General chat thread for puree lovers!

[Neenztwinz]

Before I started weaning my twins, I read about BLW and thought it looked like an amazing idea.

When I tried it I found my darling LOs didn't pick up a single thing never mind get it into the mouths.

So now I puree food and spoonfeed them and they are eating massive amounts and loving it - and sleeping all night!

So I thought I'd start a thread for others who are doing the same as me - we can swap ideas for meals and say what works for us (ie what makes them sleep ).

I gave my twins four plums plus ebm and baby rice for breakfast and they have had a big bowl of sweet potato, haricot beans and brocolli for lunch. More of the same for tea (plus maybe some swede and parsnip). They are 6.5mths old.

What did yours eat today?

Well, we now have lunch and peas, potato and broccoli have all gone down well (even the cat in our house eats broc, so it's a good job!) Does everyone introduce only one new food per day? Leeks today (with sweet pots and peas)

DS has teeth pushing through but doesn't seem to affect his eating (wish I could say the same for his BF and sleeping...)

Oh - cookie and coffee! My mum called last week to ask if he'd be able to have choc buttons at Easter, lol!

You'd think they'd never had kids of their own!

I usually just introduced one food at a time but if there was more I didn't worry, just thought if there was a reaction I would then try them individually to see what it was. But they have never really reacted to anything (except banana, but they're all right with that now)

DD did better with tea tonight - she had loads of oatibix and quite a bit of sweet potato and parsnip so perhaps she is feeling a bit better. She still only had yogurt for lunch (and a bit of toast and rice cake). She also had lots of porridge at breakfast. DS only had toast then yogurt for lunch then more yogurt for tea - he still hasn't got any spots from the chicken pox and DD only has three so I wonder whether it is a really mild dose and is neither here not there - it might not be enough to give immunity but I still have to bloody well stay in the house until we know for sure it has come and gone!

I started off just introducing one new food at a time but I got weary of it very quickly! I was careful only to intro known risky foods like berries, eggs etc as only new food in a day. We live in a pretty allergy free home and family though so I tend to be a bit lax.

Went to a wedding at weekend where ds was wolfing down thinly sliced cooked carrot. It was very soft and he couldn't get enough. I'd have given him carrot batons but think I'll try slices at home now.

My own DS is poorly too (like many others on this thread, it seems). Really runny poos; NO appetite whatsoever for the last few days. Doesn't eat a thing, only a few reluctant mouthfuls. And just a vague stare away from me, with pursed lips, with a cheeky 'I'm ignoring the spoon' look on his face! Only ate today for supper- unfortunately for me & all my lovely home-made meals, this was a ready-made Ella's kitchen pouch (lentils & veg) which he gobbled down after 4-5 days of the hunger strike.

Ooh oatibix is a good idea.

Neenztwinz I feel so sorry for you, i HATE being stuck at home all day - with 2 babies as well! You must be going up the wall!

All this weaning is making me eat much more healthily, it has beena long time since i tucked into fruit and yoghurt of an afternoon - used to be a big pile of toast or chocolate biscuits (or both )

BDQ - mine loves carrot as well - peas and sweetcorn are a bit hit too - and takes up lots of time while I get on with cooking the rest of the dinner too - green beans as well which I was a bit of as I cant really stand them...

We did one food at a time for a while as well until we had most things covered - we had a bad reaction to eggs so I was pleased we knew exactly what it was and didnt have to guess. We had it last week from the pancakes as well so its still there...

Hurray! DS is now back on his food (albeit reluctantly). He had a half-hearted go at a chicken casserole for lunch today, & a more interested go at porridge for breakfast. He still assumes that vague, staring to the side look (with pursed lips) when he wants to avoid the spoon

BTW Arthymum: really loved reading your OP on the other thread (about sleeping). To me, at 7 months, it feels like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, regarding sleep, but it's almost as if the closer I get to the end of the tunnel, the more the light moves (bit by bit) further away!!! I have to admit we've seen a huge improvement in sleep, but we still have a dummy issue, which means- at the very least- one waking between 11-7 to replug dummy.

Hope all the babies are on the mend.

My little pig is guzzling away - and stacking on the weight again, which is great. Dairy seems to be going okay with no reaction (although he's teething massively at the mo and so has bum-rash, mouth rash and runny poos anyway). His favourite thing is his new cup which he swigs and swigs from (after months of refusing a bottle).

Now the thing that is still perplexing me is finger foods - how big? I always think "too small - he'll choke" and then "too big - he'll choke". So it's soggy rice cakes all the way.

artymum - bigger is better when it comes ot finger foods - its best if its big enough so that they can bites bits off. So a whole floret of broccoli and a finger of toast etc.

