Best foods for early weaning?

[Feedingnightmare]

We've been advised by paeds to wean early due to reflux. DD will be 4 months next week and I'm wondering what foods would be best at this stage? I've got a call with the GP next week to ask if we can be referred to a paeds dietician for some guidance on this but just thought I'd ask here as well to get some ideas :)

Weaning early means you need to stick to fruit and veg purees and avoid anything with gluten, dairy, meat etc in it.

You can give baby rice mixed with formula or breast milk and some baby porridge products as long as they are gluten free etc.

We are early weaning at 5 months due to a severe dairy allergy. I’ve steamed individual veggies, (broccoli, courgette, cauliflower, carrots, squash etc) and blitz them into thin purées loosened up with some boiled water.

We have had such a good reaction from dd and she’s happily eaten everything. Made a huge difference to her health and to her digestion!

@Mamasoon I'm so glad it's worked out for you! I'm hoping for the same after a relentless 4 months!

As stated above: purees.
You can buy or make.

Avocado is easy on the gut. Just blend it.
Apple sauce: cook peeled chunks of apple for 10 minutes or so. When soft, let cool down a bit and blend. Pear doesn't need to be cooked.
Also cook carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, green peas, broccoli etc.

Start with seperate flavours first. Then make combinations.

You can freeze. We used a silicon ice cube tray and put the cubes in small containers. Easy to portion, easy to defrost and you can make combinations.

If needed add some cooking liquid/water to make the puree more liquid. A drop of olive oil is also a good addition health wise.

@MajorCarolDanvers @StarsandStones thanks both, that's really helpful. Do I also have to give DD water if she's on solids?

One of mine was weaned early due to reflux and we mostly did baby rice made with formula mixed with a bit of 4+ month Ella’s pouches, sometimes a mashed banana or avocado. I did more homemade stuff as he got closer to 6 months and what he could have was less restricted. It really worked really well as far as the reflux was concerned so fingers crossed it’s the same for you!

And yes I offered water with meals, the Mam starter cup was the only one he’d drink from

Thanks all, this is very helpful! DD is a petite little thing like her sister so I'm torn between holding off for a bit longer until she's a bit bigger, and just trying it to see if it really does help as miraculously as it seems to have helped others.

Any tips of amounts and frequency of food?

And with the cup for water- I assume you obviously held it for your little one to drink from? My DD has never accepted a bottle.

I held it but mine was bottle fed so no issue with him drinking from it. It was tiny sips though at first so I wouldn’t stress it! I
started with breakfast, a couple of spoonfuls at first.

@FlounderingFruitcake thank you :)

At first I just breastfed, at 6 months we let her drink water from a cup (although she often ends with a short breastfeed afterwards anyway). You can also give some water on a spoon.

We followed DD's lead on the amounts... started with a few tablespoons, she would eat a little. She soon ate more... when you pay close attention you know when they have enough.

And yes, we also use shop bought food for when we are sick or overly tired so we don't have to cook. But she can also enjoy a simple bolognese now (she just turned 7 months). So sometimes she (partly) eats the same as us.

Oh and she prefers basically what we eat (oh that ice cream looks wonderful, may I...).
She often eats sitting on my lap while I also take bites from my own plate. It is also a social thing.
Sometimes I 'pretest' her food, checking the temperature with my lips. Also signals to her that it is nice food, that's a feeling I get.