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Weaning

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

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Original poster

weaning help needed- am I doing it right..??!

11 replies

ladypanda · 13/05/2008 17:24

my ds is nearly 6 months, began weaning about a week ago as he seemed hungry for more than milk. It's gone better/ faster than I thought and am not sure what to do now! His routine:
6.30am breastfeed
10am cube of fruit-based mush
10.30am breastfeed
2.30 pm breastfeed
5pm cube of veg-based mush
6.30pm bedtime feed
10.30 dreamfeed (bottle)
I know to keep introducing new tastes, but am wondering should I give more than 1 cube yet? (he woolfs the lot but I don't want to overfeed or put him off his milk)
He refuses my attempts to feed him water with his meals, should I dilute with juice? or offer him milk? he's gone a bit constipated, am wondering if solids are the cause and he therefore needs more liquid?
And should I give him yoghurt yet?
Sorry for all the questions, the books don't seem to tell you what to actually do (any book or web recommendations on this front also welcome)
thanks mums x

OP posts:

NumptyMum · 13/05/2008 17:41

We weaned backwards so can't really advise on purees (ie we started with BLW, then gave mashed foods as soup not BLW friendly ) but given our experience, I would let your baby guide you. If he is keen, try him on more tastes. Re water, ours still doesn't drink much, but if you think about it they are learning a whole new skill, having to learn about sippy cups. When you say 'constipated', is poo hard, is he straining? DS didn't poo for days when we first started (over a week ), but poo was soft and easy for him to pass when it came... Many folk say banana constipates.

Original poster

ladypanda · 13/05/2008 19:03

ah, that would make sense- no he's not straining and doesn't seem disturbed by lack of poo, just goes a few days without any action, and then will do 4 in a day quite merrily. He loves banana and has had that every day for last 3- maybe I should give it a rest and go more for pear and apple, do you think? I was trying to give him water from a bottle, maybe I'll try a cup instead.
What a pavlova

OP posts:

NumptyMum · 13/05/2008 20:49

if you are really panicking re lack of poo, you can soak a prune in hot water and, once soft, mash it up - if he's already used to pear and apple you could add a little to this. However doesn't sound as though he has a problem at the mo. Re the water, DS still doesn't take much at 8.5 months - I think perhaps if you BF this isn't as 'heavy' as formula milk, so perhaps his thirst is quenched from this anyway.

It's all trial and error really. Just make sure you don't give too much prune (or that he's wearing proper babygro, just in case!!).

Original poster

ladypanda · 13/05/2008 20:52

I was wondering about a prune, or dried apricot something- is it really that effective...?!

OP posts:

NumptyMum · 13/05/2008 20:55

Well, adults are prescribed syrup of figs, so it's got to do something! I think I saw a thread on here about Lactulose (a sugar solution, also prescribed for adults) and think the poster said that sugar helps soften. So I guess dried fruit eg figs/dates works on same principle.

It's worth a try - though you could check with your HV if unsure. Would def soak them first before use, or you can buy the presoaked ones. With dried apricots try to get the dark 'unsulphered' ones (more tasty too).

Pannacotta · 13/05/2008 20:56

This a great site by a Mumsnetter about weaning, mainly Baby led weaning but its great for general weaning info/recipes etc
babyledweaning.blogware.com/

AitchTwoCiao · 13/05/2008 21:01

aw, thanks pannacotta. you'll also get it at www.babyedweaning.com as well.

in answer to your question... imo you are 'doing it right' if the baby is happy and healthy and you are happy and healthy too. worst thing you can do with weaning is stress about it, whichever approach you're taking.

Original poster

ladypanda · 13/05/2008 21:12

well he seems very happy, which makes me happy, and is sleeping like a top at night, so must be doing it ok. Just wondering how quickly to move on to more food. Will check out the websites, thanks

OP posts:

SpacePuppy · 13/05/2008 21:18

The only thing in the first year is really the experience of eating rather than the nutritional need, so you can be adventurous, taking in consideration any food allergies in your family that he might be prone to. If it is any consolation if I remember correctly my ds did not take to the sippy cup until about 10 months. I just persisted with having it around at meal times, and he took to banging it around on his tray.

Pannacotta · 13/05/2008 21:24

I typed babyledweaning.com Aitch and it brought up that address, odd...
Also good info here
www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-how.html

AitchTwoCiao · 13/05/2008 21:37

i know, it drives me nuts, the blogware kinda hijacks it. but if someone were to bookmark that blogware address it'd not be so good as it won't exist in a few weeks hopefully.

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