Also stuff they can practice their pincer grip is good too - so sweetcorn/peas/mashed potato.

Mine is now back to eating as well - she hoovered up everything today and made me sadly very happy...

Jacket potatoes, loads of butter and cream cheese were a massive hit at lunch - the cream cheese made the potato really stick together and so she picked most of it up from the tray (one bit at a time - if I put it all down she gets totally overwhelmed and shoves it all to the floor) and then I spooned in the rest.

GKS - when did you intro sweetcorn/peas? I'm still a bit nervy about smaller stuff because of choking.

Liking the jacket potato idea - do you just scoop out bits of the flesh and put on the tray a bit at a time or do you give any with the skin still on?

Tried the tuna/mashed potato balls tonight - lots of mess but seemed to like! What kind of ratio of tuna to potato do you use (just roughly, I know you like to just chuck it all in )

I gave DS some of the organix corn ring things the other day - he loved them!!! They dont seem too unhealthy as far as crisp type things go and quite good when a small snack needed while waiting for food or running late with dinner etc.

Sorry the egg allergy is still there kate.

Oh, we gave ready brek today for the first time and he wolfed it down. Didn't add any fruit or anything either.

DS starts nursery next week and they give finger food snacks both morning and afternoon so I think that's really going to help develop his skills in that area.

GKS- would also like to ask about the sweetcorn / peas / frozen veg (as finger foods). These have been recommended to me by other people too, but I hesitate because of the fearing the choking. So for me too it's soggy rice cakes all the way so far (which DS seems to love).

Am also liking the baked potato idea- with butter & cream cheese. Will def. try it.

BDQ- really impressed with your DS eating ready break WITHOUT fruit. Haven't tried that yet. To impress you back, DS seems to love plain yoghurt- e.g. greek yoghurt, or natural plain yoghurt, on its own. He pulls SUCH a hilarious face when it first goes in his mouth though! As if to say 'hey mum that's way too sour & cold!!' But then he rather likes it- every time- and goes on to eat quite a bit.

Girls, the runny poos are continuing here; last night we had a 'poonami' episode (love that term) at 2.00 am. Have had several poonamis the last few days. 3 days ago, I woke up, happily went to bf DS for his morning milk, cuddled him in his sleeping bag still & started the bf.... At that point I realized I was smelling something weird. After a bit of investigating, I realized his sleeping bag (and everything else of course) were mustardy-yellow. GROSS!!!! Should I take him to the doctor? Here are his 'symptoms' (if they're symptoms):
-really runny poos
-crankiness (more than usual)
-wanting to bf more than normal (surely this is not a symptom) & being off his solids (although he does eat a bit)
-really red cheeks

Could be teething but I haven't noticed anything...

Maria - it might be worth checking in with the docs. My friend and baby had this recently and he did have a bit of a tummy bug. It also left him dairy intolerant for a few weeks (which is a common thing apparently).

My friend's LO was off his food and had loads of really rotten nappies.

Of course it could just be teething, but I dont think there is a definite answer as to whether it really causes caustic nappies.

Re: veg - to start with make sure its really soft, so steam/boil for longer than you would normally. Honestly, have a go with some well steamed (aka soggy) thinly sliced carrots - DS was mad for them! There's no more reason to choke on that than a soggy rice cake.

BDQ: thanks. I'll call GP tomorrow. How can they tell if it's tummy bug? Do they test the stools?

Sounds a bit like teething to me maria - but if you're worried you should of course see a doctor - I must confess that with mine I assume that they are not ill unless they hav a fever and/or a rash - everything else gets ignored and treated with calpol if things get really whiny.

Btw teething goes on for ages without any real results [sigh].

I started the frozen veg almost straightaway tbh - definately by 6 months - I dont think theres any more choking risk than rice cakes or toast tbh.

Yes I scooped out the potato and mixed it with butter and cheese and then it was really quite solid so scooped up small spoonfuls and plonked them on the tray.

As to the consistancy of the fishcakes/balls - hmm thats a tricky one. I usualy use a normal size tin for all 4 of us so loads more potato than fish. Thats not very helpful is it...

oops have not beenon here for ages... feel like we're doing well (ds is just over 7 months now) but i'm not introducing stuff v fast nor am i being v forthcoming about finger food. argh.

Hello Ladies

I have just done a new post asking for advice but having now had a read I'm very fearful that I'm going to be castigated for wanting to go the puree route and not BLW, let alone the fact that DS is not yet 5 weeks short of 26 weeks.

