How do I wean my LO?! Basic advice needed!

[missbumpy]

I know this sounds silly but my LO is fast approaching 6 months (currently exclusively BF) and I'm starting to think about weaning her but I've got no idea where to begin. The HV hasn't given me any info and the only thing I can find in books is recipes.

I need to know the basics. How do I start dropping breast feeds? What food should I start her on? Do I need to introduce formula if I'm dropping bf? Should I give her other liquids (water, juice etc)?

I'm totally clueless! Should the HV or GP be giving me info on this? Are there classes on weaning or any good books?

Thank you!!!

you dont need to drop breastfeeds as your lo will let you know when they need less by taking less. Re: foods, you can do the puree route, BLW(baby led weaning, which involves just giving finger foods) or a mix of the two. I started at about 5 1/2 months with baby rice and added fruit/veg puree. I also added in lots of finger foods from 6 months e.g. toast fingers, banana, cooked veg, etc. I gave a small amount of water in a beaker along with solids to get ds used to the cup (dont know about if you bf though as ds was formula fed). The hv should have spoken to you about weaning as I am sure they gave me a leaflet about it when ds was about 4 months old.

Thanks. I feel the HV should have talked to me about this too. I might call them on Monday.

Thank you

Basically weaning to start with is just abut discovering tastes and textures. Letting your baby learn and enjoy the experience.

Your baby will be getting more calories from your milk than from food so dont stress yourself out with dropping feeds and stuff like that.

When you feel baby is ready then introduce a little bit of food to her, be it some puree or a bit of finger food.

FWIW my ds1 didnt wean until he was nearly 1 but he was straight onto finger foods and he is now a brilliant eater. There isnt much he doesnt like and meal times are great. Where as my dd was spoon fed purees under a strict routine everyday from 4 months and is now a nightmare at meal times.
So I think theres alot to be said about how you go about weaning.

Have a look at Aitch's BLW blog.

BLW

it's great! check out the forums too.

we just got stuck in. offered soft easily held foods like batons of roasted veg, fruit, toast.

the key is not to stress about it, offer bf as much as dd wants, and prepare for copious amounts of cleaning and laundry!

a doidy cup is great for offering water.

get lots of bibs, the ones with sleeves are great.

Hi, I can identify with feeling slightly panicked, as I felt the same when my LO was coming up to 6 mths. And I felt I was totally clueless. Now LO is 9 1/2 months and I feel much more confident and relaxed about the whole thing. I decided to go down the BLW route, check out www.babyledweaning.com. They've some execllent forums and I've got all the advice and reassurance that I've needed there. My LO wouldn't let me spoon feed him, that's why i went BLW. But your LO might not mind purees. Which ever way, there's nothing to worry about. Honest!
At the beginning all the food I offered was just a supplement to the milk, so I didn't drop any feeds. My DS has dropped his He only really wanted to play with the food and didn't really get it, but he always loved toast! It's only since about 8-9 months that DS has really 'got' food and now he loves to eat. My DS has come to this more or less on his own really. I hope this post has made sense. Sorry there's no solid advice......

i remember feeling a bit panicked before weaning as well, tbh, it just seems so WEIRD to give them food if they're fine on milk, doesn't it? personally that's why i went for BLW, i just wanted to keep out of the process so far as was possible, keep it demand-led.
whatever you decide to do, i think the panic is very common...