So how DO you know if they are ready for weaning?

[mamadoc]

If all the things about stopping sleeping through and watching you eat are not true are there any really reliable signs or is it just 26 weeks and that's it?

DD is 24 weeks and to my surprise she can sit up very well unaided and seems to be very good at handling toys etc. She watches us eat with great interest but then again she also likes to eat my newspaper. I am a bit afraid her 1st food will be papier mache at this rate.

She is not noticeably any hungrier and is sleeping better if anything- recently started going 12hrs. I'm more than happy to wait to 26 wks or longer as I've got to admit I really enjoy breastfeeding but how can it be exactly 26 weeks for all babies. How would you know if yours should be a little earlier or later?

when she can sit well in a highchair, grab and hold food from her tray, put the food to her mouth, take a bit, chew/suck it and then swallow it. this happens around 26 weeks. prior to that they might be able to do some of this, but rarely all of it. she's 24 weeks so she may be able to. she won;t eat much though, but she doesn't need to yet. they get better at it as they need more food.

norah is spot on

I suppose I was just a bit surprised at how well she sits and that made me wonder if she is ready. She can grab and play with toys whilst sitting no problem at all (don't mean to come over all oooh look at my baby genius she is pants at rolling just sitting is her thing). I have been increasingly tempted to just lob her a bit of banana or something and she how she gets on.

try it

if she can hold it, chew it and swallow it, she is ready
if she can't then none will go in so no harm done

Don't stress Mamadoc - neither of my last 2 were bothered until about 8 months - actual eating was about 9 months for DD and 10 months for DS2 - 6 months is just the sort of time when they may be ready is all - That's the whole thing about BLW (BTW of all the BLW mums I know, about 8.5 months is the average)
Lisa X