He is very big and strong, has been 91st centile since birth, has perfect head control can sit with a straight back, albeit is a little wobbly and I simply cannot continue with 2 hourly feeding at night.

Any advice as to how to get started on puree feeding gratefuly recieved (at a suitable level for a desperate, sleep deprived, complete novice mother !)

Hi there beaufies and welcome to the thread!

Neenz and I are going to disagree here but I think you should up the milk feeds during the day and then try and cut down the night feeds before you consider the solids - mine was/is ahem the same size as yours and the food and sleeping werent connected for us.

We did try to get loads of milk down during the day and then stretched out the night feeds to 3 hours then 4 etc.

Sorry if this isnt what you want to hear but you'll presumably be starting with baby rice and pears and carrots and the like and they wont make that much difference to the food intake...

Has ds still got a tongue reflex do you know?

Hi Giant

I have already tried upping the milk feeds during the day. The problem is he is combination breast/formula fed and over the weeks I have tried incresing my milk supply and/or giving him more formula.

I tried everything to increase my supply. I went to breast feeding clinics, expressed every time he fed, took fennel and fenugreek, you name it I tried it but all I could do was maintain the proprotion he was having as his appetite continued to grow. When I've tried introducing more formula he decided that he wasn't going to have any at all and his formula strike lasted for a week, which was hellish. This has happened twice.

The other problem is that he won't take much milk at each feed. When he has a breast feed he will only take one side, and when having a formula feed he will only have between 100 and 160 mls max. This is irrespective of how long it's been since his last feed. Last thing and during the night I'm desperate for him to have a big feed, but it just doesn't happen.

I really haven't just taken the easy option, I've treid everything possible to avoid having to do this (my intention was always to exclusively breast feed for the first 6 months)but sadly it seems that some babies and some mums just can't be accommodated by NHS schedules.

I'll willingly try something else, if anyone has any suggestions but I really do feel that we have reached the end of the road

Oh, and not sure about the tongue reflex. Certainly not as prominant as it was but not sure if it's gone altogether

Hi Beaufies, you have all the important 26 weeks info from Giant and others, so I will leave that decision to you...

In terms of what to do, I see from the other thread that you have AK's book - and that has some useful starting nfo in. I started with baby rice mixed with EBM (or you can use formula), the consistency was very thin at first. Try him on a little once a day, early rather than later - at this point it's about getting him used to the idea, rather than trying to get any quantity in him. A teaspoon will probably be a result! Take everything veerryy slowly, baby rice for a few days, increasing the quantity if he seems to want more. Re the tongue thrust - they will push it around their mouths a bit at first but if he's pushing it straight out, he's probably not ready so leave it a week or two. If all goes well, after a few days, try adding a bit of pureed pear/apple to the rice.

And certainly at first it will make beggar all difference to their sleep!

And take it from there really! In starting earlier you have lots of time so don't rush anything. Take your lead from your baby. We started weaning four weeks ago and after four weeks of fruit and veg are only just starting tentatively on dairy and lentils (post 26 weeks). The AK book is really very good at explaining how to go and the NHS weaning leaflet has some good info in it too, if your HV hasn't already given you a copy.

Sorry this is a bit rushed but I have to freeze some lentil portions! This is a very friendly thread so I'm sure you'll get lots more advice soon.

Oooh randomly inserted the sentence about sleep in the middle of things! (That'll be due to the lack of sleep )

beaufies - I really wasnt trying to say that you hadnt tried everything honest and we care not a bean here how you are feeding your baby regarding milk so theres no need to be defensive about it all .

Does he eat every 2 hours in the day as well as the night or does he go longer? I'm not trying to be annoying its just that I really dont think the weaning will have that much effect on the night feeding and so want to help you out...

Saying that Arthymums advice about how to start there is spot on I reckon if you are pre 26 weeks...

Hi beaufies
I weaned DS before 26 weeks, it did make a difference to his sleep and just made him more settled generally - before he had seemed hungry ALL THE TIME but wouldn't take any more milk, just got cross and fought with his bottle. He wolfed down everything offered him, I did what arthymum describes above and moved onto carrot, sweet potato etc a few days later. Have not read AK but lots of friends swear by her. I kind of followed the quantities that the HIPP baby club sent me but gave him homemade stuff instead of their jars etc. He had no dairy etc til 26 weeks.
I had planned to wait til 26 weeks bit I do genuinely believe that weaning earlier was best for my DS. Not saying this is right for all babies but it was for mine.
He's your baby I think you need to trust your instincts (if you still have enough energy )

Instinct is all fine and dandy but safety guidelines are there for a reason - like the SIDS ones dont you think? Obviously its none of my business but just want to put it out there for lurkers.