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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Should weaning be fun?

16 replies

TheJen · 17/09/2007 22:09

My DS is 5.5 months and we recently started to wean him early as he was waking regularly and my HV agreed that he was probably hungry. He's been completely BF and doesn'y (wont) take a bottle. He seemed interested so off we went... down the Anabel Carmel mush route. The thing is although he's been grabbing everything and watching us eat (whilst dribbling) now he's getting fruit and veg creamy purees he's not really interested. He is however, sleeping better. Am I too late to start Baby led Weaning. What should I do? Experiences and advice greatly welcomed. It's hard not to go with the crowd- all my NCT buddies are weaning on mush quite happily but it isn't sitting quite right with me x

OP posts:
fransmom · 17/09/2007 22:19

hi tj x 5.5 months isn't that early. maybe he just doesn't like annabel karmel mush? how about trying baby porridge with some fruit in it? you aren't too late to start blw either, all it means is that you take the lead from your baby about what s/he is interested in

Original poster
TheJen · 17/09/2007 22:27

Total novice here- is baby porridge different to baby rice? do I just get it in supermarket? Do I mix pureed fruit into it? I really want to take DS's lead but have to admit am worried about getting calories into him as I am so tired from the night feeds.

OP posts:
fransmom · 17/09/2007 22:41

baby rice tends to be a bit bland i think. have you tried it? i used to get ready mix boxes from boots, the apple and blueberry ones - dd absolutely loved them, just make sure there is a plentiful supply lol

you can mix pureed fruit into it, i'm not sure if you can maybe make a batch (of fruit) and then freeze it, tho make sure that you put the date you made it on the lid or freezer bag.

as for taking a bottle, the teat on the bottle (i'm sorry if i make you blush) is easier for the baby to take if it';s similar to the shape of your breast. we used to use tommee tippee ones.

it's also easy enough for me to say now but please don't worry too much sweetheart x

NormaStanleyFletcher · 17/09/2007 22:47

Why don't you try here

NormaStanleyFletcher · 17/09/2007 22:49

My DD had a few bits of rice before I got here and found out about BLW, then she was on brocoli spears all the way and loved it.

She is now the least fussy eater of any of the minxiest minxes in minxdom

Thanks to aitch

oregonianabroad · 17/09/2007 22:53

Do a mixture of both.
Will come back tomorrow with more thoughts. am too tired.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 17/09/2007 22:56

But really look at the blog, don't worry, if you do blw, that your babe is eating nothing (they are, it shows in the nappies) and dont worry when you change your first banana nappy!

Habbibu · 18/09/2007 10:36

For what it's worth, I think things like "baby porridge" are a bit of a rip off - ordinary porridge oats will do a 6 month old just fine - mine was pretty keen on the jumbo variety from quite early on. And it's sooo much cheaper...

ImBarryScott · 18/09/2007 10:49

You can mix and match purees and BLW in a way that suits you and your DS.

My 6 month dd is a large, hungry baby. So we give her mashed foods (none of this baby rice nonsense, but things like home-made fish pie, cottage pie, that actually taste of something) to get some food in her, and finger foods for fun.

Original poster
TheJen · 18/09/2007 11:10

Thanks for tips- have looked at BLW site you referred to- it looks great and a lot of fun but I can't quite get my head around what to give him exactly- if anyone has any energy could you perhaps sketch out a rough breakfast, lunch and dinner day in the life of a BLW-ed baby? Are there any BLW books out there?

OP posts:
witchandchips · 18/09/2007 11:15

easist thing is to base it around what you eat. just put bits of your food on his tray. (with the proviso of no nuts etc).

Habbibu · 18/09/2007 11:58

OK - my daughter is 11 months (today!) so a bit BLW advanced, but today: porridge and some toast for breakfast, tuna and grated carrot sandwich (because there's nothing in the house) for lunch, plus some mango, tea - chicken and butternut squash, potato of sort tba, and plain yoghurt with banana and other random fruit mixed in. This is pretty much what she would have been offered at (say) 7 months - when we started she had as many breastfeeds as she liked, maybe porridge/porridge pancakes/pancakes for breakfast, some veg and fruit pieces for lunch and tea; pancakes and potato cakes were really handy "holders" for all sorts of stuff - sweet potato wedges, etc. Aitch's blog is the best place, if you start at the beginning, to see how she got on when she first started.

oregonianabroad · 18/09/2007 14:21

hi TJ
I'm going through weaning my 2nd. I had forgotten how long they take to get the hang of it, and also how stressed I was. So, my first tip would be to relax and just let your baby be your guide. Secondly, what works for me is to give him a variety of foods to hold as well as some purees. For example, today, he has had 1/4 piece of wholemeal toast (gummed & gagged), 1/4 of a banana (some pureed, some hand-held), and 2 ice cube sized portions of sweet potato puree. Tomight I am making potatoes, brocoli and salmon & plan to mush some up for him as well as let him have a go with some of the veg himself.
He has only been at it for 2 weeks (he's 26 weeks today) and isn't sleeping any better yet . But he has tried a huge variety of foods (including a piece of pizza, by far the most interest he has shown!)-- much more than my first ds, because I thought you had to take it slow, etc... don't think this is true at all now.
hope this helps.

Original poster
TheJen · 18/09/2007 15:40

So with the porridge etc do you just let them pick it up/lick it with fingers or spoon it in also? For some reason feel quite nervous about this whole thing. What about salt contents of the food we eat e.g bread? Does it matter in such small doses?

OP posts:
oregonianabroad · 18/09/2007 15:50

I'm no expert, so don't listen to me (re:salt), but I think very little actually gets into his tum! It's more for practice.

What I do for purees/ porridge is have two spoons -- one for me, one for him. I scoop some up, give him the spoon, let him put it in his mouth, while I am filling the next spoonful. Sometimes I poke a bit in too, and he loves to lick it off his fingers. I think the key here is to read his signals and stop when he loses interest.

I know this is nerve-wracking, but really, in a few weeks/months you'll have it all down pat.

Must go, ds1 awake and roaring. good luck.

Habbibu · 18/09/2007 16:05

Mine used to whip the spoon out of my hand. She's now awfully dainty, and takes spoon from bowl. If you make it thick enough it's good finger food...

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