can get good information?

My HV said to mush veg up like mushed banana and get as close to 6 months as possible. That's it.

Also, can a nearly 6 month drink tap water and how much?
I'm reading conflicting things.

Thanks

Usually, mums only give pure baby rice for the first two or three days of weaning, while their babies get used to taking food from a spoon. Once your LO is getting the hang of it, move on swiftly to other foods for several reasons.
Firstly, it’s a high carbohydrate, highly processed product. Most brands are made from white rice, which quickly metabolizes into sugar. We know that we need to avoid foods that give us sugar spikes, and the same goes for babies.
Secondly, it’s very bland in flavour and it’s all one texture, and you want to be making the most of the chance to expose your 6mo to lots of different tastes and textures. It also gives him the nutrients he needs. Giving him new vegetables and fruit sooner rather than later means he’s less likely to reject them.
However, when he’s moved on from baby rice, you can use it to add bulk to pureed fruit and veg.
For the first month (or two weeks at least), just offer solids once a day and continue feeding as often as before. We started by giving a few spoons after the milk feed at lunchtime.
At about 7mo, add solids as his appetite increases, a few mouthfuls at a time, after his usual feed until he shows signs of fullness; i.e. turning his head, closing his mouth, batting at the spoon, spitting the food out, etc. (trying to feed past this point is overfeeding). Most babies will balance their milk intake with their solid food intake well if you feed in this way.
At about 8-9 months, we were offering solids as part of breakfast, lunch and dinner, and transitioned to finger food. From 9 months we gave solids first, then milk.
Yes, it's okay to give him sips of water straight from the tap in a beaker or cup when he's thirsty. It should be in addition to, not a replacement for his usual milk. Don't overdo it, though, or you might give him a tummy ache or make him too full to eat well.

A big bowl of rice or porridge is maybe a bit much if you're just starting out. Small portions are best. You could even offer bits of finger food if they are close to 6 months. No need to start with baby rice if they are older than 4 months.

Yes you can give tap water as a drink from 6 months

Need to avoid sugar spikes 😂, what do you think milk is made of PP?!
It sounds like you are doing just fine OP. Do you have a local children's centre that has weaning support? Or go back to your hv for some more advice.
Tap water is fine, and no need to sterilise bowls or utensils.

Maybe the carrot just disagreed with him or he was too full, hopefully a one off. As a PP has said I would try a range of different purées in different colours and textures to get him used to different tastes. Start him off with vegetables, sweet ones like sweet potato and carrot and more stronger flavours like broccoli and kale, and then introduce some fruits. Only a little at a time is necessary at this stage to get him used to it as his main source of nutrition should still be coming from the milk for a while yet. Big bowls of porridge or baby rice will fill him but getting him to try different things is more important than the quantity of what he is eating at this stage.